Job Information
City of Somerville Director of Parks & Recreation Operations in Somerville, Massachusetts
Statement of Duties:
The Director of Parks & Recreation Operations (OD) has responsibility for managing the scheduling and permitting for all parks, fields, pools, courts, and other recreation spaces for the Parks and Recreation Department. The OD works closely with the Parks and Recreation Director, Finance Manager and Program Coordinators, and the Director of DPW Operations to ensure that permits, payments, lighting schedule and staffing levels for each facility are organized and completed correctly.
Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Oversees vendor permitting, programming and staffing for Dilboy, Conway, Boathouse, Trum Field and Founders Rink and all other park facilities.
Supervises Pool Manager, Assistant Pool Manager, and lifeguard staff.
Responsible for oversight of City pool facilities and program permitting.
Issues permits for all parks, playgrounds, fields, courts, and recreation spaces for the department.
Serves as liaison to Department of Public Works (DPW) for Parks & Recreation permits. Works with Program Coordinators and Program Developer to understand their scheduling needs. Work with DPW and Somerville Public Schools (SPS) to permit space for outdoors and indoor recreation programs.
Assist with recreation event operations – work with program coordinators to understand event needs. Work as a liaison between recreation and DPW for event needs.
Serves as liaison to DPW for all 311 requests for facility needs.
Maintains financial records of all permit fees collected.
Maintains records of all DCR contracts for the Parks and Recreation department, in synchrony with the Finance Department.
Works in the MyRec and other software programs to achieve departmental goals.
Responsible for Department equipment lifecycle; conducts regular inventory of needs and authorizes repairs, replacement and disposal; oversight of purchasing of all necessary Department equipment, materials and supplies (e.g., chemicals, HR, Linarr)
Manages difficult situations and unusual problems involving interpretation of department policies and reviews complaints from patrons and recommends solutions to supervisors. Acts as a liaison with the Recreation Commission, other City departments and vendors.
Participates in the interviewing, selection, orientation, and training/onboarding of new employees by subordinate supervisors; reviews recommendations for disciplinary actions; mediates problems that arise between supervisors and employees; acts as a liaison with HR to ensure appropriate Department staffing levels; stays abreast of Americans with
Disabilities Act regulations and responds to requests for reasonable accommodation at Parks and Recreation facilities.
Submits regular and special reports on field/facilities operations; continually gathers and analyzes information for these reports; organizes and prepares reports.
Interacts with the public and represents the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Oversees adherence to Parks and Recreation rules and regulations; notifies vendors and users of violations, and takes steps to seek compliance; contacts Somerville Police Department and/or Inspectional Services to enforce rules and regulations.
Performs related work as required
Recommended Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree and at least three (3) years of related experience in parks and recreational management and operations; or an equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required knowledge skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Special Requirements:
- Valid Massachusetts Class C Driver's License is required.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Expertise and experience of athletic fields maintenance and knowledge of principles and practices of field/facilities operations management; City, State and Federal regulations concerning field/facilities operations; laws, ordinances and principles of field/facilities safety and enforcement activity; fiscal management and budget administration; project management, including the preparation of estimates and bid specifications; performance measurement; current management theory and practices; and principles and practices of effective supervision and personnel management. Knowledge of emergency procedures, First Aid, and CPR.
Ability: Ability to apply the principles, practices, and current trends in the field of athletic field/facility planning and operations; develop and implement program goals, objectives, policies, and procedures. Ensure program operations integrate with department operations as a whole; formulate long range work plans; implement programs directly and through subordinates; manage competing priorities effectively; discuss and resolve differences among multiple parties.
Ability to analyze and project needs and costs; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; collect and analyze data; make recommendations and independent decision and project consequences of decisions. Evaluate service levels and performance; develop and administer operating budgets. Read and interpret City, State and Federal laws and regulations; access and use personal computer applications including word-processing; perform basic mathematical calculations; work independently; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; review, evaluate, and modify work methods; select, train, supervise, and evaluate staff; and plan, organize, and prioritize staff work assignments.
Ability to meet and deal with the public effectively and appropriately; ability to handle problems effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to deal appropriately with employees, officials and members of the general public.
Skill: Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent data processing skills in the use of personal computers and office software including Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel) to create and maintain reports and logs. Bi-lingual or multilingual ability in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole, Chinese and/or Nepali a plus.
Work Environment
The work environment involves everyday discomfort typical of offices, with frequent exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attending evening meetings, events, or complete work assignments. Work in the field involves regular exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical Demand
Moderate physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. Work requires some agility such as moving in or about athletic fields, ice rinks, or over rough terrain, and prolonged periods standing and walking throughout facilities. Must be able to bend, lift up to 30 lbs, stretch, climb, and crawl to maintain equipment and facilities.
Motor Demand
Duties are both mental and physical; the job requires motor skills for activities such as moving objects, interacting in activities, operating a telephone, personal computer and other standard office equipment.
Visual Demand
Visual demands require constantly reading documents, on screens and paper, for general understanding and analytical purposes.
Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $88,326.46 annually, plus benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: March 12th, 2025
The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees
Overview of Total Rewards:
4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Long term disability through Sun Life
Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
Annual cancer screening & wellness release
Somerville Retirement Pension System
Tuition reimbursement
MBTA pass program
FREE Blue Bikes membership
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.
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