Venues Supervisor (Senior Recreation Supervisor)

ABOUT US

At the City of Santa Barbara, the best part of our organization is our people. As a City of Santa Barbara employee, you will work in an environment with other motivated individuals who are passionate about their work. We strive to provide employees with the support they need to thrive. Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture here. 

The Parks and Recreation Department manages a diverse and unique park and recreation system – over 1,800 acres of parkland encompassing 64 developed and open space parks, as well as 6 miles of beach front, indoor and outdoor recreation and sports facilities, a 100-acre municipal golf course and the community urban forest. With 21 playgrounds, 24 volleyball courts, 36 tennis and pickle ball courts, 2 community gardens, 2 lawn bowls facilities, 3 swimming and wading pools, 16 community buildings, 9 sports fields, and a beachfront skate park, the Departments programs and services support the entire community. Through co-sponsorship and partner agreements, Parks and Recreation collaborates with more than 50 local non-profit service providers, youth and adult sports organizations, non-profit foundations, and volunteer community groups. Recreation programs engage people of all ages, with specialized programs for youth, teens, active adults, low-income families and people living with special needs. The Department has five volunteer advisory committees and is supported by the Parks and Recreation Community (PARC) Foundation.

The Parks and Recreation Department is comprised of four (4) divisions: Administration, Parks, Recreation, and Golf.

Read more about the Parks and Recreation Department here.

THE POSITION

The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a dynamic and knowledgeable Venues Supervisor (Senior Recreation Supervisor). Incumbent will supervise, assign, review, and participate in the work of staff responsible for providing parks, recreation and community programs, services and activities, facility rentals, and special events, including the supervision of other supervisory staff; oversee and participate in all work activities; and perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

In this role, you will help ensure that recreation facilities are operated safely, efficiently, and effectively while identifying opportunities to increase participation and activate public spaces. You will:

• Develop and implement strategies to promote facilities, programs, events, and recreational opportunities.

• Build relationships with community organizations, partners, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders to expand facility use and engagement.

• Supervise, support, and develop staff while fostering a customer-focused and collaborative work environment.

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of new programs, events, and facility activations across a diverse portfolio of recreational spaces.

• Coordinate facility operations, including scheduling, logistics, maintenance support, customer service, and day-to-day operational needs.

• Coordinate with vendors and contractors, monitor performance, address issues, and ensure services meet contractual, City, and departmental standards.

• Promote safe and responsible use of facilities by implementing appropriate safety, emergency response, and risk-management practices.

• Identify operational challenges and opportunities for improvement and develop solutions that enhance the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of public spaces.

• Help create welcoming, high-quality recreational environments that meet the evolving needs of the community.

 Distinguishing Characteristics

• Receives direction management staff.

• Exercises direct supervision over supervisory, professional, technical and clerical staff.

Work Schedule: This position is required to work fully on-site.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of parks and recreation programs.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of parks and recreation program development and administration.
• Principles of budget preparation and control.
• Principles and practices of facilities management.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles of business letter writing and professional report preparation.
• Recent developments, current literature and sources of information related to recreation planning and administration.
• Procurement practices related to equipment and supplies.
• Marketing theories, principles and practices and their application to a wide variety of recreation services.
• Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.

Ability to:

• Supervise, organize and review the work of professional, technical and clerical personnel.
• Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff.
• Interpret and explain city policies and procedures related to parks and recreation programs.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer.
• Research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives and practices for providing effective and efficient recreation programs.
• Elicit community and organizational support for parks and recreation programs; present material to the general public.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Five years of increasingly responsible experience in parks and recreation program development and implementation, including three years of lead or supervisory responsibility.

Education and/or Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in recreation administration, communications, public administration, or a related field.

Desirable Training and Experience:

• Sales and marketing experience with ability to maximize use of venues and facilities through effective promotion, outreach, and relationship-building.
• Public safety experience related to facility management, including knowledge of safety protocols, emergency procedures, and risk-mitigation practices.
• Experience supervising staff and leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of new programming or activation of spaces across diverse recreation facilities.
• Experience coordinating facility operations, including scheduling, logistics, maintenance support, and customer service oversight to ensure efficient, high-quality use of public spaces.
• Vendor and contractor coordination experience, including establishing and maintaining professional relationships, monitoring performance, and ensuring compliance with City and departmental standards.
• Knowledge of risk-management procedures to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient use of recreational facilities.

It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire. 

The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.

There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Parks and Recreation Department.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026.

The City of Santa Barbara is an Equal Opportunity Employer - and we encourage all persons to apply.