Parks and Recreation Director
Apply NowCompany: Onslow County, NC
Location: Jacksonville, NC 28540
Description:
Salary: $98,511.64 - $128,065.13 Annually
Location : Jacksonville, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 612200030 P&RDIR MAR 2025
Department: Parks and Recreation
Opening Date: 03/14/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Job Description
Onslow County is seeking a strong, creative and proactive Parks and Recreation professional to oversee the County's extensive recreational programs and facilities. The next Parks and Recreation Director will have a track record in innovative recreational and athletic programming, strong leadership and interpersonal skills, a vision for growth of the department that matches citizen needs and desires, and a commitment to assess and use technology solutions to enhance programs, operations, and marketing. The successful candidate must be committed to the county's Core Values, REACH - Resilience, Excellence, Accountability, Customer Service, and Honesty.
The Parks and Recreation Department has a budget of $3.2 million. This department of over 50 is comprised of the Parks and Recreation Director, Recreation Division Manager, Athletics Division Manager, Parks Division Manager, Parks Maintenance Supervisor, Parks Operations Supervisor, Athletics Assistant Division Managers, Athletic Coordinators, Recreation Coordinators, Maintenance Technicians, Park Attendants, 15-20 seasonal/temporary employees, and administrative staff.
To view more information on this position please visit:
Position Responsibilities
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be:
Education, Experience, and Special Requirements
Bachelor's degree with coursework in recreation, physical education, public administration, business administration, or related field and six (6) or more years of experience in parks and recreation management including three (3) or more years of supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Local Government/Municipal parks and recreation experience and a relevant master's degree and CPRP or CPRE certification are highly preferred.
The selected candidate will be required to maintain a driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina. Residency within the County is required.
Salary will be determined based on qualifications, internal equity, budget, and market considerations.
In order to be considered for this position, your final transcript showing the date that your degree was awarded and/or any required certificates or licenses must be uploaded with you application even if you are a current employee or we have received it with a previous application.
Regular Onslow County employees have the ability to participate in a wide array of employee benefits including:
Health Insurance
Health Insurance is provided by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina and covers a wide variety of healthcare services.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is provided by MetLife to full-time employees and covers a percentage of basic to major dental procedures, including orthodontia for children and adults.
Vision Insurance
Vision insurance is provided by MetLife to full-time employees and covers a variety of materials (contacts and glasses frames/lenses) and an annual eye exam.
North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System
Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the retirement system and must contribute 6% of their gross salary each pay period. Once eligibility requirements are met, employees will be able to receive monthly payments for life based on their salary, age, and years of service credit.
NC401k
The County contributes 1% of employees' gross salary into the 401(k) account regardless of the employee's deferral amount. In addition, the County matches employee deferrals up to an additional 4%.
Vacation Leave
Regular full-time employees earn 13.5 days of vacation leave per year. With each 5-year increment of employment, vacation accrual increases.
Sick Leave
Regular full-time employees earn 12 days of sick leave per year.
Paid Holidays
County employees receive paid holidays annually. The Board of County Commissioners approves and may adjust the schedule as deemed necessary.
Teladoc Mental Health Services
The County provides Teladoc Mental Health Services to help employees and their families with personal, family and job-related problems such as depression, and substance abuse concerns.
Supplemental Benefits
County employees are also offered a variety of supplemental benefits such as Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, 457b Deferred Compensation Plan, and MetLife Supplemental Plans.
For more information, please visit and click on the Benefits tab.
01
The minimum degree for this position is a bachelor's degree with coursework in recreation, physical education, public administration, business administration, or related field. Which of the following best describes your highest level of completed education?
02
Do you possess a valid driver's license?
03
Based on your review of the position requirements, are you able to perform the position duties with or without reasonable accommodation?
04
I understand there is a residency requirement for this position.
05
This position requires 6 or more years of successful and progressive levels of responsibility in a role planning and managing programs and resources, including personnel. Please describe your experience managing programs and/or resources.
06
Please describe your personnel management approach and your experience with recruitment/selection of employees, training, discipline/terminations, team building, and morale.
07
Onslow County's Values are REACH - Resilience, Excellence, Accountability, Customer Service, and Honesty. Which value(s) resonates with you the most and why? How would you plan to exercise these values in this position?
Required Question
Location : Jacksonville, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 612200030 P&RDIR MAR 2025
Department: Parks and Recreation
Opening Date: 03/14/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Job Description
Onslow County is seeking a strong, creative and proactive Parks and Recreation professional to oversee the County's extensive recreational programs and facilities. The next Parks and Recreation Director will have a track record in innovative recreational and athletic programming, strong leadership and interpersonal skills, a vision for growth of the department that matches citizen needs and desires, and a commitment to assess and use technology solutions to enhance programs, operations, and marketing. The successful candidate must be committed to the county's Core Values, REACH - Resilience, Excellence, Accountability, Customer Service, and Honesty.
The Parks and Recreation Department has a budget of $3.2 million. This department of over 50 is comprised of the Parks and Recreation Director, Recreation Division Manager, Athletics Division Manager, Parks Division Manager, Parks Maintenance Supervisor, Parks Operations Supervisor, Athletics Assistant Division Managers, Athletic Coordinators, Recreation Coordinators, Maintenance Technicians, Park Attendants, 15-20 seasonal/temporary employees, and administrative staff.
