Director of Parks and Recreation

Posted 03-Aug-26 Location Addison, Texas Contract type and working hours Full-time Categories Recreation Sector Parks Required Education 4 Year Degree Title Town of Addison, TX – Director of Parks and Recreation The Town of Addison Addison is a vibrant and unique community located in the heart of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex with a resident population of approximately 17,000 and a daytime population exceeding 100,000. Known as a major employment, dining, and entertainment hub in North Texas, Addison combines the energy, vibrancy, and commerce of a large city with the accessibility and sense of community of a small town. The Town’s 4.4-square-mile urban environment includes more than 12 million square feet of office space, over 200+ restaurants, 23 hotels, unique retail destinations, and a wide variety of residential options, making Addison a true live, work, and play community. Addison is widely recognized as a destination community, known for its nationally acclaimed special events, vibrant parks and public spaces, and active community life. Signature events such as Kaboom Town! and Oktoberfest draw visitors from across the region each year, and the Town’s parks, trails, recreation programs, and the Addison Athletic Club play an important role in the community’s identity and quality of life. Addison’s combination of business vitality, entertainment, dining, events, and accessible public spaces makes it one of the most unique and dynamic communities in North Texas. Government Addison was incorporated on June 15, 1953, and became the Town of Addison with the adoption of a new charter on April 3, 1982. The charter established the Council-Manager form of government. The Council is comprised of a Mayor and six members who are elected at-large. In Addison, the Mayor and City Council are elected for two-year terms and may serve up to three successive terms. The Council's responsibility is to enact local legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies, and appoint the City Manager. The City Manager serves as the chief administrator, ensuring the Council's policies are carried out. Addison Core Values In Addison, employees strive to Be BRAVE through the core values of AccountaBility, Responsiveness, InnovAtion, SerVice, and IntEgrity. These values guide how the organization serves and makes a difference in the community. The successful candidate will exemplify these values and vision for the future of the organization by setting the tone for employees. Parks and Recreation Department The Addison Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for providing high-quality parks, public spaces, programs, facilities, and events, that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors. The department oversees parks and open spaces, landscaping and beautification, trail systems, the Addison Athletic Club, recreation and fitness programs, community events, and capital improvement projects related to parks and recreation facilities. The department plays a major role in maintaining the Town’s public spaces and supporting Addison’s reputation as a vibrant, active, and destination-oriented community. The department also oversees public spaces used for concerts and festivals which play a significant role in Addison’s identity as an entertainment and destination community. The department is heavily involved in planning and supporting Addison’s signature special events, including Kaboom Town! and Oktoberfest, which attract thousands of visitors each year and are an important part of the Town’s identity and tourism economy. The department works closely with other Town departments, community partners, and event organizers to ensure these events and programs are successful, well-coordinated, and continue to enhance the Town’s parks, facilities, and community experience. The Position The Director of Parks and Recreation reports to the Deputy City Manager and serves as the strategic and operational leader of the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department. The Director is responsible for overseeing department operations, including parks and facilities, landscaping and beautification, the Addison Athletic Club, recreation programs and community events. The Director develops department goals and priorities, manages the department budget, oversees staff and operations, and ensures that programs, services, and facilities align with the Town’s vision and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors. Duties And Responsibilities Provides strategic leadership for the planning, maintenance, enhancement, and long-term stewardship of the Town's parks, trails, landscaped areas, and public spaces. Promotes Parks and Recreation services, programs, and activities through community and public events. Provides direction and vision to assigned staff in the operation of the Parks and Recreation Department; makes decisions regarding personnel-related matters to include, hiring, training, directing, evaluating, disciplining, and terminating. Attends City Council and community meetings as needed to represent the interests of the Parks and Recreation Department and to coordinate Parks and Recreation programs, activities, and expansion. Interacts with public and private organizations, Town departments and staff, and Town residents in the long- and short-term planning, development, and delivery of Parks and Recreation programs, services, activities, and facilities. Presents status reports to Town management and City Council and assures effective communication of operational and technical issues; assures all operational, legal, technical, and financial issues are properly addressed and resolved; interprets and explains federal and state rules and regulations; assures Department’s activities are in compliance with all laws, regulations, and quality and safety standards. Collaborates with stakeholders for successful capital improvement projects. Prepares and administers department budgets for all divisions; delivers presentations to Council to justify budget expenses, requests additional funding, and presents agenda items related to the department. Serves as the principal advisor to the Town on Parks and Recreation projects, programs, and technical issues; develops and directs strategies to meet goals and objectives; interprets concerns, defines desired results, develops solutions, and determines scope and priorities of projects. Responds to and resolves complaints, concerns, and questions regarding the Parks and Recreation Department programs, facilities, vision, policies, and procedures. Analyzes operational information, evaluates trends, and develops plans with other Town departments to achieve future goals and growth objectives; assures department, program goals, and standards are defined, attained, and congruent with Town goals. Education And Experience Qualified applicants will possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Parks and Recreation Management, Public or Business Administration, or related field and at least seven (7) years of parks experience, which includes five (5) years of previous supervisory experience. A Master’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management, Public or Business Administration, or related field and/or a State of Texas Registered Landscape Architect designation or Certified Parks and Recreation Professional is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will be an accomplished municipal parks professional with extensive experience managing parks operations, park planning, capital improvement projects, landscaping, beautification, public spaces, park maintenance programs, recreation programming and special events. They should possess a strong understanding of the planning, development, maintenance, and long-term stewardship of high-quality public parks and open spaces and be passionate about creating safe, attractive, and sustainable community assets. The Town is seeking a highly engaged and visible leader who embraces community events, activates public spaces, and supports the use of parks and facilities as gathering places for residents and visitors. The ideal candidate should have a customer service mindset and a balanced approach to policies and operations, recognizing that parks and public spaces are meant to be enjoyed and experienced by the community. This individual should be approachable, collaborative, and comfortable working in a very public-facing role that includes community events, festivals, and programming. The ideal candidate should also be an effective communicator who works well with staff, Town leadership, elected officials, and the community. They should be organized, forward-thinking, and are able to successfully manage people, budgets, projects, and departmental operations while planning for future re-development, facility enhancements, and community amenities. Salary The Town of Addison is offering a salary range starting at $170,000, commensurate with experience, and a comprehensive benefits package. Relocation assistance will be available for the successful out of area candidate. The Town of Addison is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr NRPA Leadership Development Network