Director of Parks & Recreation

Invites your interest for the position of

Creates meaningful experiences by providing exceptional services, programs, and events.

The Community

About the Department

Downey is a unique community in the heart of Southern California that combines the best of both large and small. The City has a population of 113,363 and covers an area of 12.7 square miles. It is situated in the Gateway Cities area southeast of Los Angeles County, about ten miles from the Pacific Ocean, and is roughly half way between downtown Los Angeles and Disneyland. It is conveniently located near several major freeways and is an ideal home base to take advantage of the many cultural and recreational activities in Southern California. Downey is home to where the Apollo Space Program began its journey to the stars. It is where you can find the world’s oldest McDonalds restaurant and the site of the first Taco Bell eatery. Today, Downey is highly recognized for its centralized location, top medical facilities, quality residential neighborhoods and schools, excellent golf courses, and an unmatched family lifestyle. Downey boasts an outstanding quality of life with numerous parks, two public golf courses, a model City library, live theater, symphony orchestra, historical society and art museum. It also has a wide selection of housing options and an award winning public school district. In November 2016, the City’s voters approved Measure S, an increase of ½ percent to the transactions and use tax. Measure S is expected to generate approximately $9 million per year for the purpose of improving the City’s infrastructure, including its park facilities and buildings to protect and enhance the quality of services to the community. A total of seven (7) City parks are almost completely renovated thanks to Measure S. These parks include Apollo, Independence, Dennis the Menace, Furman, Discovery, and Wilderness. Improvements to some of these parks include: new picnic shelters, rubberized surfacing at play areas, new restroom and community building structures, basketball court improvements, tennis court upgrades, turf renovation, addition of synthetic fields, ADA improvements, pond restoration, among others.

The Department has 13 full-time and 300-400 part-time staff (peak Summer season) and an operating budget of $14.3 million. The Parks and Recreation Department is comprised of seven divisions: Administration (including grants and contract services), Facilities & Events, Fee Supported Recreation Programs, Golf Course Operations, Transit, Theatre and Cemetery. Additionally, the City and the Downey Unified School District collaborate to administer a State grant to provide after school programming (ASPIRE). The Department enhances the quality of life for Downey residents and positively influences neighborhoods through the provision of quality recreational opportunities, parks, and facilities for all residents and visitors of Downey. The department is committed to providing services that strengthen the community’s image and provide a sense of place, thereby supporting economic development, increasing public engagement, and promoting health and wellness.

Downey is a Charter City operating under the Council-Manager form of municipal government. The City Council is the legislative and policy-making body for the City. The five Council Members are elected at-large for four-year overlapping terms of office, and the Mayor’s seat is rotated annually. The City’s approximately 426 regular full-time employees and approximately 400 part-time (peak Summer season) employees provide an array of services including police and fire protection, emergency medical services, water distribution, sanitary sewer maintenance and wastewater collection, street construction and maintenance, library services, community development, a transit system, and parks and recreational facilities including a senior center, and an exceptional 18-hole golf course and events Center. The City also owns and operates the Columbia Memorial Space Center, a state-of-the-art, 20,000 square foot learning center. The City’s FY 2019-2020 General Fund budget is approximately $99 million. The total operating budget is $261 million.

City Government

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications

The Director must be a strategic, forward thinking leader who is willing to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Key priorities include working with contractors and other departments to complete the measure S projects and continued efforts to pursue grant funding to support park and facility improvements and program offerings.

The ideal candidate must be someone who is able to convey a positive influence on day-to-day operations, possess a “can do” attitude, and be comfortable with a hands-on and proactive approach to all aspects of department procedures. He/she should be open and approachable, as well as able to identify, select and motivate subordinate staff. The Department operates with a team approach to service delivery through collaborative efforts with other departments and community partners. The selected candidate will have exceptional communication, management, and interpersonal skills.

In addition, he/she should be able to display outstanding character, integrity, and professionalism; communicate effectively both orally and in writing with the ability to build consensus and provide a positive example; effectively manage department operations with the ability to embrace and effectively implement new ideas; deal constructively with conflict with the ability to analyze and resolve complex and sensitive issues and situations; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships in the performance of duties.

