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Parks Director Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Parks Superintendent

Goochland, VA · On-site

$69K - $85K/yr

Reporting directly to the Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, the Superintendent bridges field operations with administrative management. This is an active, field-engaged position. The ...

Reporting directly to the Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, the Superintendent bridges field operations with administrative management. This is an active, field-engaged position. The ...

Travel Director/Adventure Guide - National Parks American Cruise Lines is seeking Travel Directors to join our shipboard team for the 2026 cruising season. The Travel Director role is responsible for ...

Travel Director/Adventure Guide - National Parks American Cruise Lines is seeking Travel Directors to join our shipboard team for the 2026 cruising season. The Travel Director role is responsible for ...

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Parks Director information

What does a parks director do?

A Parks Director is responsible for managing and overseeing the operations, maintenance, and improvement of public parks and recreation facilities within a city or municipality. Their duties include planning and implementing recreational programs, managing budgets, supervising staff, and ensuring parks are safe, clean, and accessible to the public. They also collaborate with community organizations and government agencies to enhance park services and facilities, promoting community engagement and outdoor recreation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a parks director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Parks Director, you need expertise in public administration, park management, budgeting, and typically a degree in parks and recreation management or a related field. Familiarity with facility management software, GIS mapping tools, and relevant certifications like CPRP (Certified Park and Recreation Professional) are often required. Strong leadership, communication, and community engagement skills help build consensus and manage diverse teams. These abilities are essential for ensuring safe, sustainable, and well-maintained parks that meet community needs.

What are some common challenges a parks director faces in balancing community needs and budget constraints?

A Parks Director often encounters the challenge of meeting diverse community expectations for recreational facilities, green spaces, and programs while working within limited municipal budgets. This requires prioritizing projects, seeking alternative funding sources like grants or partnerships, and engaging with the public to ensure resources are allocated effectively. Successful Parks Directors are proactive in fostering collaboration with stakeholders and transparent in communicating decisions, helping to build community trust and maximize impact.

What is the difference between Parks Director vs Recreation Coordinator?

AspectParks DirectorRecreation Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's degree in parks and recreation, public administration, or related field; often requires experience in park managementAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in recreation, leisure studies, or related field; certification may be preferred
Work EnvironmentOversees parks, facilities, and staff; manages budgets and policiesCoordinates recreational programs and activities; works directly with community members
Employer & IndustryMunicipal parks departments, government agenciesCommunity centers, parks, recreational facilities

The Parks Director typically holds a higher-level management role, overseeing entire park systems and staff, while the Recreation Coordinator focuses on planning and implementing recreational programs. Both roles require related credentials and work within public recreation settings, but the Parks Director has broader administrative responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Parks jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Parks jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Parks Director jobs in Virginia?

For Parks Director jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Parks Director jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Parks Director jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Parks Director jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Parks Director job openings:

Infographic showing various Parks Director job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution.

Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation

Vienna, VA

$117K - $188K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

General Statement of Job TOWN OF VIENNA DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION About Parks & Recreation The Town of Vienna's Parks & Recreation Department is a small team with a big impact. We are a group of dedicated professionals who care deeply about our community, take pride in our work, and genuinely enjoy working together. We work hard, support one another, celebrate successes, and believe that doing excellent work should not come at the expense of enjoying the people you work alongside.

Our work is guided by five values: Exceptional Service, Continuous Improvement, Sustainability, Inclusivity, and Health & Wellbeing. These values shape how we serve the community, how we work with one another, and how we make decisions about the future of our parks, programs, facilities, and services. We believe there is always an opportunity to make something better, while also recognizing and building upon the many things our team already does exceptionally well.

We are looking for a Deputy Director who will bring curiosity, thoughtful leadership, and a genuine appreciation for people to this work. This is an opportunity to join an accomplished team, build strong relationships, develop talented staff, and help shape what comes next for a department that takes its responsibility to the community seriously and has a lot of fun along the way. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation provides department-wide operational, professional, and administrative leadership in the planning, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Parks & Recreation programs, services, facilities, parks, maintenance, and operations.

