Division Director, Parks and Recreation

This position is Open until Filled; first consideration will be given to those completed application packets that are received by 7/21/19.



The Parks and Recreation Division in the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is currently seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Parks Division Director. 

In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead a dedicated Parks and Recreation staff, who are committed to stewarding our valuable resources, passionate about serving the public, and working to continually improve our community with an entrepreneurial spirit. 

Reporting to the Department Director, this position is responsible for ensuring that Parks' daily business operations and capital project delivery are efficient, effective, and accountable. This position requires knowledge and experience in the industry, as well as in managing and interacting within government agencies.
The ideal candidate will be a results-oriented and dynamic leader who will lead a diverse business organization with a commitment to excellence. Additionally, the Division Director will embrace leading edge technologies and promote and incorporate Equity and Social Justice in the Parks system. The successful candidate will have key interactions with the Parks Division Management Team, Department Leadership, King County Executive, and King County Council, as well as stakeholders such as cities, elected officials, partnering organizations and labor unions.

About King County:
The Puget Sound region is a vibrant area, offering an enriching quality of life that is valued by its residents and visitors.  It offers many natural areas, rivers, lakes and more, in addition to a strong economy.

As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King, Jr., King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It's a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures.  Together, we're changing the way government delivers services and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
 
We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race, gender, or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation's best places to live, work, and play.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package.  Some highlights include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family
• Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan members
• 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
• Onsite gyms and activity centers
• As a FLSA-exempt employee, the person in this position may be granted up to 10 days (80 hours) of paid executive leave each calendar year at the discretion of the director.

• Provide strategic leadership to the Parks and Recreation Division.
• Collaborate with Department/County leadership.
• Establish and develop a results oriented leadership climate for over 240 FTE employees and approximately 200 seasonals across 14 reporting sites.
• Oversee a biennial budget of roughly $270 million.
• Champion County, Department and the Parks and Recreation Division's vision, mission, values, and culture.
• Lead efforts to mature and fully utilize performance management systems.
• Create a positive work environment, positioning Parks as an employer of choice into the future.
• Set strategic vision and leadership for sections reporting to this position.
• Maintain and grow partnerships with private, public and non-profit organizations.

• Strong decision-making skills with a combined focus on vision and purpose;
• Politically savvy leader with the ability to maneuver through complex political situations while remaining sensitive to how people and organizations function;
• Managerial courage, and the ability to incorporate conflict management and collaboration skills based on situational needs;
• Strategic agility in leading and directing a large, complex organization; ability to skillfully maneuver in a political and highly unionized environment;
• Passion for creativity and inspiring innovation, continuous improvement, and efficiencies;
• The ability to build effective teams and motivate others;
• Skills to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified and diverse talent; and
• The ability to deal with ambiguity in a large, complex environment.

• Management experience in a large governmental or private organization, with a well-developed, broad range of management skills.
• Parks management experience is desired.
• Experience in budget development, financial management, and financial concepts employed in operating and capital improvement programs are desired.
• Experience managing in a geographically dispersed organization and unionized environment desired.
• Ability to communicate diplomatically on politically sensitive issues.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• A bachelor's degree in public, recreation or business administration, urban planning, environmental studies, engineering, architecture, or related field and working knowledge of governmental or large, complex organizational processes is desired.

If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the contact listed on the job announcement.