Parks & Recreation Director

Overview

• Leads high-performing teams, guides community engagement, and champions resource stewardship to deliver outstanding municipal services.
• Models and promotes the City’s mission, vision, and values (Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect, Compassion) while prioritizing safety and innovation.
• Provides coordinated leadership, direction and strategic planning across the diverse operational divisions of Parks & Recreation with a result-driven, positive attitude.
• Supervises direction and delivery of all departmental programs, services and community events, maintaining consistent standards, accountability and coordinated execution.
• Manages the employee lifecycle and performance expectations while fostering a culture of trust and accountability, professional growth, inclusion and high achievement throughout the department.
• Serves on the City’s Leadership Team and contributes to city-wide strategic planning.
• Represents the City’s broader interests while advancing Parks & Recreation initiatives, ensuring decisions balance community needs, interdepartmental priorities, and long-term stewardship of public assets.
• Champions the development and evaluation of the department’s leadership team to strengthen organizational alignment and effectiveness.
• Coordinates with committees, boards, and partner organizations to include but not limited to, Botanic Park Board, Mineral Springs Committee, Routt Recreation Round Table, Stream Team, Yampa River Commercial Outfitters, Routt County Riders, SSWSC and Youth Athletics, Steamboat Digs Dogs, Friends of the Yampa, Yampa Water Conservation, Yampa River Society, Keep Routt Wild, Cattleman’s Conservation Association, Steamboat Springs History Museum, Rugby, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Steamboat Springs School District, Special Olympics, Cycle Effect, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, USFS, Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, Yampatika, Colorado Water Trust, Golf Management Committee, Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Board, Howelsen Ice Pavilion User Group, Emerald Park User Group, Mainstreet Steamboat, Rotary Club, and more.
• Responsible for work and strategic planning, results-based facilitation, and operational management of all the division’s functions.
• Creates and manages annual operating and capital budgets; identifies revenue opportunities and cost-effective service delivery.
• Develops and implements departmental procedures and standards; as well as divisional goals, objectives and the development of both short and long-range plans of the department.
• Plans, coordinates and directs a diversified year-round recreation and land management programs and operations.
• Provides technical advice and serves as a subject matter expert where appropriate; and acts as a liaison with community partners, advisory boards and external agencies.
• Oversees recreation, parks, and facility maintenance alongside facilitating capital improvements / asset management.
• Collaborates with Risk Management, Safety Commit

Final Day To Apply:

10/08/2026

It's fun and rewarding to work for the City of Steamboat Springs!  Our employees are passionate and proud to serve our community with excellence and distinction.  Our teams are awesome, and we are committed to our community and the very special place that is Steamboat Springs, Colorado!

Job Description:

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Class Title:              DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION

Department:            Parks and Recreation

Division:                   Administration

Grade:                       M16

FLSA Status:           Exempt

Date:                         September 2026

GENERAL PURPOSE

Serves as an ambassador of the City of Steamboat Springs and upholds City values of Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect and Compassion, while espousing safety at all times.

Provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for the City’s extensive Parks & Recreation system, including 31 park sites totaling more than 1,000 acres; the Yampa River Botanic Park; the Yampa River Core Trail; all City-managed trails, streetscapes, and open spaces (encompassing more than 2,500 acres); the Howelsen Hill Ski and Sports Complex; Howelsen Ice Arena; Howelsen Rodeo Complex; Bear River Park; and Haymaker Golf Course. Guides and leads executive functions for natural resources management encompassing the Yampa River and the historic minerals springs. Directs a wide range of year‑round recreational, cultural, environmental, and community programs while ensuring the stewardship, accessibility, and long‑term sustainability of these essential public assets.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the City Manager.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Offers leadership and oversight to the Deputy Director and division leaders, as well as to full-time staff, and seasonal or contracted personnel, both directly and through subordinate leaders, across all operational areas.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

Operations