What are the responsibilities and job description for the Parks Manager – Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services position at City of San Jose?
The City of San Jose's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is proud to be “Building Community Through Fun” through innovative, creative, and excellent programs and services. Our mission is to build healthy communities through people, parks, and programs. The Department is a steady force in our community, advancing education, health, and social connections. We meet the diverse needs of our community across the lifespan by connecting people to places and people to people. The principles of equity, access, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and flexibility guide us.
The Department creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn, which include 51 community centers, 209 parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, over 65 miles of trails, programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families in our community. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public’s trust. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative.
To learn more, click here.
PRNS is currently seeking to fill a full-time Parks Manager position for its Parks Division Operations Team.
Salary range for this classification is $138,989.76 - $169,391.04 annually.
The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. In addition to the starting salary, employees in this Park Manager classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation.
City Association of Management Personnel, IFPTE, Local 21 (CAMP) represents this position. Click here to view contract information.
About the position:
The City of San José is seeking an innovative, strategic, and politically astute leader to serve in a senior management capacity within the Parks Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS). This critical position oversees one centralized citywide operation and approximately one-third of the City’s park maintenance services, managing a $10.2 million budget and a diverse portfolio that includes parks, trails and facilities spread across more than 880 acres of parkland. The Parks Manager will directly supervise three Parks, Recreation and Facilities Supervisors (PRFS), who collectively oversee a team of 53 full-time employees and 8.59 full-time equivalent part-time staff. Together, this team is responsible for park maintenance and operations.
This position plays a vital role in guiding daily operations and shaping long-term strategic efforts to improve and maintain San José’s park system. The Parks Manager will lead district-based and citywide functions, oversee and coordinate minor capital improvement projects, and provide leadership in the implementation of park maintenance standards and irrigation upgrades. Additional responsibilities include responding to community inquiries, supporting elected officials and external partners, managing vendor contracts, reviewing construction and planning documents, and contributing to interdepartmental and regional initiatives. The role will also support the City’s Business Intelligence Program by advancing amenity-based data metrics to improve park service delivery.
This opportunity is ideal for a seasoned professional with a proven track record in public sector operations, team leadership, and community engagement. The selected candidate will be instrumental in advancing PRNS’s mission to build healthy communities through people, parks, and programs—and to position San José as a national leader in parks and recreation management. This position is eligible for management differential pay during an acting assignment.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple Parks Manager roles within the department, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply to ensure consideration of future opportunities.
Education and Experience:
Completion of 60 semester units/90 quarter units from an accredited college or university in parks and/or recreation management or a related field AND six (6) years of experience in park management or professional public administration in planning and organizing community cultural or recreational facilities and programs, including three (3) years of supervisory or lead experience over an assigned maintenance or service district, facility or citywide or regional-serving program with multiple service delivery locations.
Acceptable Substitution:
A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in parks and/or recreation management or a related field may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required experience.
Additional related experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Required Licensing (such as driver’s license, certifications, etc.):
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:
Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations. Safety practices and procedures related to maintenance operations.
Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
Collaboration - Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
Initiative -Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
Management - Evaluates priorities to ensure the 'true' top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for the employees and the work unit.
Political Skill - In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
Selection Process:
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.
You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.
How would you characterize your leadership style, and how do you leverage this approach to achieve measurable outcomes with the teams you lead? Please provide specific examples that illustrate the effectiveness of your leadership, including key challenges you have encountered and the strategies you employed to address them.
Please outline your experience in fiscal management, particularly in overseeing multiple budgets across various programs. Specify the total budget amount under your purview and describe your strategic approach to fund allocation and cost control. Additionally, discuss how you engage your team in the financial management process to promote accountability and efficiency.
- As a leader in the Parks Division, you will play a pivotal role in shaping departmental priorities related to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Describe a conservation or natural resource protection project in which you have been involved. Include key project details, your role, and the outcomes achieved.
You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Vaishali Vashistha at vaishali.vashistha@sanjoseca.gov.
Salary : $138,990 - $169,391
