Executive Director

Montrose Recreation District

Job Location:

Montrose, CO - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 104892 - 157337

Posted on: Yesterday

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Benefits:

an individual membership to Flex Rec
Family membership to the Community Recreation Center
Competitive salary
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance
Wellness resources

**This position is scheduled to close Friday May 1st. We will be accepting applications until noon on 5/1/2026**
At the heart of this role is the opportunity to make a meaningful lasting impactand theres no better place to do that than Montrose.

Nestled on Colorados Western Slope Montrose offers the rare balance of purposeful work and exceptional quality of life. Whether youre leading strategic initiatives or stepping out for a moment to reset youre surrounded by some of the most stunning landscapes in the country.

But Montrose is more than a beautiful placeit is a community defined by connection collaboration and care. People show up for one another here. Partnerships are valued. Leadership is visible accessible and deeply impactful. As Executive Director your work will directly influence the strength well-being and future of the community.

Montrose is a place where:

Your commute is short and scenic
Outdoor adventure is part of your weekly routinenot just a vacation
Community connections are real strong and lasting
You can lead with purposeand still make it home for dinner

With over 300 days of sunshine each year and a growing vibrant population Montrose isnt just where you workits where your leadership can truly make a difference.

Position Overview
The Executive Director is responsible for providing overall leadership and direction for the Montrose Recreation District guiding its strategic vision and operational and financial performance of the organization. This position ensures the delivery of high-quality parks facilities and recreation programs that align with community needs and Board priorities.

The Executive Director works in partnership with the Board of Directors to implement policy advance strategic initiatives and ensure long-term organizational sustainability. The role fosters a high-performing organizational culture builds strong community relationships and ensures responsible stewardship of public resources.

**The Executive Director is employed by and reports directly to the Board of Directors. The terms and conditions of employment are established through a written year-to-year employment agreement approved by the Board. Continuation of employment beyond the contract term is contingent upon Board review evaluation and renewal. This job description outlines the general scope of responsibilities associated with the position.**

Organizational Leadership and Governance

Serves as the primary advisor to the Board of Directors providing professional recommendations on policy strategy and organizational performance.
Implements Board-adopted policies and ensures alignment of operations with Board direction and district goals.
Keeps the Board informed of key issues opportunities risks and organizational performance through regular reporting analysis and communication.
Builds and maintains a strong collaborative relationship with the Board based on trust transparency and accountability.

Strategic Leadership

Guides the District in adapting to changing community demographics recreation trends and long-term population growth.
Provides vision and leadership in the development and execution of strategic master and capital improvement plans.
Supports community vitality and economic development by enhancing recreational assets that contribute to quality of life and regional attraction.
Establishes measurable goals and ensures organizational alignment to achieve long-term priorities.
Drives continuous improvement and innovation through data-informed decision-making and responsible risk-taking.

Operational and Organizational Management

Provides leadership and direction to the Districts senior leadership team and overall organizational structure.
Develops leadership capacity within the organization through succession planning professional development and workforce strategy.
Promotes employee engagement retention and professional growth.
Fosters a high-performing accountable and inclusive organizational culture.
Ensures effective delivery of parks recreation programs and services that meet diverse community needs.
Oversees support functions including finance human resources technology marketing maintenance and customer service.

Financial Management

Ensures sound fiscal management including development and administration of the annual budget and long-range financial planning.
Identifies and pursues opportunities for grants partnerships sponsorships and alternative funding sources that support District initiatives and capital improvements.
Oversees procurement processes and contract administration to ensure compliance with District policies and public procurement standards.
Oversees financial reporting auditing processes and compliance with applicable laws and standards.
Ensures responsible stewardship and optimal use of financial and human resources.

Community and External Relations

Builds and maintains effective relationships with community organizations government agencies elected officials and stakeholders.
Promotes community engagement and ensures opportunities for public input and participation.
Represents the District through public presentations meetings and community events.

Parks Facilities and Program Oversight

Provides executive oversight of the acquisition development operation and maintenance of parkland and recreation facilities.
Ensures programs and services are accessible equitable and aligned with community demographics and needs.
Evaluates program effectiveness and adapts services to meet changing community expectations.

Compliance Risk and Safety

Ensures compliance with all applicable local state and federal laws regulations and policies.
Maintains working knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensures accessibility of programs services and facilities.
Oversees risk management emergency preparedness and safety initiatives.
Monitors legislative and regulatory developments that may impact the District and advises the Board on potential implications.

Position Competencies

Strong interpersonal and communication skills including public speaking and stakeholder engagement.
Demonstrated leadership in organizational strategy culture and performance management.
Strong financial acumen including budgeting forecasting and financial analysis.
Knowledge of parks and recreation planning programming facility operations and maintenance best practices.
Ability to analyze data and apply insights to decision-making.
Skill in leading organizational change and fostering innovation.
Commitment to diversity equity inclusion and community-centered service delivery.
Ability to interpret and apply laws regulations contracts and policies.

Education and Experience

Bachelors degree in a relevant field required; a Masters degree is highly desirable.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience including at least 5 years in a senior management role
Experience in parks and recreation public sector or related organizational leadership.
Experience with financial systems budgeting and fiscal management.
Experience working with a governing board or elected officials is highly desirable.

Licenses and Certifications

Valid drivers license required.
Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) preferred.
Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) preferred.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This position operates in both office and field environments with regular exposure to outdoor conditions. Duties may require walking standing or sitting for extended periods as well as occasional lifting and physical activity. The work environment may include exposure to varying weather conditions noise levels and operational settings.

Travel Requirements

Regular travel is required to attend meetings events and activities within the community and region. Use of a personal vehicle is required with mileage reimbursement provided in accordance with District policy.

Benefits Included

Comprehensive health dental vision and life insurance benefits. PERA employer and 401K contribution options. Paid time off (PTO) in addition to 10 paid holidays a family membership to the Community Recreation Center and an individual membership to Flex Rec.
A District-issued cellphone is provided upon request. If using a personal cellphone for work-related purposes a stipend will be provided to cover business use.

Entire Salary Range: $104891.37 - $157337.06

Hiring Range: $ 104891.37 - $137669.93

Why do I see two salary ranges
In compliance with Colorado state law the Montrose Recreation District includes a salary range for all positions posted. This law is intended to improve wage support of wage transparency the Montrose Recreation District posts both the full salary range for each position (what you might anticipate your earnings could be if you work for the MRD for some time) as well as the anticipated hiring range (the range within which the MRD anticipates making an offer). The actual offer extended will be based on your years of relevant experience education certifications and potentially other factors.

Compensation: $104892.00 - $157337.00 per year

Mission Statement:FUNdamentally improving lives by building community in fun engaging ways and by providing excellent parks and recreation facilities activities and services.

EEO Statement: The Montrose Recreation District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

ADA Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive accessible and barrier-free recruitment process. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the search process including alternative formats of job postings. Applicants requiring accommodations should contact the ADA Coordinator. Jeremy Master -or- Human Resources. Lisa Lopez

Required Experience:

Director

Benefits:an individual membership to Flex RecFamily membership to the Community Recreation CenterCompetitive salaryDental insuranceHealth insurancePaid time offVision insuranceWellness resources**This position is scheduled to close Friday May 1st. We will be accepting applications until noon on 5/1/...