The position provides leadership and oversight across four functional areas: Parks Maintenance, Horticulture, & Urban Forestry; Programs, Fields, & Teen Center; Events & Culture; and Operations & Historic Preservation, as well as administrative coordination with the Office Manager and Customer Service Support team. The Deputy Director serves as a key member of the Department's leadership team, working closely with the Director and staff to advance the department's mission, vision, and strategic priorities while fostering a culture grounded in exceptional service, continuous improvement, sustainability, inclusivity, and health and wellbeing. The Deputy Director supports department-wide operational and fiscal planning, capital improvement planning, program and service evaluation, personnel development, project management, and implementation of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and other long-range initiatives.

Working under the administrative direction of the Director of Parks & Recreation, the Deputy Director exercises considerable independent judgment in developing and implementing programs, services, policies, procedures, and operational improvements. The position evaluates practices, resources, and service delivery; considers operational, financial, personnel, and community impacts; and develops recommendations that strengthen organizational capacity, improve efficiency, and respond to the evolving needs of the community. The Deputy Director fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable workplace by supporting staff development, encouraging employees to contribute their strengths and perspectives, and promoting teamwork, professional growth, and a positive work environment.

The position builds effective relationships across the Department, Town, and community and represents the Department with Town management, elected officials, community organizations, boards and commissions, professional organizations, and other stakeholders. The Deputy Director serves as Acting Director in the Director's absence and performs related work as necessary. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Night Meetings as Necessary All new employees must satisfactorily complete a background check.

A conditional offer of employment may then be made contingent upon the successful completion of a drug test. This is an Exempt Position. Duties and Responsibilities The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class.

Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary. Essential Functions: Department Leadership Provides leadership and oversight for the department's four functional areas: Parks Maintenance, Horticulture, & Urban Forestry; Programs, Fields, & Teen Center; Events & Culture; and Operations & Historic Preservation as well as administrative coordination with the Office Manager and Customer Service Support team. Assists the Director in establishing and implementing department goals, priorities, policies, and operational practices that advance the department's mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.

Evaluates departmental programs, services, facilities, procedures, staffing, and resource allocation to identify opportunities for continuous improvement; considers operational, financial, personnel, and community impacts; and develops recommendations to improve efficiency, service levels, and overall effectiveness. Supports implementation of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and other long-range departmental initiatives. Fiscal, Capital and Asset Management Assists with development, preparation, presentation, and administration of the annual operating budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including identifying and prioritizing departmental needs and resource requirements.

Monitors revenues and expenditures and recommends adjustments to maintain compliance with adopted budgets, Town financial policies, and established service levels. Evaluates programs and services to identify opportunities to improve cost recovery and develops recommendations regarding fees, rates, and pricing. Assists with identifying, prioritizing, scoping, budgeting, and coordinating capital improvement projects and major facility, park, infrastructure, and asset needs.

Project Management & Continuous Improvement Provides oversight for the effective operation, maintenance, programming, and use of department facilities, parks, fields, and other public assets. Ensures departmental operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, accessibility requirements, Town policies, and established standards and best practices. Coordinates with staff, Town departments, contractors, consultants, and other partners to address facility, park, infrastructure, program, and service needs.

Evaluates program participation, events, facility and park utilization, service levels, staffing capacity, workload, and operational capacity to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure services align with community needs and available resources. community needs and available resources. Leads and manages department projects from planning through completion, establishing appropriate scopes, schedules, responsibilities, resources, and measures of success.

Leads research, benchmarking, and data analysis to evaluate programs, services, and operational practices, and emerging opportunities, including practices used by other jurisdictions and the parks and recreation profession. Develops and implements procedures, systems, and performance measures that promote sustainability, accountability, operational efficiency, proactive planning, and continuous improvement. Ensures departmental operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, accessibility requirements, Town policies, and established standards and best practices.

Personnel Leadership and Development Supervises, coaches, mentors, and evaluates professional staff and subordinate supervisors. Establishes clear expectations and provides ongoing guidance and feedback. Identifies opportunities and encourages staff to participate in ongoing professional development to support staff growth.

Promotes a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful work environment that values diverse perspectives, teamwork, accountability, and employee wellbeing. Addresses employee performance and workplace concerns in accordance with Town policies and recommends personnel actions as appropriate. Communication and Community Relations Communicates effectively with employees at all levels of the organization, Town management, elected officials, community members, boards and commissions, vendors, consultants, and other stakeholders.

