Recreation Manager

Lead Recreation For An Entire Community

The City of Casper is seeking a collaborative, strategic, and innovative leader to serve as our next Recreation Manager. This position provides executive-level leadership for one of the City's most diverse service areas, overseeing recreation programs, public facilities, museum operations, athletics, aquatics, and outdoor recreation opportunities that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.

As Recreation Manager, you will oversee the Recreation Division, including Fort Caspar Museum, Casper Recreation Center, Casper Ice Arena, Casper's aquatic facilities, Sports & Athletics, and Hogadon Basin Ski Area. You'll lead a talented team, manage complex operations and budgets, oversee capital improvement projects, cultivate community partnerships, and help shape the future of recreation in Casper.

If you are an experienced public sector leader who enjoys balancing strategic planning with operational excellence while building strong relationships throughout the community, we encourage you to apply.

Incumbent is responsible for overseeing the activities and operations relating to recreation initiatives. Receives general guidance from the Parks, Recreation, and Public Facilities Director. Exercises direct supervision over the Recreation Division, which includes Fort Caspar Museum, Casper Recreation Center, Casper Ice Arena, Casper pool/aquatics facilities, Sports and Athletics, and Hogadon Basin Ski Area (Hogadon) to include: authorizing time off, approving payroll and hiring; prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.

Manages the organization, staffing, and operational activities of the Recreation Division, including Fort Caspar, Casper Recreation Center, Casper Ice Arena, Casper pool/aquatics facilities, Sports and Athletics, and Hogadon and related special programs. Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for all subsections of the Recreation Division; identifies resource needs; recommends and implements policies and procedures; sets objectives and procedures for workgroup(s) within the division.

Coordinates new construction and renovation projects; works with other City departments to oversee project budgets; negotiates professional services contracts; recommends and implements a capital improvement program for the Recreation Division. Oversees the operation and maintenance of recreation division facilities; monitors and approves programming, scheduling, and public use of division facilities; develops and administers rental and lease agreements with user groups.

Prepares, recommends, and manages the division operational and capital budgets as related to identified cost recovery goals; identifies and implements new funding and revenue-generating opportunities, approves and controls procurements and operational expenditures in compliance with City purchasing policies and procedures. Develops and executes capital projects and programs which include formulating project plans and identifying necessary resources. Compiles, prepares, and presents operational reports, business plans, contracts for services, grant applications, and related documents for review by senior management.

Ensures reports and agenda items are prepared for consideration by boards and advisory bodies, including the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Casper Historic Preservation Commission, Casper Recreation Leagues Association, and the Community Recreation Foundation. Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of recreation and assesses community recreation needs. Represents the City of Casper by responding to the public, citizens, its employees, and others in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner while continuously maintaining a positive customer service demeanor. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge (position requirements at entry): Knowledge of: current trends and innovations in recreation and museum management. Applicable Federal, State, Local, and City government codes, rules, and regulations relating to the various aspects of recreation and museum management. Operational characteristics, services, and activities of recreation and museum management. Procedures, methods, and techniques of recreation and museum management. Theories, principles, and practices of recreation and museum management. Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs. Administrative principles and practices, including goal and objective development, work planning, and employee supervision. Communication and marketing strategies. Record maintenance systems and techniques. Research methods and techniques. Data analysis methods. Mathematical and statistical principles. Grant applications and administration. Basic principles of municipal budget preparation and control. Principles of leadership, supervision, mentoring, training, and developing employees. Recordkeeping principles. Computers and related software applications.

Abilities (position requirements at entry): Ability to: apply federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to recreation and museum management. Plan and manage compliance with reports, analysis, and regulations relating to recreation and museum management. Assess and prioritize situations under work pressure, exercise good judgment, and make sound decisions. Administer programs and projects within division, including those that take place after hours and on weekends. Set work priorities and work independently with minimal supervision. Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and recommend solutions in support of goals. Compose appropriate recommendations and prepare clear and concise reports. Present accurate and reliable reports and plans which contain findings, set direction, and offer recommendations to achieve desired goals and end results. Develop, interpret and explain City and division policies and procedures. Apply and convey technical expertise. Provide presentations related to Recreation Division initiatives to City Council, service organizations, and other groups as requested. Comply with municipal budgeting practices. Negotiate, draft, and review contracts for procurement, services, facility lease or rentals, etc. Select, supervise, mentor, train, and develop staff. Provide effective leadership and direction. Coordinate the work of personnel. Operate modern office equipment, including software and operating systems/applications. Maintain a neat and professional appearance. Follow written and verbal instructions and direction. Communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Routinely demonstrate the City of Casper core values. Follow all City safety rules and procedures and immediately respond to/investigate observations or employee reports of accidents/incidents or unsafe conditions.

Skill in: interpreting and applying applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Advanced principles of budgeting. Allocating limited resources in a cost-effective manner. Providing customer service. Technical writing. Mentoring and developing employees. Delegating and prioritizing work. Public speaking. Project management. Time management. Conflict resolution. Compiling, analyzing, organizing, and evaluating data and making appropriate recommendations based on findings. Operating in a courteous, knowledgeable, and tactful manner with customers, staff, user groups, and the general public. Oral and written communication, sufficient to exchange or convey effective information and to receive work direction. Operating modern office equipment, including computer software and operating systems/applications. Developing and implementing capital plans and projects.

Education and Experience: High school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) required. Minimum of two (2) years of experience working as a supervisor. Minimum of three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience recreation program management or in the operation, maintenance, and construction of municipal recreation systems or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed below. Bachelor's Degree in recreation and park administration or a closely related field preferred.

Licensing and Certifications: Possession of a valid Wyoming driver's license preferred. Possession of, or ability to obtain, a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional or Certified Parks and Recreation Executive, within twelve (12) months of hire.

Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Employment with the City of Casper is contingent upon a successful background screen and pre-employment drug test. Applicants who have failed a pre-employment screen or have been terminated from the City of Casper are ineligible for employment consideration for 12 months. You will become eligible for consideration 12 months from the date of your incident (pre-employment screen or termination).

The City of Casper utilizes direct deposit for payroll purposes.

Driving records are required for all new employees regardless of the position's driving requirements. If the employee has not held a Wyoming driver's license for the last three years, the employee must provide at their own initiation and expense a driving record from their previous state(s) of residence.

Physical and Environmental Conditions: City of Casper employees in data creation and modification, security sensitive or safety and protective positions are subject to pre-employment drug testing. Some employees may be subject to random drug testing if their responsibilities include: Emergency response/rescue; Handling or working with hazardous materials, including chemicals as well as solid and liquid waste; Operating or maintaining water and wastewater systems; Writing or modifying code, maintaining or modifying City data systems including work on networks, servers, and communication systems; CDL operations and driving; Operating power-driven machinery or equipment; Creating or modifying health, financial, security, and or risk documents or assessments; Working with or directing minors.

Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. May include long periods of sitting, standing, or walking. Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are