To view more information on this position please visit:
Position Responsibilities
- Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the activities and programs of the Parks and Recreation department in accordance with Federal, state, and local requirements.
- Develops staff including hiring, training, motivation, performance counseling and evaluation, discipline, and team building.
- Conducts inspections of all Parks and Recreation facilities and grounds; responsible for coordinating building and facilities compliance with ADA requirements and liability prevention measures.
- Attends meetings of department heads, boards, agencies, and community groups to present
department programs and needs. - Receives input from community groups and individuals regarding parks and recreation needs, utilizes such input for overall planning, programming, program evaluation.
- Prepares the department budget; coordinates, and monitors the expenditure and receipt of funds.
- Performs research and grant writing for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- Oversee the implementation of the recently completed Comprehensive Master Plan.
- Performs assigned functions as a Disaster Ready Team (DRT) member.
- Performs related tasks as required.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be:
- An empowering leader equally dedicated to building a cohesive team throughout the department as well as the development of individual employees;
- An experienced strategic thinker who can facilitate the development of a clear vision for Parks and Recreation through a community assessment;
- Experienced in leading the implementation of Parks and Recreation Master Plans;
- A skilled collaborator who easily builds partnerships with community stakeholder groups such as other regional park systems and K-12 schools as well as County departments such as the Library, the Sheriff's Department, DSS, the Health Department, etc., in order to deliver more effective programs to a larger audience;
- Creative in managing budgets, leveraging limited resources, writing and securing grant funds, and working effectively with Parks and Recreation partners to maximize complex partnerships within a County departmental system;
- An excellent and effective communicator, including one on one, small groups and public speaking, who confidently and persuasively engages citizens, community groups, staff, and the County Commission;
- Engaged in overseeing marketing of Parks and Recreation programs to reach multiple stakeholders using innovative methods;
- Savvy in technology solutions to increase staff effectiveness, community engagement and program marketing;
- Skilled in creating performance measures and metrics to assess and report on programmatic and facility efforts;
- An active participant in community relations through personal support of and engagement in departmental programs;
- A passionate educator and advocate for the department and its employees
Education, Experience, and Special Requirements
Bachelor's degree with coursework in recreation, physical education, public administration, business administration, or related field and six (6) or more years of experience in parks and recreation management including three (3) or more years of supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Local Government/Municipal parks and recreation experience and a relevant master's degree and CPRP or CPRE certification are highly preferred.
The selected candidate will be required to maintain a driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina. Residency within the County is required.
Salary will be determined based on qualifications, internal equity, budget, and market considerations.
In order to be considered for this position, your final transcript showing the date that your degree was awarded and/or any required certificates or licenses must be uploaded with you application even if you are a current employee or we have received it with a previous application.
Regular Onslow County employees have the ability to participate in a wide array of employee benefits including:
Health Insurance
Health Insurance is provided by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina and covers a wide variety of healthcare services.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is provided by MetLife to full-time employees and covers a percentage of basic to major dental procedures, including orthodontia for children and adults.
Vision Insurance
Vision insurance is provided by MetLife to full-time employees and covers a variety of materials (contacts and glasses frames/lenses) and an annual eye exam.
North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System
Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the retirement system and must contribute 6% of their gross salary each pay period. Once eligibility requirements are met, employees will be able to receive monthly payments for life based on their salary, age, and years of service credit.
NC401k
The County contributes 1% of employees' gross salary into the 401(k) account regardless of the employee's deferral amount. In addition, the County matches employee deferrals up to an additional 4%.
Vacation Leave
Regular full-time employees earn 13.5 days of vacation leave per year. With each 5-year increment of employment, vacation accrual increases.
Sick Leave
Regular full-time employees earn 12 days of sick leave per year.
Paid Holidays
County employees receive paid holidays annually. The Board of County Commissioners approves and may adjust the schedule as deemed necessary.
Teladoc Mental Health Services
The County provides Teladoc Mental Health Services to help employees and their families with personal, family and job-related problems such as depression, and substance abuse concerns.
Supplemental Benefits
County employees are also offered a variety of supplemental benefits such as Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, 457b Deferred Compensation Plan, and MetLife Supplemental Plans.
For more information, please visit and click on the Benefits tab.
01
The minimum degree for this position is a bachelor's degree with coursework in recreation, physical education, public administration, business administration, or related field. Which of the following best describes your highest level of completed education?
- High School Diploma or GED
- Associates Degree
- Bachelors Degree
- Masters Degree
- Doctorate
- None of the above
02
Do you possess a valid driver's license?
- Yes
- No
03
Based on your review of the position requirements, are you able to perform the position duties with or without reasonable accommodation?
- Yes
- No
04
I understand there is a residency requirement for this position.
- Yes
- No
05
This position requires 6 or more years of successful and progressive levels of responsibility in a role planning and managing programs and resources, including personnel. Please describe your experience managing programs and/or resources.
06
Please describe your personnel management approach and your experience with recruitment/selection of employees, training, discipline/terminations, team building, and morale.
07
Onslow County's Values are REACH - Resilience, Excellence, Accountability, Customer Service, and Honesty. Which value(s) resonates with you the most and why? How would you plan to exercise these values in this position?
Required Question