Parks Supervisor

The ideal candidate is an experienced parks and facilities maintenance professional who brings a strong combination of technical expertise, supervisory leadership, operational judgment, environmental stewardship, and customer service skills. They will have demonstrated an ability to oversee complex maintenance operations while effectively leading employees, managing contractors, monitoring budgets, and responding to the needs of the community.

This individual should be a hands-on, solutions-oriented leader who understands the practical demands of maintaining municipal parks, native landscapes, open spaces, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, buildings, and other City facilities. At the same time, the candidate must be comfortable operating at a supervisory and administrative level, developing work plans, completing capital projects, preparing reports, and providing sound professional advice to the Community Services Director.

The strongest candidate will be equally skilled at collaborating with park maintenance contractors and assessing park needs. They will provide clear direction, evaluate results, and effectively document assigned tasks and project outcomes.

The successful candidate should be viewed as a trusted operational partner to the Community Services Director, someone who can take ownership of park maintenance functions, develop a strong and accountable team, maintain productive relationships with contractors and community stakeholders, and continuously improve the City's parks and facilities services.

Key Leadership Attributes

Operational Leader. The ideal candidate understands how to translate departmental goals into effective maintenance programs, work plans, schedules, and service standards. They are organized, accountable, and able to balance competing operational priorities while maintaining high standards for safety, quality, responsiveness, and customer service.

Experienced People Supervisor. The candidate should have demonstrated experience leading, developing, and holding employees accountable for performance. They should be comfortable assigning work, monitoring productivity, providing constructive feedback, addressing performance issues, writing employee evaluations, and recognizing employee contributions. 

Independent and Sound Judgment. Because the position operates with considerable independence, the successful candidate must be able to assess situations, identify problems, consider alternatives, and make timely decisions within established policies and procedures. The candidate should know when to resolve an issue independently and when to elevate a matter to the Director or other management staff.

Continuous Improvement Mindset. The ideal candidate will improve efficiency, service quality, work processes, equipment utilization, staffing deployment, and resource allocation. They should be comfortable evaluating current practices and recommending practical improvements.

Collaborative Management Style. Success will require effective relationships with Community Services leadership, City departments, employees, contractors, organized sports groups, community members, and other stakeholders. The candidate should be approachable, professional, and able to build productive relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries and accountability.

Technical and Professional Expertise

The ideal candidate will bring substantial knowledge of municipal parks and landscape maintenance operations, including:

• Parks, landscape, and open-space maintenance;
• Athletic fields and turf management;
• Irrigation systems and water conservation practices;
• Trees, vegetation, horticulture, and landscape management;
• Trails, greenways, park structures, and playgrounds;
• Building and facility maintenance;
• Preventive maintenance practices;
• Equipment, tools, materials, and supplies;
• Work scheduling and resource allocation;
• Maintenance standards and service levels;
• Applicable safety requirements and regulatory standards; and
• Emerging technologies, practices, and trends affecting parks and facilities maintenance.

The candidate should also understand the operational implications of organized sports and other high-use activities on athletic fields and be capable of adjusting maintenance programs and resource allocations accordingly.

• Monitor expenditures against approved budgets;
• Identify emerging resource requirements;
• Evaluate competing operational needs;
• Recommend adjustments based on changing priorities; and
• Connect budget recommendations to service levels and operational outcomes.

Education and Experience

The ideal candidate will meet or exceed the stated minimum qualifications, including approximately five years of increasingly responsible parks maintenance, landscaping, and/or tree maintenance experience, with at least two years of lead or supervisory experience.

While a high school diploma supplemented by college coursework or specialized training is identified as the typical preparation, particularly strong candidates may distinguish themselves through additional education, professional certifications, specialized training, or extensive municipal parks and facilities experience.

1. Ability to “multitask” to handle competing priorities and demands. 
2. Ability to establish and facilitate cooperative working relationships with employees and community groups to work effectively and collaboratively.
3. Ability to keep accurate records and prepare reports.
4. Ability to lead and mobilize others to action providing support, training, mentoring and evaluation. 
5. Verbal and written communication skills to develop reports, evaluations, and other material as appropriate. 
6. Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; recommends within  departmental policy, appropriate service, and staffing levels; recommends and  administers policies and procedures. 
7. Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of park maintenance programs; continuously monitors and evaluates the service delivery methods and procedures and identifies opportunities for improvement; recommends improvements to the Director and implements new procedures and methods.
8. Assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement and reviews with the Parks & Recreation Director; directs the implementation of improvements.
9. Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work plan for assigned programs; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns work activities, projects, and  programs; monitors workflow, review and evaluates work product, methods, and procedures.  
10. Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; implements discipline and termination procedures.
11. Ensures that facilities are in compliance with applicable State, County and City regulations. 
12. Provides responsible staff assistance to the Parks & Recreation Director; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence. 
13. Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive inquiries and complaints.  
14. Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to maintenance programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.  
15. Develops, administers, and evaluates service contracts; administers and evaluates activities and services provided by contractors. 
16. Participates in the development and administration of the Parks & Recreation Department annual budget; compiles the forecast for additional funds for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors expenditures and implements adjustments as necessary.  
17. Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of park maintenance.
18.  Evaluates the adjusts maintenance programs based on the impact organized sports groups have on turf sports fields.  
19. Receives, investigates, and responds to problems and complaints from citizens in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.  
20. Monitors changes in laws, regulations and technology that may affect departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.  
21. Performs other duties as assigned.