DIRECTOR OF
PARKS & RECREATION CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA
Chickasha, Oklahoma is a vibrant, growing city with an inviting spirit and incredible opportunities for economic development, education, arts and culture. The county seat of Grady County, Chickasha is conveniently located along Interstate 44, at the intersection of US Highways 81 and 62, and is just 30 minutes from the Oklahoma City metro area. This thriving city has a lot to offer more than 16,000 people who call it home; in fact, most of your needs can be met without leaving town. Chickasha has healthcare providers, restaurants, grocers, sporting goods stores, boutiques, and much more. We are also the home of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, the state’s only public liberal arts university. Chickasha residents enjoy an extensive park system, with more than 2,000 acres of land offering a wide variety of recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and many facilities for the community to enjoy.
The Chickasha Sports Complex draws more than 400,000 visitors each year for baseball, softball, football and soccer games and tournaments. The Complex, set up to host large events, also has playgrounds and a cross country course. In early 2022, we invested nearly $100,000 in a leveling project for our 15 baseball and softball fields, making them some of the best in the state of Oklahoma. In addition to hosting the annual Festival of Light, Shannon Springs Park offers a splash pad and swimming pool, outdoor exercise, playgrounds, picnic tables, and fishing. We have several other parks throughout the City, providing walking paths, playground equipment, splash pads and basketball courts to all residents. Outside of city limits, Lake Chickasha is a location destination for those seeking water recreation and leisure activities including boating, fishing, picnic pavilions, hiking and camping.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The City of Chickasha’s Parks and Recreation Director reports directly to the City Manager. This position is tasked with maintaining and beautifying 2,000 acres of city parks and Lake Chickasha, as well as overseeing the Sports Complex, which has more than 20 athletic fields and attracts 400,000 visitors annually. The Parks & Recreation Director oversees a budget of approximately $1,000,000 and staff that flexes in size from 8 to 15 people depending on seasonal needs. Additional responsibilities include: • Ensure park grounds and facilities are well-maintained, prioritizing cleanliness and safety • Respond to and resolves citizens’ inquiries and complaints • Hire, motivate and evaluate personnel while providing appropriate training opportunities • Supervise development and administration of department budget, forecasting future staffing, equipment and supply needs
LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION Key priorities for the new Parks & Recreation Director include:
• Create a business model for sustainability of Sports Complex and Lake Chickasha • Develop long-term plan for capital improvements and expanded services with input from Boards, committees and community groups. • Set and maintain high expectations for facility cleanliness and customer service • Stay current on and employ best practices in parks and sports complex management
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Parks and Recreation Director is a critical component in city leadership, as their department’s work is a reflection of the vision and direction of the City of Chickasha. It is important for this individual to network with other businesses and organizations in the Chickasha and the surrounding areas to increase Sports Complex attendance and Parks usage, communicate new and canceled events, and to cross promote events at other venues. With more than 400,000 annual visitors at the Sports Complex alone, the Parks and Recreation Department is a major contributor to sales tax generation. The commitment to running an active Sports Complex is much like the job of an event manager – the time required is not always 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To ensure tournaments’ and leagues’ needs are met, the Parks and Recreation Director will need to maintain a flexible schedule that may include nights and weekends when the need arises. In addition to managing an active Sports Complex, our new Parks and Recreation Director should have a vision for a vibrant parks system as well as for the growth of amenities at and use of Lake Chickasha. This individual should be driven to seek training opportunities for themselves and their staff to be able to maintain a top-of-the-line comprehensive parks and recreation system.
EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
• Prior experience managing a department of at least 10 people required • Experience developing and maintaining a department budget as well as forecasting budgetary needs required • Bachelor’s degree preferred
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
This is a full-time, salaried position with an annual salary of $58,500 - $82,000. The City of Chickasha offers a full suite of benefits including medical insurance, dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plan and flexible spending plan. Optional voluntary coverage includes vision, life insurance, short term disability, long term disability, accident, cancer and critical illness. Paid time off includes: • 80 hours of vacation leave is banked at time of hire, with an additional 80 hours accrued during the first year of employment. In year two and after, 160 hours of vacation leave will be accrued. • Sick leave is accrued at 8 hours per month, with an initial bank of 80 hours of sick leave available • 10 paid holidays
QUESTIONS? Please contact:
• Cindy Rogers, Human Resources/Finance Director • (405) 222-6013 or cindy.rogers@chickasha.org • Tyler Brooks, City Manager • (405) 222-6045 or tyler.brooks@chickasha.org
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates can apply online at chickasha.org/jobs. Please upload your resume with application.