The position reports to the City Manager and serves as staff liaison to the Recreation & Community Services Commission, and the Downey Cemetery District. Examples of essential functions include: Administering the overall management and coordination of all parks and recreation programs; Developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, and priorities related to the social, recreation and cultural needs of the community; Preparing reports, proposals, and coordinating studies on current issues to support and advise the City Manager to resolve issues and formulate policy; Preparing long-range plans for the development of the department; Perform work in the preparation and management of the department budget, including grant application and administration; Meeting with a variety of community groups to provide information, enlist support, resolve issues, plan events and activities; Directing the planning and improvement of all facilities of the department; Administering various content and concession agreements for the Downey Theatre, Downey Link & Dial-A-Ride transit systems, and the Rio Hondo Golf Course and Banquet Center; Performing other related duties as assigned.

The Position

The desired combination of training and experience for the position is equivalent to graduation from an accredited col-lege or university with a Bachelor’s degree in recreation, public administration or a closely related field and seven years of increasingly responsible administrative experience in public recreation and park program management. At least two years at the Director level within an agency com-parable to the City of Downey or five years at the mid-management level is preferred. A Master’s degree is highly desirable. Due to the performance of field duties that require opera-tion of a motor vehicle, a valid California Class C Driver’s License is required, as well as and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and through employment. The selected candidate should have excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation and public relations skills, as well as knowledge of: principles and practices of public parks and leisure services, cultural and special event pro-grams, facilities and resources administration; park plan-ning, development, and maintenance; applicable sections of federal, state, and local laws, and codes pertaining to the various functions of the department; community organiza-tion and methods for assessing and stimulating meaningful public interest and participation; organization of City gov-ernment and the methods of professional leadership; princi-ples and practices of supervision, training, and budget prep-aration and control.

Compensation & Benefits

Application and Selection Process To be considered, please submit an employment application on-line through the City website at www.downeyca.org with a current resume attached that includes salary history and three work related references. This position is open until filled and may close without prior notice. A limited number of applicants whose qualifications most closely match the needs of the City will be invited to participate in an oral interview. Finalist name(s) will be recommended to the City Manager for final selection. A conditional offer of employment will be based on acceptable results from an extensive background check. A pre-placement medical exam that includes a drug screen is also required. If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Office at (562) 904-7293 or humanresources@downeyca.org.

The annual salary range for the Director of Parks & Recreation position is $131,007.96 to $159,829.68. A 3% range increase is effective March 23, 2020. The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary with an excellent benefits packing that includes: Medical: The City contributes up to the PERS Choice (PPO plan) rate of eligible premium coverage offered by

CalPERS. There is no eligibility to receive any unused premium amount based on the employee’s medical election. Medical insurance coverage is effective the first of the month following date of hire. A Medical Opt Out provision is available subject to proof of alternative employer group coverage. Opt Out rates are up to $650 per month based on number of qualified dependent(s).

Dental: 2016 City contribution rate of up to $52.38 per month towards dental insurance coverage through Delta Dental for employee plus qualified dependent(s). The City also offers a dental maintenance organization plan through MetLife. The City contributes 100% of the MetLife premium for employee only. Coverage is effective the first of the month following date of hire.

Retirement: Enrollment in the CalPERS 2% @ age 60 retirement formula for “classic members” with an employee 7% member contribution or CalPERS 2% @ age 62 for “new members” with an employee 6.25% member contribution.

Auto Allowance: $300.00 per month. Vacation: 160 hours of paid vacation (accrued based on hours worked) with a two year maximum accrual. Sick Leave: 96 hours of paid sick leave per year (accrued monthly based on hours worked) with no maximum accrual. Executive Leave: 32 hours of paid executive leave per calendar year, with no cash out or rollover provision. Holidays: 11 paid holidays per calendar year. LTD & AD&D: City paid coverage for Long Term Disability and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)

insurance. Life Insurance: City paid coverage for a basic life insurance policy in the amount of $100,000. Work Schedule: The City provides a “9/80” work schedule with an alternating Friday off. Other: In addition to a Deferred Compensation Program, the City offers an Employee Voluntary Benefits Program that

includes: Flexible Spending Account, Supplemental Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness Insurance.

City of Downey Human Resources

11111 Brookshire Ave