Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director

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Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director

City of Brookings, SD

Job Title: Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director

Department: Parks, Recreation, and Forestry

Supervisor: City Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Grade: 41 (2026)

Union Code: NA

Revised: 08/27/2026

Job Summary

Under the direction of the City Manager, the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for the City's parks, recreation programs and facilities, golf course, urban forestry, community enrichment, and senior services. The Director leads departmental planning, personnel, financial management, capital improvements, partnerships, and operations to provide safe, sustainable, inclusive, and responsive services and public amenities. The position works closely with City leadership, advisory boards, community organizations, and the public to anticipate future needs, advance City priorities, and enhance the community's quality of life.

City Culture and Leadership Philosophy

At the City of Brookings, we believe "what we do is bigger than us." The Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry will lead with integrity, accountability, and a strong commitment to innovation-challenging the status quo and encouraging new ideas. This role will foster a welcoming, respectful, and service-focused culture where employees are supported, continual learning is valued, and people are empowered to improve how we serve the community. By listening, collaborating, and following through, the Director will build strong teams and help ensure the City's parks, facilities, programs, and services continue to evolve, offer a place for everyone, and reflect the changing needs and interests of the whole community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management, public administration, business administration, leisure services, natural resources, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in parks, recreation, facilities, or a related field, including administrative and supervisory responsibility.
• Experience managing complex operations, budgets, employees, programs, facilities, and capital projects.
• Experience using financial information, operational data, community input, and performance measures to guide decisions and improve services.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a diverse workforce, manage organizational change, and foster a culture of service, collaboration, and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive or politically challenging matters with sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy.
• Proficiency with technology and software used for communication, reporting, budgeting, data analysis, and departmental operations.
• A combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
• Valid driver's license.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; this position does not support visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in parks and recreation management, public administration, business administration, or a related field.
• Municipal, public-sector, park district, or comparable community-service leadership experience.
• Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) or Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) designation.
• Experience overseeing multiple recreation facilities or specialized operations such as aquatics, ice facilities, golf, urban forestry, or senior services.

Major Duties (Essential Function)

• Leadership and Planning

o Provide strategic leadership and direction for the City's parks, recreation, forestry, golf course, community enrichment, senior services, facilities, programs, and events.

o Establish departmental goals, priorities, and long-range plans consistent with City Council goals, City Manager direction, and community needs.

o Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement by challenging existing practices, encouraging employees to propose and test new ideas, and thoughtfully pursuing opportunities to improve programs, facilities, operations, and service delivery.

o Monitor community needs, service levels, participation trends, technology, regulatory developments, and emerging industry practices; encourage creative, practical, and sustainable approaches to current challenges and future programs, facilities, and services

o Develop, implement, and periodically review departmental policies, procedures, service standards, and operational practices.

• Financial and Resource Management

o Prepare and administer operating and capital budgets; monitor revenues and expenditures; oversee appropriate financial and fee-collection controls; and develop sustainable fee, funding, cost-recovery, and revenue strategies.

o Plan and oversee capital improvement projects, including assessing needs, estimating costs, identifying funding, and coordinating implementation.

o Oversee departmental contracts, leases, agreements, grants, sponsorships, equipment, and other resources.

o Establish priorities for preventive maintenance, renovation, replacement, and capital investment based on asset condition, use, safety, service needs, and available resources.

o Manage departmental projects from planning through completion, including establishing objectives, schedules, budgets, responsibilities, and performance expectations; coordinating employees, consultants, contractors, and partner departments; and monitoring progress, risks, and results.

