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Title: Deputy Dir. of Parks & Rec.

Organization: PARDS: Administration

Department: Park & Recreation Admin

Location: Parks

Rate of Pay: $82,508.12

Job Summary

The Deputy Director of Recreation & Community Engagement provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the Parks & Recreation Department's recreation, programming, community engagement, aquatics, athletics, special events, administrative support, and community-based service functions. Reporting directly to the Parks & Recreation Director, the position translates departmentwide strategic priorities into measurable operating plans and directs assigned managers, supervisors, coordinators, and teammates. The position strengthens year-round recreation opportunities, inclusive service delivery, community partnerships, volunteer engagement, special events, workforce development, and effective use of PARD facilities and resources. The Deputy Director serves as a senior representative of the Department and may serve as Acting Director when designated.

Competencies

Customer Service
Employee Development
Cultural Competence
Conflict Management
Dependable & Trustworthy
Departmentwide Perspective
Effective Communication
Purpose & Vision
Problem Solving
Strategic Thinking
Leadership
Achieves Results
Decision Making
Financial Stewardship
Planning & Prioritization
Collaboration & Partnership Development

Key Functions/Knowledge/Skills

Directs, coordinates, and evaluates assigned recreation, aquatics, athletics, special events, community engagement, and administrative operations.

Develops and implements short- and long-term recreation and community engagement strategies aligned with the Department's strategic priorities, Master Plan, service standards, and community needs.

Assists the Director in evaluating existing programs and services and developing new or expanded services based on participation, community feedback, operational capacity, equity, safety, and measurable outcomes.

Leads a blended year-round service delivery model using full-time, part-time, and seasonal teammates, contracted instructors, volunteers, community organizations, and strategic partners.

Provides executive oversight of recreation centers, camps, aquatics, inclusion programming, youth and adult athletics, special events, and other assigned community services.

Strengthens PARD-operated athletics, including gymnasium operations and in-house youth programming, while supporting responsible growth of adult sports and coordination with external leagues and organizations.

Directs the departmentwide Special Events operating model, including standardized event procedures, trained rotating PARD event support, volunteer integration, and coordination of specialized resources.

Builds and maintains productive relationships with nonprofit organizations, schools, universities, athletic organizations, instructors, civic groups, health and wellness partners, and other community stakeholders.

Establishes service standards, performance measures, participation goals, program evaluation methods, and reporting expectations for assigned divisions.

Assists in developing and maintaining policies, procedures, contracts, use agreements, reservations, program standards, and operating practices; ensures compliance with applicable City policies and laws.

Prepares and helps administer assigned budgets, forecasts revenues and expenditures where applicable, monitors financial performance, and identifies opportunities to improve service delivery and resource utilization.

Selects, coaches, motivates, develops, and evaluates assigned leaders and teammates; promotes professional development, certifications, cross-training, succession planning, and internal advancement opportunities.

Coordinates with the other Deputy Director to share teammates, equipment, training, technical expertise, and event resources while protecting each division's core operating responsibilities.

Represents the Department at City Commission, boards, public meetings, neighborhood meetings, professional conferences, partner meetings, and other public or intergovernmental settings.

Responds to complex community concerns and operational issues consistent with City policy and the Director's strategic direction.

Serves as Acting Parks & Recreation Director when designated and performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience

Ph.D./J.D./P.E., etc. (no experience), or master's degree plus three years of experience, or bachelor's degree plus five years of experience, or associate's degree plus seven years of experience, or high school graduation or GED plus nine years of experience.

Special Certifications & Licenses

Valid Texas Driver’s License.

Relevant professional certifications in parks and recreation, public administration, facility management, project management, aquatics, athletics, turf/grounds, or related disciplines are preferred when applicable to the assigned portfolio.

Independence & Judgement

Receives instructions as to work results to be attained; responsible for recognizing moderately complex problems and taking responsibility for resolving them; refers very complex problems to supervisor; otherwise just reports on problem and solution after the fact; results monitored for soundness and judgment.

Initiative & Ingenuity

Progressive level of specialization requiring a large amount of interpretation and non-standard responses to varied situations; must know where to go for answers (not all sitting there in procedures manual); must take multiple factors into account; control over priorities.

Supervisory & Responsibility

Supervises and directs a group of sufficient size or complexity to require the use of supervisory subordinates.

Financial Responsibility

Calculates amounts due, using some judgment; receives and processes larger amounts (several thousand dollars on one day not uncommon); balances receipts and cash from one or more other employees; monitors budget; brings problems to attention of supervisor; has substantive input into overall organizational budget.

Level & Frequency of Outside Contact

Lots of contact with highly varied groups involving sensitive or difficult interactions that require persuasion and negotiations.

Physical Demands

Office job with little or occasional light physical effort. Ability to exert up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally or a negligible amount of energy frequently to lift, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

Responsibility for Equipment & Property

Responsible for assigned equipment/property used outside of office; responsible for handing out to and retrieving property/equipment from employees and keeping inventory; use of agency vehicle.

Working Conditions

Office job, no adverse conditions.

Other Requirements

The City of Brownsville requires all employees to successfully pass a Drug & Alcohol and a physical examination and a Background Check.

ADA Requirements

The City of Brownsville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

Benefits

The City of Brownsville offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support its employees' well-being and future. Employees participate in a robust retirement plan through the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) City to Employee Matching Ratio 2:1, with eligibility for retirement after 5 years of service at age 60 or 20 years of service at any age.



The City provides exceptional health benefits, including medical, dental, and life insurance plans for employees and their families, along with vision coverage for employees enrolled in health insurance through MetLife. Employees and their dependents can also access care at Frontier Clinic at no cost when covered by the City's health plan. Additionally, pet insurance is available as a voluntary benefit.



Employees have access to deferred compensation plans through Equitable and supplemental insurance options from AFLAC and Colonial Life. Full-time employees accrue 10 sick days and 15 vacation days annually.

The City offers parental leave concurrent with FMLA for eligible employees, longevity pay, and 100% tuition assistance up to $5,000 annually. Furthermore, Brownsville observes 14 holidays per year, plus two floating holidays, giving employees a balanced and rewarding work-life experience.

Starting in fiscal year 2025, employees will have access to flexible scheduling options as part of our commitment to work-life balance.

EEOC Statements

The City of Brownsville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.