Prepares and presents clear, concise reports, budget materials, Council and board agenda materials, correspondence, policies, procedures, presentations, recommendations and other administrative documents. Represents the Department and provides professional expertise at meetings, public events, community meetings, boards and commissions, and professional organizations. Builds and maintains productive relationships with Town departments, community partners, professional organizations, and other stakeholders and facilitates collaboration to advance departmental and organizational priorities.

Administration and Department Support Provides administrative coordination with the Office Manager and Customer Service Support team to support consistent department-wide operations, information flow, and customer service. Maintains knowledge of and uses departmental or Town systems, including RecTrac and Munis, to support reporting, revenue accountability, program analysis, facility utilization, and operational decision-making. Assists with grants, awards, policies, special reports, special events, and other department initiatives as assigned.

Attends meetings, conferences, training, and professional development activities necessary to maintain current knowledge of parks and recreation practices, regulations, and emerging industry trends. Serves as Acting Director in the Director's absence. Additional Duties Performs related work as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of: Principles, industry best practices, professional standards, and current trends of parks and recreation administration, including parks, recreation programming, facilities, events, maintenance, horticulture, urban forestry, and community services. Principles and practices of municipal government administration, including public-sector budgeting, fiscal management, personnel administration, procurement and operations. Capital improvement planning, project management, facility and asset management, and long-range planning.

Program evaluation, data analysis, cost recovery, fee development, and operational performance measurement. Applicable laws, regulations, accessibility requirements, Town policies, and professional standards affecting Parks & Recreation operations. Skill in: Strategic and operational planning, project management, prioritization, problem-solving, and follow-through.

Analyzing and interpreting data and information to evaluate programs, services, staffing, pricing, revenues, expenditures, utilization, and operational capacity. Developing practical recommendations, policies, procedures, systems, and performance measures that improve organizational effectiveness and service delivery. Developing and improving policies, procedures, systems, and processes.

Supervising, coaching, mentoring, developing, and supporting employees and subordinate supervisors through effective methods of feedback and evaluation. Building productive working relationships and facilitating collaboration among employees, Town departments, elected officials, community partners, vendors, professional organizations, and other stakeholders. Communicating complex information clearly and effectively through written, verbal, and presentation formats, including reports, recommendations, budget materials, policies, and Council and board materials.

Using technology and departmental systems, including recreation management and registration software, to support operations, reporting, accountability, and decision-making. Ability to: Lead and support organizational change while maintaining trust, engagement, accountability, and effective working relationships. Think strategically while maintaining attention to operational details, implementation, and follow-through.

Assess the interrelationship among departmental functions and balance operational, financial, personnel, community, and organizational considerations when making decisions. Exercise sound judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism in complex, sensitive, and high-visibility situations. Establish clear expectations, provide constructive feedback, and foster employee growth, confidence and professional development.

Recognize and leverage diverse strengths, experiences, and perspectives to develop effective solutions and support a collaborative work environment. Balance competing priorities, available resources, service expectations, organizational capacity, and community needs. Promote continuous improvement while recognizing and building upon existing organizational strengths.

Work independently and collaboratively while maintaining alignment with the Director, Town management, adopted policies, and organizational priorities. Represent the Department professionally and effectively with employees, Town leadership, elected officials, community members, professional organizations, and other stakeholders. Responsibilities, Requirements and Impacts Data Responsibility: Data Responsibility refers to information, knowledge, and conceptions obtained by observation, investigation, interpretation, visualization, and mental creation.

Data are intangible and include numbers, words, symbols, ideas, concepts, and oral verbalizations. Coordinates or determines time, place or sequence of operations or activities based on analysis of data or information and may implement and report on operations and activities. People Responsibility: People include co-workers, workers in other areas or agencies and the general public.

Supervises or leads others by determining work procedures, assigning duties, maintaining harmonious relations, and promoting efficiency. Asset Responsibility: Assets responsibility refers to the responsibility for achieving economies or preventing loss within the organization. Requires responsibility for achieving major economies or preventing major losses through the management of a highly complex and/or technical department.

Mathematical Requirements: Mathematics requires the use of symbols, numbers and formulas to solve mathematical problems. Uses mathematics involving the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions; or measurements, may use algebraic solutions of equat...