• Programs and Community Assets

o Direct the planning, development, marketing, and evaluation of recreation, athletic, community enrichment, senior, facility rental, and City-sponsored programs and events.

o Use participation data, community input, program outcomes, and available resources to strengthen existing services and identify new recreational opportunities.

o Promote programs and services that are welcoming, accessible, and responsive to different ages, abilities, backgrounds, and interests throughout the community.

o Oversee the operation, maintenance, safety, utilization, and long-term stewardship of parks, recreation facilities, athletic fields, trails, playgrounds, buildings, equipment, and other departmental assets.

o Oversee golf course operations, including course and facility conditions, customer experience, programming, financial performance, revenue development, capital needs, and long-range planning.

o Direct the City's urban forestry program, including public tree health, planting, maintenance, removal, and reforestation.

o Lead departmental emergency preparedness and continuity planning and coordinate employees, facilities, equipment, and other resources in support of Citywide emergency response and recovery efforts.

• Partnerships and Administration

o Develop and maintain partnerships with other City departments, governmental entities, schools, community organizations, businesses, and recreation associations.

o Negotiate and administer contracts, leases, joint-use agreements, and other arrangements with governmental entities, community partners, businesses, contractors, and individuals.

o Ensure departmental operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, City policies, accessibility requirements, and safety, security, and risk-management standards.

o Prepare and present budgets, reports, recommendations, project updates, and other information to the City Manager, City Council, advisory boards, and the public.

o Communicate and advocate for the value of parks, recreation, forestry, facilities, and community services through public engagement, presentations, and clear reporting of departmental outcomes.

o Respond to significant public concerns and serve as staff liaison to assigned boards and committees.

Supervisory Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Lead and supervise departmental managers, supervisors, employees, and volunteers including hiring, training, assigning work, evaluating performance, providing coaching, and administering corrective action.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for service, performance, workplace conduct, safety, and responsible use of resources.
• Support employee development, cross-training, leadership growth, and succession planning.
• Address employee concerns and workplace conflicts using sound judgment and effective conflict-resolution practices.

Marginal Duties

• Attend training, seminars and workshops as deemed necessary.
• Perform all duties in compliance with safety standards and policies established by the City.
• Perform other job-related duties as deemed necessary and additional duties, tasks, or responsibilities as assigned.

Physical Demands/Work Environment (Essential Function)

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment, with regular travel to parks, recreation facilities, the golf course, aquatic and ice facilities, project sites, and outdoor work areas.
• Frequently sits, communicates, and uses computers and standard office equipment; regularly stands and walks during meetings, inspections, events, and site visits.
• Occasionally bends, reaches, climbs stairs, and walks over uneven terrain, turf, trails, ice, wet surfaces, and active construction or maintenance areas.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pushes, or moves materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Requires sufficient vision, hearing, and manual dexterity to review information, communicate, inspect facilities, recognize hazards, operate a vehicle, and use equipment appropriate to the position.
• May be exposed to adverse weather, water, ice, noise, dust, chemicals, traffic, moving equipment, construction activity, and mechanical or operational hazards.
• Requires occasional evening, weekend, or extended hours for meetings, programs, events, or emergencies.
• Must reside within fifteen (15) miles of the City of Brookings.

Mental Complexity/Interpersonal Contacts (Essential Function)

• Exercises substantial independent judgment in directing diverse programs, facilities, personnel, and resources.
• Analyzes complex operational, financial, personnel, safety, regulatory, and community issues.
• Balances competing priorities, community expectations, available resources, political considerations, and organizational goals.
• Anticipates future needs and remains current on industry trends, technology, regulations, and emerging practices.
• Develops creative, practical, and sustainable solutions to departmental and community needs.
• Builds cohesive teams, establishes strategic direction, manages change, and motivates employees toward shared goals.
• Interacts frequently with City leadership, elected officials, employees, advisory boards, governmental agencies, contractors, community organizations, program participants, and the public.
• Presents recommendations, coordinates services, negotiates agreements, and handles sensitive or contentious matters with professionalism, tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment.

Pre-employment Screening

• Pre-employment screening may include, but are not limited to, the following: references, criminal background, credit history, drug and alcohol screening, medical history questionnaire, and pre-employment physical.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job‐related tasks other than

those specifically presented in this description.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.