Director of Parks & Recreation

Statement of Duties:

The Director plans organizes coordinates and supervises a comprehensive community recreation program of seasonal and year-round recreational activities for persons of all age groups to include (but not limited to) cultural arts physical activities special interest classes and summer programs. The Director of Parks and Recreation also works closely with other City departments to adequately maintain recreational spaces and facilities and advise on physical facility improvements for community programming.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar related or a logical assignment to the position.

• Plan and direct the selection training supervision and evaluation of department staff.
• Administer operate and maintain existing athletic fields and recreation areas and facilities.
• In partnership with Department of Public Works the Division of Public Spaces and Urban Forestry and other departments plan for the acquisition development and operation of proposed facilities.
• Plan promote organize and supervise comprehensive and diversified community recreation cultural athletic and social programs and administer these programs in the best interest of the entire community.
• Directs interprets and ensures compliance with Memorandum Of Understandings (MOUs) and State contracts.
• Supervise recreation areas athletic fields and the operation of facilities throughout the City that are required to meet the needs of the communitys recreation athletic and community services activities. Conduct activities events and programs that will engage citizens in a wholesome constructive and equitable manner.
• Coordinate parks and recreation programs and plans for facilities with other City and Somerville Public Schools departments and divisions community groups and others as required.
• Direct staff in establishing and maintaining procedures for tasks such as:
  • maintenance of files and records
  • the collection of fees and charges; preparation of forecasts of fees and charges
  • management of recreation program registration activity and facility scheduling
  • management of maintenance records contract administration permitting and other similar responsibilities as required and in partnership with the Department of Public Works
• Develops and implements policies related to athletic and recreational activities.
• Interacts constantly with the general public in a diplomatic manner.
• Develops innovative cost-effective programs to meet community needs in an equitable manner.
• Oversees and arranges use of facilities for various athletic and recreational programs; including but not limited to City athletic field/court surfaces Dilboy Stadium Founders Rink Veterans Memorial Rink Blessing of the Bay Boat House etc.
• Oversees Enterprise funds related facilities under the Recreation Department purview.
• Oversees municipal pool boathouse and aquatics programs.
• Ensures proper use of athletic and recreational facilities by Parks and Rec staff and guests through education and management.
• Coordinates parks and recreation staff development and implementation of community athletic and recreation programs.
• Prepares the annual Parks and Recreation Department budget for review by the Mayor and Finance Director then for approval by the City Council.
• Effectively administers the annual budget as directed by the Finance Director and Executive Office.
• Performs cost control activities.
• Monitors revenues and expenditures; responsible for approval of all requisitions for departmental supplies and materials.
• Prepares reports provides staff support and/or attends meetings of the City Council City committees and commissions; and other agencies and community groups as required.
• Responds to the most complex citizen service and facility use related complaints and requests.
• Maintain liaison with various private and public agencies and communicate successfully with the public and with interested groups.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Masters Degree and five (5) to seven (7) years experience in recreation (preferably municipal parks and recreation) including two (2) years management experience; or any equivalent combination of education training and experience which provides the required knowledge skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements: Valid Drivers License.

Knowledge Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Principles practices and methods used in parks and recreation administration; in the management of programs and activities; and in facility acquisition and maintenance. Strategic athletic field development park athletic facility design and use. Recreation cultural athletic and social needs of all age groups. Record keeping and reporting procedures. Organizational principles and techniques of administration budgeting and personnel management. Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of community athletic and recreation management and program evaluation and development. General knowledge of maintenance plans in collaboration with Parks and Recreation Operations Director foreman and Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development (OSPCD). The collaboratively direction and coordination of the grounds maintenance horticultural arboricultural landscape and turf maintenance and custodial activities within multiple City fields/facilities.

Abilities: Develop and direct athletic and recreational programs tailored to the Citys needs. Develop motivate manage and provide guidance to personnel; foster teamwork within the department. Advise on the acquisition design construction and maintenance of athletic parks recreation areas buildings and facilities as it directly relates to the department. Properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with appropriate laws regulations and policies. Prepare detailed reports plans and specifications and do reliable study and research as needed. Maintain liaison with various private and public agencies and deal successfully with the public and with interested groups.

Ability to process financial information; and ability to develop and adapt innovative cost effective programs to meet community needs.

Skill: High level of communication skills both oral and written required.

Work Environment

Working conditions involve occasional exposure to intermittent machine or related noise or a combination of unpleasant elements such as odors chemical fumes dust smoke heat cold oil dirt or grease. Occasional exposure to outside elements. The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices. However work in the field involves regular exposure to outside elements.

Work may involve general cleaning occasional work at heights or in confined or cramped quarters or work around machinery and its moving parts. Work may also involve completing several unrelated tasks within a relatively short period of time.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the positions essential functions.

Physical Skills

Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks with intermittent periods of stooping walking and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.). Occasional physical skills tasks may be required in the performance of the job such as climbing ladders and moving and operating recreational equipment.

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects operating a telephone personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Mental Demands

Athletic and recreation are very important to the residents. The Director of Park & Recreation will have to manage a number of requests and projects at one time. He/she must be aware of all recreation programs in the community and any and all relevant legislation policies and procedures. He/she may have to complete a number of tasks and responsibilities at one time and must be prepared to deal with emergencies and stressful situations at any time.

Sensory Demands

Sensory demands can include reading and use of the computer which may cause eye strain and occasional headaches. The situations and programs may be noisy and busy making it difficult for the Park & Recreation Director to concentrate.

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $120000
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: Friday August 8th

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race color sex religion age national origin disability or any other protected category. Women minorities veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services written materials in alternative formats and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e. CART ASL) written materials in alternative formats or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs activities and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at x 2059 or

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note police officers are members of the SPEA union.
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.