Matrix & Partnerships Manager

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.
 
Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs and facilities. #OneSeattle

The Recreation Division inspires all people to reach their full potential through recreation programs and activities. We operate over 50 recreation facilities (community centers, teen centers, pools, school-based learning centers, environmental learning centers, and boating and sailing centers) and provide opportunities for people to play, learn, and lead healthy, active lives. Our programs and events include fitness and athletics, licensed childcare and preschool, swimming and boating, youth development and job preparation, academic enrichment, and more -- including programs designed for older adults and people with disabilities, as well as grant and partnership programs designed and implemented with immigrant and refugee communities. With nearly 300 regular employees and a budget of nearly $40 million annually, Recreation is a major operation with significant impact on the communities we serve. In addition to our current operations, we also strive to constantly improve the ways we serve Seattle’s residents, specifically through implementation of the SPR Strategic Plan, innovation in our facility staffing and programming approaches, and learning from national best practices and quality standards

We are seeking a leader with a proven track record of advocation for equity, a creative and solution-oriented strategist that works to identify and resolve barriers of access and opportunities for community participation in programs and services. A leader that can build and sustain collaborative relationships with partners, community, businesses, and staff. 

This position will report to the department’s Deputy Director of Recreation and be a member of the Recreation Division Leadership Team. The leader that we select for this position will be responsible for providing equitable access to recreation, resources, and opportunities through our department-wide Scholarship Fund, School Age Care Licensing, Preschool, Life Long, and Special Populations programs for communities throughout the City of Seattle.  This leader serves as the primary ADA coordinator for SPR and as a steward for SPR’s relationship with the Associated Recreation Council and other primary partners. 

The Matrix and Partnership Manager works with a team to support and sustain results focused programs and is accountable for translating City and departmental goals into specific actionable objectives and effective partnerships. This leader manages an annual budget of over $5 million dollars and supervises 6 direct reports. As an integral part of the Recreation Division Leadership Team this position is involved in high visibility programs that address specific initiatives from the Mayor’s office and City Council. This position plays an instrumental role in responding to inquiries, and requests from the public, Superintendent’s office, and elected officials. 

Communication and Engagement:

• Engage external stakeholders, including community-based organizations, advisory councils, and advocacy groups; gather external feedback through facilitating group processes to advance the division’s vision of responsive and exceptional services. 

• Provide content and technical expertise to the division, organization, and senior level decision makers. Respond to and manage ADA access requests from SPR customers, consult law as necessary, and defuse potentially troublesome issues related to SPR policies and procedures. 
• Periodically coordinates, integrates, and provides leadership for initiatives which involve cross functional, departmental, or jurisdictional ad hoc teams engaged in organized problem solving to achieve important outcomes requiring coordination and integration of diverse perspectives, skill sets, competencies and resources.  

• Represents Matrix and Partnership Unit by communicating program operating policies and procedures to division, staff, partners, advisory councils, community groups, executive leadership, and the greater public; resolve significant customer service issues.
• Provide recommendations for the development of significant programs; implements programs by developing procedures and processes, and by managing resources to achieve program objectives directed by senior decision makers.
• Create options and strategy proposals on policy level decisions, present, and defend policy recommendations made to executive decision makers; Develop, recommend, and implement policies for programs and operations that have a direct impact on services affecting the public. 
• Represent the City and Department on highly visible, sensitive and/or controversial issues including the Seattle Preschool Program.
• Promote equity and inclusion by being a leader in creating safe and welcoming spaces for the community

Budget and Program Administration:

• Research and implement methodology and best management practices for Preschool, Life Long and Specialized programming.  Ensuring equity is embedded in the development of policies and procedures by utilizing the Race and Social Justice Toolkit.
• Create guidelines and procedures to guide staff, implement staff professional development, analyze work outcomes for continuous quality improvement; lead hiring processes and manage all aspects of the employee experience including personnel situations.    

• Effectively champion equity and strategically apply the principles of anti-racism to program development, resource allocation, and team leadership.
• Implement fiscal management strategies to maximize resource allocation to disperse scholarship funds and achieve programmatic outcomes; manage current year expenditures and revenues and analyze this data for budget monitoring; and adjust as needed to stay within allocated budget.
• Oversee contract management with other city departments, state agencies, and work with multiple funding sources while complying with numerous specialized funding source requirements.
• Maintain excellent working relationships with partner organizations such as the Seattle Public Schools, Associated Recreation Council (ARC), Department of Social and Health Services, City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), and other city departments.

Requires Bachelor's Degree in Parks & Recreation, Business Administration, Leisure-Services, Social Services, or a related field, and three years of experience in developing and coordinating recreation programs, including two years of supervisory experience OR a combination of education and/or training and/or experience that provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.

A successful candidate will have strong verbal and written communication capabilities to effectively engage various audiences tactfully, and will be committed to collaboratively approaching challenges, and meeting difficult situations with grace and patience.

Specifically, you will be prepared to take on this role if you have:  

• A demonstrated working experience in exercising a high level of tact, good judgment, discretion, and diplomacy and cooperative working relationships with diverse groups of people. 

• A working knowledge of requirements when working with vulnerable populations. 
• Strong commitment to equity, and engagement with the Race and Social Justice Initiative or similar organizational effort toward undoing institutional racism.
• Experience working with HR processes including hiring, recruitment, retention, onboarding and training staff
• Five or more years of experience in parks and recreation or a closely related field.
• Experience managing projects and issues while navigating competing deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with staff of all levels in an organization.
• Experience developing data-informed recommendations for senior management on policy options and program direction.
• Experience working with community, elected officials, and advocacy groups
• Strong project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to achieve results.
• Strong motivation, delegation, and decision-making skills with clear and consistent messaging

• Demonstrated experience in managing change and navigating complex and ambiguous situations to deliver results
• Compassion and empathy and can be present and engaged in person with employees and the community at various work sites/programs.

• A cover letter in which you provide a brief summary of your experience, including any experience working with and advocating for Disabled communities, Lifelong Communities, BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA communities, and Immigrant and Refugee communities.
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Salary : $40