Director, Recreation & Enterprise Services Division (Park Division Director)

Fairfax County is a dynamic community with 1.1 million residents, an award-winning park system, a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, and bustling town centers. At the heart of the community is the nationally recognized leader, the Fairfax County Park Authority. A large and complex park system encompassing over 24,000 acres of land, 422 parks, an estimated 18 million park visitors, 500 full-time employees, 2,500 seasonal employees and over 2,000 volunteers. The Fairfax County Park Authority has been the recipient of the prestigious Gold Medal Award for the best park system in the country and accredited by the Commission of Park and Recreation Accreditation (CAPRA) four times with 100% compliance for every review.

The Park Authority is seeking an innovative, collaborative, business-minded, and highly experienced individual to lead the agency's Recreation and Enterprise Services Division.

Reporting to the Park Authority's Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer, the Director of the Recreation and Enterprise Services Division provides leadership, direction, and oversight across five branches and a large multidisciplinary staff team:

• 12 park/recreation facilities (including recreation centers, parks and outdoor aquatic facilities)
• Division-wide programming (classes, camps, preschools, childcare, events and tournaments)
• Fitness and Aquatics
• Central customer services (Registration Office, Park Permits and Rentals)
• Agency wide ADA compliance for all park facility development, access and programming

• Leads the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and innovative recreation services serving a diverse community.
• Oversees operations of 9 Recreation Centers and Specialty Aquatic Facilities across the County.
• Directs a comprehensive portfolio of 10,000+ programs, including camps, workshops, and special events annually.
• Ensures effective delivery of inclusive and targeted services in aquatics, youth, fitness, adapted, and general recreation programs.
• Balances service delivery with achievement of division and agency financial targets.
• Enhances program quality, accessibility, and community engagement across all service areas.

• Provides strategic financial leadership for the agency's primary enterprise division.
• Oversees an annual operating budget of $50M+ across multiple cost centers and funding sources.
• Directs financial planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, and purchasing in coordination with the Park Authority's central business office.
• Monitors and drives financial and operational performance to meet revenue and expense targets.
• Develops tools and processes to track, analyze, and manage division-wide financial performance.
• Secures additional resources through grants, partnerships, sponsorships, memberships, and volunteer programs.

• Leads and develops a multidisciplinary workforce of 100+ full-time staff, 2,000 part-time staff, and 1,000 volunteers.
• Sets strategic direction and ensures alignment with agency goals, priorities, and long-term plans.
• Fosters a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative team environment.
• Serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategy and initiatives.
• Represents the division and agency in public forums, including board, community, and stakeholder meetings.
• Builds strong partnerships to advance the Park Authority's mission and strategic objectives.
• Exercises sound judgment, political acumen, and leadership in a complex and dynamic environment.
• Drives organizational effectiveness through communication, team building, process improvement, and performance management.
• Responsible for developing and leading implementation of annual operational plans, human resource and organizational development plans, procedures, and policies to ensure the needs of the Fairfax County community are addressed.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Supervises a staff of professionals and has overall responsibility for all programs within their assigned functional area;
• Supervises preparation of the division's budget, participates in presentation of the budget to the Park Authority Board, and monitors program expenditures;
• Evaluates and reports on the effectiveness of division programs;
• Conducts service needs assessments;
• Prepares, presents, and is held accountable for implementation of the Park Authority's annual plan as it relates to the assigned functional area(s);
• Ensures that division plans and programs complement agency goals and objectives;
• Provides an independent liaison with, and support to the Park Advisory Board and other boards and commissions for issues with in the assigned functional area(s);
• Provides staff support to the Park Authority Board;
• Oversees special project work directed by the Board of Supervisors, Park Authority Board, and/or agency director;
• Represents the agency in meetings with public and private-sector officials and citizen groups;
  

As the Director of the Services Division

• Manages the Services Division, overseeing the management of the Park Authority's recreation centers, golf courses, and lake parks;
• Guides and directs the work of the recreation centers, golf courses, lake parks, and market research functions; Ensures effective delivery of services to the public through the operation of its facilities;
• Oversees all planning, scheduling, operations and recommended program changes and coordinates activities with the marketing research and analysis function; Directs the development, evaluation, and enhancement of integrated operating procedures; and Reviews new program and facility requirements, and in conjunction with other division directors, prepares recommendations for budget requests and priorities for the Park Authority Board.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Extensive knowledge of the principles, methods and challenges of organization and management;
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of the assigned functional area;
• Oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated skills in needs assessment and strategic planning;
• Ability to plan and direct the activities of a large staff;
• Ability to plan and conduct staff development programs.
• Ability to evaluate programs against pertinent standards;
• Ability to prepare and present clear, concise financial and administrative reports;
• Ability to develop and evaluate budget requests and project future expenditures;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to keep abreast of developments in the field;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships peers, other County employees, Board members, public and private sector officials, and citizen groups;

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree appropriate to the functional area (recreation, park management, business administration, or related field); Plus, five years of administrative experience in the appropriate functional area.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Driver's License (Required)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

• Eight years of progressive leadership experience.
• Experience working in Recreation or Fitness Centers.
• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP), Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE), Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Certified Pool Operator (CPO) or Aquatics Facility Operator (AFO), Certified Personal Trainer
• Experience managing and implementing organizational improvement processes.
• Experience working with governing and advisory boards, elected officials, and community groups.
• Experience developing strategic, operational or development plans.
• Experience managing/developing operational programs.
• Experience developing, evaluating and managing self-sustaining recreation programs and facilities.
• Experience facilitating workgroups and multifaceted projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented with the ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Works well independently and with minimal direction and works effectively leading and as a participant on teams.
• Knowledge and experience with process improvement and strategic planning.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.govEEO/AA/TTY.