Parks & Recreation Director

Final Day To Apply:

10/08/2026

It's fun and rewarding to work for the City of Steamboat Springs!  Our employees are passionate and proud to serve our community with excellence and distinction.  Our teams are awesome, and we are committed to our community and the very special place that is Steamboat Springs, Colorado! 

Job Description:

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Class Title:              DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION

Department:            Parks and Recreation

Division:                   Administration

Grade:                       M16

FLSA Status:           Exempt

Date:                         September 2026

GENERAL PURPOSE

Serves as an ambassador of the City of Steamboat Springs and upholds City values of Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect and Compassion, while espousing safety at all times.

Provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for the City’s extensive Parks & Recreation system, including 31 park sites totaling more than 1,000 acres; the Yampa River Botanic Park; the Yampa River Core Trail; all City-managed trails, streetscapes, and open spaces (encompassing more than 2,500 acres); the Howelsen Hill Ski and Sports Complex; Howelsen Ice Arena; Howelsen Rodeo Complex; Bear River Park; and Haymaker Golf Course. Guides and leads executive functions for natural resources management encompassing the Yampa River and the historic minerals springs. Directs a wide range of year‑round recreational, cultural, environmental, and community programs while ensuring the stewardship, accessibility, and long‑term sustainability of these essential public assets.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the City Manager.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Offers leadership and oversight to the Deputy Director and division leaders, as well as to full-time staff, and seasonal or contracted personnel, both directly and through subordinate leaders, across all operational areas.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Leads high-performing teams, guides community engagement, and champions resource stewardship to deliver outstanding municipal services.
• Models and promotes the City’s mission, vision, and values (Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect, Compassion) while prioritizing safety and innovation.
• Provides coordinated leadership, direction and strategic planning across the diverse operational divisions of Parks & Recreation with a result-driven, positive attitude.
• Supervises direction and delivery of all departmental programs, services and community events, maintaining consistent standards, accountability and coordinated execution.
• Manages the employee lifecycle and performance expectations while fostering a culture of trust and accountability, professional growth, inclusion and high achievement throughout the department.
• Serves on the City’s Leadership Team and contributes to city-wide strategic planning.
• Represents the City’s broader interests while advancing Parks & Recreation initiatives, ensuring decisions balance community needs, interdepartmental priorities, and long-term stewardship of public assets.
• Champions the development and evaluation of the department’s leadership team to strengthen organizational alignment and effectiveness.
• Coordinates with committees, boards, and partner organizations to include but not limited to, Botanic Park Board, Mineral Springs Committee, Routt Recreation Round Table, Stream Team, Yampa River Commercial Outfitters, Routt County Riders, SSWSC and Youth Athletics, Steamboat Digs Dogs, Friends of the Yampa, Yampa Water Conservation, Yampa River Society, Keep Routt Wild, Cattleman’s Conservation Association, Steamboat Springs History Museum, Rugby, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Steamboat Springs School District, Special Olympics, Cycle Effect, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, USFS, Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, Yampatika, Colorado Water Trust, Golf Management Committee, Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Board, Howelsen Ice Pavilion User Group, Emerald Park User Group, Mainstreet Steamboat, Rotary Club, and more.

 

Operations

• Responsible for work and strategic planning, results-based facilitation, and operational management of all the division’s functions.
• Creates and manages annual operating and capital budgets; identifies revenue opportunities and cost-effective service delivery.
• Develops and implements departmental procedures and standards; as well as divisional goals, objectives and the development of both short and long-range plans of the department.
• Plans, coordinates and directs a diversified year-round recreation and land management programs and operations.
• Provides technical advice and serves as a subject matter expert where appropriate; and acts as a liaison with community partners, advisory boards and external agencies.
• Oversees recreation, parks, and facility maintenance alongside facilitating capital improvements / asset management.
• Collaborates with Risk Management, Safety Committee, and relevant external expert / regulatory agencies to ensure risk management, safety protocols, and emergency response procedures across all functional groups are operational and effective.
• Ensures departmental compliance with environmental stewardship standards, public health regulations, ADA accessibility requirements, and other applicable federal, state, and local codes governing parks, open spaces, facilities, and recreational programs.
• Oversees communication strategies, public outreach, and media relations.
• Prepares and presents reports, proposals, policies, and future plans to City Council and Parks & Recreation Commission.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

• Represents the City at civic events and public committees.
• Leads the preparation, staffing and facilitation of Parks & Recreation Commission and City Council meetings, including establishing agendas and ensuring effective communication.
• May serve as Acting City Manager when assigned.
• Participates in interdepartmental projects such as COOP, sustainability initiatives, or emergency preparedness.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquires and complaints.
• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with community organizations, governmental agencies, elected officials, school districts, business leaders, and regional organizations

WORK TYPE AND SCHEDULE

This is an in-person, full-time, exempt position with daytime hours and occasional evenings and weekends required for meetings, events, and emergency response.

Parks & Recreation business hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday to Thursday and 8:00 am – 12:00 pm on Fridays. Operational hours may vary outside of business hours. A two (2) day remote schedule may be permitted after a probationary period and subject to supervisor approval and discretion in accordance with the needs of the department. 

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Parks/Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in parks and recreation programs including three years of supervisory experience at a management level, or
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A master’s degree and Certified Parks & Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification is advantageous.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated visionary and strategic leadership skills.
• Ability to mentor, coach and direct the work of staff; as well as lead teams, facilitate consensus and drive innovation.
• Maintain integrity, honesty, compassion, courage, optimism and good judgment – particularly in situations characterized by disagreement, conflict, tension and uncertainty.
• Ability to anticipate trends in the parks, recreation and open space field and develop a creative strategy for maintaining high quality programs and services.
• Comprehensive knowledge of administrative practices relating to parks, recreation and business enterprise operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the management and supervision of numerous full-time and seasonal employees.
• Knowledge in developing entrepreneurial and creative funding and operational approaches to support parks and recreation functions.
• Ability to analyze operational problem areas and successfully plan and implement change management strategies.
• Skill in effective, clear, concise and persuasive verbal and written communication with individuals and groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with employees, leadership, other agencies / municipal departments, City Council, stakeholders and the public.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid state driver's license or ability to obtain one.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer, including Microsoft Professional Office Suite; phone; mobile or portable radio; and vehicles. Project management and communication tools.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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 essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts or in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet while in the office, or moderately noisy when in the field.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types 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.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

If you like serving in a role that will directly and positively impact our great community, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Pay Range:

$142,059.00 - $213,088.00

Offers will be negotiated based on each candidate's qualifications.

Merit:
This role is eligible for merit within our pay-for-performance philosophy via our annual performance review process.  Hires after September 1st will take the next year's compensation data into account but would not be eligible for merit until the following year.

Benefits:
Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage options as well as other program offerings such as our Employee Assistance Program and more. You may also contribute to our 401(a) plan that includes a company match.  Seasonal roles are not eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage, but have benefits such as Paid Sick Leave, Ski and Skate Pass, Employee Assistance Program, etc.