What are the responsibilities and job description for the Interim Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Director position at City of Billings, MT?
"Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis."
Position Overview
The City is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to serve as the Interim Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands (PRPL) Director for up to one year, and if successful, be considered for the permanent PRPL Director position. This critical role requires a seasoned professional who can navigate challenges, build trust, and bring strong leadership to a department facing funding and support limitations. The interim director must demonstrate resilience, strategic thinking, and the ability to advocate for the community's recreational and public land needs by building trust with a policy body and public. The ideal candidate will have the opportunity to make meaningful improvements and foster collaboration.
Work Schedule: This is an exempt position, hours and days of work may vary based on operational needs.
Salary: The salary for this position is dependent upon the applicant's qualifications, experience and is accompanied by a generous benefits package. Relocation assistance is negotiable.
Click here to view the Interim Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Director and City of Billings Brochure.
Job Summary:
Under general administrative direction, to plan, direct, manage, and oversee the activities and operations of the Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department including Parks, Recreation, Cemetery, and Forestry programs; to coordinate assigned activities with other City departments and outside agencies; and to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Administrator and Assistant City Administrator.
Scope of Responsibility:
Incumbents have the highest degree of understanding of department and functional operations and are able to work with considerable initiative. Working with limited senior management guidance, incumbents establish and implement department policy and procedure and make tactical decisions within the overall strategic direction of the City. Work product has a significant impact on departmental operations and to some extent the operation of the City. Incumbents must have the ability to exercise discretion regarding confidential matters. Incumbents must employ considerable tact, sense of timing and the ability to engender trust, plus sensitivity to diverse audiences. Incumbents provide supervision and training to support staff.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Supervises Employees
- Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
- Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate level managers, the Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department work plan; meets with management staff to identify and resolves problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures.
Department Operations
- Manages the development and implementation of Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for each assigned service area; establishes, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; allocate resources accordingly.
- Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs the implementation of changes.
- Coordinates Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations; provides staff assistance to the City Administrator, Assistant City Administrator, and City Council; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
- Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
- Participates on a variety of boards and commissions; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of parks and recreation.
- Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive inquiries and complaints.
- Represents the Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department to other City departments, elected officials and outside agencies; explains and interprets Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant and controversial issues.
- Assumes full management responsibility for all Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department services and activities including Park, Recreation, Cemetery, and Forestry programs.
- Performs a variety of public relations duties; serves as department spokesperson to provide pertinent public information; makes public speaking appearances before the media, community, and other groups regarding the activities of the parks, forestry, cemetery, and recreation divisions.
- Serves as department representative on subdivision reviews, long term park planning and development direction; reviews projects and authorizes purchases, employee travel, final plan documents and other contract documents.
- Prepares grant applications; seek funding sources; directs the acquisition of land and capital improvements for development.
- Plans major special events and seasonal programs including fun runs and parades.
- Makes periodic field inspections of operations and facilities to ensure that adequate standards are being adhered to in the operation and maintenance.
- Oversees the Exchange City Golf Course (ECGC) Board of Directors; signs checks for the ECGC.
Financial
- Manages and participates in the development and administration of the Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for facilities, staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; directs the monitoring of and approves expenditures; directs the preparation of and implements budgetary adjustments as necessary.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills
Required Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Program Management, Land Development and Preservation, Parks, Tourism & Recreation Management, or a related field
- Seven (7) or more years’ experience in parks and recreation administration, public administration, program management, land development and preservation, or a related field
- Five (5) years of management and supervisory experience
- Experience with city government and knowledge of department and function operations
- Must have strong interpersonal skills
- Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and a Federal and State criminal background check
- Must have a valid Montana driver’s license or must be obtained within thirty (30) days of employment
Preferred Qualifications and Skills:
- Experience working in a union environment
- Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)
- Master’s degree
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
Work is a combination of indoors in a normal office environment and outside in the elements. Intermittent physical effort involving lifting of 25 pounds or less is required. Work requires high attention to detail and deadlines between 15% and 45% of the time. A typical workday involves exposure to disagreeable elements present in moderate intensity less than 15% of the time. Occasional driving on department business may be necessary.
Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The City retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.
