Assistant Community Services Director
Definition of the Position
The City of Orange Community Services Department is looking for its next Assistant Director! Qualified, dynamic and enthusiastic candidates are welcome to apply for this exciting position.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
In order to be considered for this position, candidates must provide the following items. Failure to follow this direction will result in your disqualification from the recruitment process.
- Complete the online application.
- A cover letter addressed to the Community Services Director no more than one page.
- A résumé no longer than two pages.
Please Note: Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of June 6, 2022
INTRODUCTION
With a population of 140,094, situated in Central Orange County approximately 32 miles southeast of Los Angeles, the City of Orange is seeking its next Assistant Community Services Director. The successful candidate will be a proactive, energetic team player who can deal effectively with issues and the public.
The Department is divided into three (3) divisions: Administration, Recreation, and Park Maintenance. The City of Orange has 22 park sites, an aquatics facility, gymnasium and sports center, a community garden, and miles of public multi-use trails. The Community Services Department hosts a myriad of community events including the 3rd of July celebration, Treats in the Street Autumn Festival, Tree Lighting ceremony, and the Concerts in the Park concert series.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with excellent management skills who will be active and engaged in the community. Additionally, the Community Services Director is seeking an Assistant Community Services Director who embodies the following values and characteristics:
- A passion for the field of community services
- A visionary mindset towards enhancing community activities
- Supports and assists the Community Services Director
- The ability to multitask and work in a fast paced environment
- Models integrity, honesty, and trustworthy behavior
- Be inclusive, interactive, and collaborative
- Provide guidance, mentoring, and support to staff without micro-managing
- Be accessible and maintain an open-door policy
- Ability to clearly explain complex issues to a wide variety of constituents
- Work collaboratively as a business partner to various departments
- Have excellent writing, speaking, and analytical skills
- Be cost conscious, solution oriented, and non-bureaucratic
- Embrace an organizational culture that values a lean organization
- Have a sense of humor
DEFINITION
Under administrative direction, assists in planning, organizing, managing, and providing administrative direction and oversight to major divisions of the Community Services Department, including the development, operations, and maintenance of the City's recreation/social services programs and parks; oversees projects and initiatives for the department; assists in coordinating assigned activities with other City departments, divisions, clients, local residents, community groups, private businesses and the public; fosters cooperative working relationships among City departments, divisions, and with intergovernmental and regulatory agencies and various public and private groups; provides highly responsible and complex professional assistance to the Community Services Director in areas of expertise; and performs related work as required.
Examples of Duties
Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
- Assumes management responsibility for major community services recreation and parks programs, facilities, community events, and activities.
- Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned functions and programs; recommends, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
- Assists in managing and participates in the development and administration of the Community Services annual budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; directs the monitoring of and approves expenditures; directs and implements adjustments as necessary; evaluate new revenue generating and cost saving initiatives.
- Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement and reviews with the Director of Community Services; assists in directing the implementation of improvements.
- Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees on performance issues; responds to staff questions and concerns; makes discipline recommendations to the Director.
- Assists in developing Community Service Department Capital Improvement Projects and annual maintenance plans for recreation, cultural, and natural resource facilities and parks; inspects facilities to determine safety and maintenance needs; provides recommendations regarding facility needs and sets priorities for facility development and renovations based on community input and staff analysis; arranges community meetings, conducts public meetings, records and reports public information, meets with consultants, and manages project implementation.
- Manages and oversees design and construction for multiple park development and trail projects.
- Manages and oversees the City's maintenance practices for open space, developed parkland, park facilities, trail network, landscaped medians, and landscape assessment districts.
- Manages and oversees the City's recreational programs including youth programs, adult and youth sports, aquatics, cultural arts, social services, contract programs, and special events.
- Serves as a liaison for the Community Services Department to other City departments, elected officials, divisions, clients, local residents, community groups, and private businesses; attends meetings, as necessary; provides staff support to commissions, committees, and task forces, as necessary; negotiates and resolves significant and controversial issues.
- Negotiates contracts and agreements; coordinates with City department representatives to determine City needs and requirements for contractual services.
- Participates in the preparation of and serves as a liaison for the department's emergency services plan.
- Researches grant opportunities, prepares and submits grant applications; oversees awarded grants; and prepares and reviews reimbursement requests.
- Conducts a variety of departmental organizational and operational studies and investigations; recommends modifications to programs, policies and procedures as appropriate.
- Prepares, reviews, and presents staff reports related to assigned community services programs and operations activities and services, various management and information updates, and reports on special projects to the City Council and a variety of other boards and commissions, as assigned by the Community Services Director; attends meetings.
- Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of community services and other types of public services as they relate to the area of assignment.
- Maintains and directs the maintenance of working and official departmental files.
- Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect City or departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.
- Responds to difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
- Serves as acting Director in his/her absence.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Typical Qualifications
Knowledge of:
- Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and supervision of staff.
- Public agency budgetary, contract administration, human resources and administrative practices, and general principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
- Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of projects, programs, policies, procedures, and operational needs; principles and practices of municipal government administration.
- Principles and practices of community services program development, maintenance, and management in a municipal setting.
- Procedures for planning, implementing, and maintaining a variety of recreation and leisure activities and programs through community participation.
- Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
- Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
- Methods and techniques for the development of presentations, contract negotiations, business correspondence, and information distribution; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
- Record keeping principles and procedures.
- Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment and computer applications.
- Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff.
Ability to:
- Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for the department and assigned program areas.
- Assist in preparing and administering large and complex budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost effective manner.
- Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
- Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the work of supervisory, professional, and technical personnel.
- Select, train, motivate, and evaluate the work of staff and train staff in work procedures.
- Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
- Effectively administer special projects with contractual agreements and ensure compliance with stipulations; effectively administer a variety of community services programs and administrative activities.
- Conduct effective negotiations and effectively represent the City and the department in meetings with governmental agencies, contractors, vendors, and various businesses, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
- Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
- Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
- Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
- Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
- Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
- Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
- Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Education and Experience:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in recreation administration, public or business administration, or a related field, and six (6) years of management and/or administrative community services experience is required.
Additionally, experience in public agency parks and recreation is highly desirable.
Licenses and Certifications:
Valid California Class C Driver License with satisfactory driving record and automobile insurance is required.
Supplemental Information
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to inspect City recreation sites, to operate a motor vehicle, and to visit various City recreational facilities and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials weighing up to 25 pounds.