Director of Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront

General Purpose

The Director of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront provides strategic and operational leadership for the planning, development, and management of Burlington’s parks, recreation, waterfront, cemetery, and urban forestry systems. This role is responsible for guiding the department’s vision, aligning resources with community needs, and ensuring safe, equitable, and vibrant public spaces and programs for all residents and visitors. The Director oversees budgeting, personnel, capital planning, program evaluation, and external partnerships while serving as a key liaison to community organizations, regulatory bodies, and other City departments. This position is a mayoral appointment; the Director serves at the pleasure of and reports directly to the Mayor. 

Union Affiliation: Non-Union 
Pay Grade: $110,710.32 - $124,677.33 Annually
Remote Tier 2: Up to one (1) day remote/week.

Essential Job Functions

 

• Leadership support for City’s parks, recreation, harbor, cemetery, and arboriculture programs and facility maintenance staff.
• Prepare and administer department’s annual budget; monitor all department expenditures, prepare budget amendments as needed.
• Prepare and evaluate Master and Strategic Plans combining staff, public and administration input into Department direction.
• In conjunction with the Mayor and Commissions, define department goals and allocate resources as needed to accomplish them.
• Directs and participates in personnel actions such as hiring, performance evaluation, discipline and termination, within the guidelines of the City’s personnel policies and collective bargaining agreements.
• When necessary allocate personnel to department functions as needed to carry out Department goals.
• Administer union contract; hear and adjudicate grievances.
• Evaluate annual fee schedules and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Negotiate contracts, manage, and monitor lease compliance for concessions or private entities operating within City Parks harbor and City Park facilities; initiate corrective actions as necessary.
• Solicit and administer state and federal grants for park and harbor development, penny for parks program, personnel development, student work study projects and recreation programs.
•  Leading the team responsible for overseeing  third-party consultants and contractors to ensure services are delivered effectively and support development goals Guide and supervise preparation of bid documents; recommend contract awards and coordinate with planning team to conduct field investigations to ensure construction projects meet contract standards.
• Solicit private businesses to support Department programs and facilities
• Serve as Ex-Officio Board Member for Parks Foundation of Burlington providing leadership and direction for private philanthropy initiatives that support the mission of the parks comprehensive plan.  
• Advise Mayor and Commissioners of important public issues and seek their advice on major policy matters.
• Forecast burial trends, cemetery life expectancy to help prioritize cemetery design and development.
• Maintain coordination of work efforts with other departments, including with the Burlington School District on various partnerships and programs and athletic programs that rely on city fields/courts, etc.
• Participate in review of construction and planning documents (public and private) in coordination with Planning to ensure compliance with City’s open space plan, its addendums and ordinances.
• Ensure that tree inspections, maintenance, and planting occur in accordance with the approved Urban Forestry Management Plan.
• Prepare agenda packets, attend meetings and make recommendations on policy issues to the Board of Parks & Recreation, Harbor and Cemetery Commissioners.
• Issue permits, lease agreements and contracts for private or public uses of City parks.
• Supervise Harbormaster for the Burlington Harbor; oversee and execute facility Ensure compliance with ACT 250 at impacted parks and overseeing all major events and festivals on the Waterfront.
• Maintain positive public relations by providing information to the public and by responding to public comments.  Act as the department spokesperson to the media.  
• Formulate, recommend and enforce rules and regulations for the control, safety and convenience of park users and cemetery operations.

Non-Essential Job Functions: 

• Performs other duties as required.

Additional Information

Promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity.

The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable work-force that mirrors the population and world that we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, crime victim status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, or genetic information in employment or the provision of services.

In addition to being an equal opportunity employer we actively encourage applicants who can contribute to our growing diversity to apply.

Applications for our employment opportunities are only accepted online through our Government Jobs website.

For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at 802-540-2505 or careers@burlingtonvt.gov.