Director of Parks

Position Description Harris County Precinct 4 is seeking a highly operational, field-driven Director of Parks to lead the execution, maintenance, and day-to-day performance of one of the largest and most diverse park systems in the region. This position is part of the Operations Division and reports directly to the Senior Director of Operations. This is not a traditional office-based leadership role. The Director is expected to maintain a consistent and visible presence in the field, working alongside grounds crews, supervisors, and operations staff to set the standard for park maintenance, safety, and service delivery. With 62 parks, over 30,000+ acres of greenspace, 98 miles of trails, and 180 sports fields, the Director is responsible for ensuring that strategy is translated into visible, on-the-ground results. This role requires a leader who can move seamlessly between strategy and execution, diagnose operational issues in real time, and drive accountability across a large, distributed team. The Director will lead by example-reinforcing standards, coaching teams in the field, and ensuring that every park reflects Precinct 4's commitment to Heart, Hustle, and Higher Standards in service to the public. Job Duties and Responsibilities Field Leadership & Execution Maintain a consistent and active presence across all parks, regularly working in the field alongside maintenance crews and supervisors. Set and enforce clear operational and maintenance standards, ensuring consistency in quality, safety, and presentation system wide. Conduct routine and unannounced site inspections, identifying gaps and driving immediate corrective action. Translate strategic priorities into daily, executable work plans for field teams. Coach and develop frontline staff in real time, reinforcing expectations and improving performance through direct engagement. Identify operational inefficiencies and implement practical, field-tested solutions. Serve as the final point of accountability for park conditions, maintenance quality, and operational readiness. Operational Oversight Lead all day park operations with a focus on execution, responsiveness, and accountability. Ensure parks are consistently clean, safe, and fully operational, meeting or exceeding established standards at all times. Oversee Parks Security operations in coordination with law enforcement partners, including Constable Precinct 5, Constable Precinct 4, and the Houston Police Department (HPD). Partner with law enforcement to ensure proactive patrol strategies, coordinated incident response, and overall park safety. Oversee and manage concessionaire and partnership programs, ensuring public spaces are fully activated and optimized to expand access and enhance the user experience for constituents. Evaluate and strengthen partnerships to ensure alignment with operational standards, community needs, and precinct priorities. Collaborate with internal divisions-including General Services, Safety & Emergency Management, and Operations-to remove barriers to execution and accelerate service delivery. Direct emergency preparedness and response in the field, ensuring teams are effectively deployed during incidents and disasters. Lead the continued implementation and full utilization of OpenGov to drive data-driven decision-making, operational transparency, and performance accountability across the park system. Utilize data and field observations to drive continuous operational improvement. Strategic Leadership Develop and implement strategies with a clear focus on execution, sustainability, and measurable outcomes in the field. Participate in the planning and delivery of capital improvement projects, ensuring designs align with long-term operational efficiency and maintainability. Build and sustain partnerships with municipalities, HOAs, MUDs, nonprofits, and agencies to expand operational capacity and community impact. Serve as the precinct's liaison to external partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on park-related matters. Represent the precinct at public meetings, community events, and with stakeholders as needed. Administrative & Fiscal Management Develop, manage, and monitor the department's operating and capital budgets. Oversee contracts, MOUs, agreements, and vendor partnerships to ensure compliance, performance, and fiscal responsibility. Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for senior leadership and Commissioners Court. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations. Leadership & Workforce Development Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing, field-oriented team focused on service delivery and operational excellence. Establish staffing plans and schedules that align with operational demands across a large park system. Foster a culture of accountability, safety, responsiveness, and continuous improvement. Invest in training and development to strengthen technical and operational capabilities across the team. Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate. Requirements Education Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience managing teams in field-based or operational environments. Minimum of five (5) years of personnel management experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Demonstrated success in managing operations, personnel, and complex projects. Willingness and ability to spend a significant portion of time in the field, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends as needed. Licensure Valid Texas driver's license with a clean driving record. NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications. Preferences Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) designation. Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification. Experience managing large-scale, field-based operations (parks, public works, facilities, or similar). Proven ability to drive operational standards and accountability across distributed teams. Strong understanding of park operations, maintenance, safety, and environmental best practices. Experience managing partnerships, vendors, or concessionaire programs. Experience leveraging data platforms (e.g., OpenGov or similar systems) to drive operational performance. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders. Analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-informed, real-time decisions. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant management systems. General Information Salary Dependent on Qualifications Location Precinct 4 Headquarters, 3131 Eastside St., Houston, TX 77098 Work Environment This is a primarily field-based role requiring regular travel across all Precinct 4 parks. The Director is expected to spend the majority of their time onsite, actively engaging with teams and operations. Office time is secondary and reserved for planning, coordination, and administrative responsibilities. WHAT YOU WILL GET IN RETURN You will be surrounded by team members who bring "heart, hustle, and higher standards" to work each day. These leaders advance opportunity and justice as they deliver services to and advocate for the residents of Harris County. The team you will be joining is innovative, dynamic, and forward-looking. Harris County employees receive a competitive salary plus medical, dental, and vision insurance at no cost to the employee after the first two months of continued full-time employment. Vacation, sick-time, and floating holidays allow our employees to recharge and balance work and personal time. Mandatory participation in our retirement program allows employees to save for retirement. Various other benefits and discounts lead to the satisfaction and engagement of our employees. Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department. HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan. The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions: Health & Wellness Benefits Medical Coverage Dental Coverage Vision Coverage Wellness Plan Life Insurance Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Healthcare Flexible Spending Account Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Paid Time Off (PTO) Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service) Eleven (11) County-observed holidays One (1) floating holiday per year Paid Parental Leave* Sick Leave Retirement Savings Benefit 457 Deferred Compensation Plan The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions: Professional learning & development opportunities Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan) Flexible work schedule* METRO RideSponsor Program* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas. In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed. For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website: www.benefitsathctx.com 01 Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position? High School or GED diploma Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree or higher None of the above 02 Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs. 03 Which of the following best describes your verifiable leadership experience managing teams in field-based or operational environments? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Less than four (4) years Four (4) years but less than five (5) years Five (5) years but less than six (6) years Six (6) years or more I do not have this experience 04 Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience working in managing teams in field-based or operational environments. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience [ Example: "January 2020 - December 2025" ] If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided. 05 Which of the following best describes your verifiable personnel management experience? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Less than four (4) years Four (4) years but less than five (5) years Five (5) years but less than six (6) years Six (6) years or more I do not have this experience 06 Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience working in personnel management. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience [ Example: "January 2020 - December 2025" ] If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided. 07 Do you have experience managing large-scale, field-based operations (parks, public works, facilities, or similar)? Yes No 08 Do you have a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) designation? Yes No 09 Do you have Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification? Yes No 10 Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check. Advanced Intermediate Basic Entry Level Not proficient 11 This role requires a Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) Do you have a Valid Driver's License? Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date No, I do not have a Valid Driver's License Required Question Employer Harris County Address 1111 Fannin St Ste. 600 Houston, Texas, 77002 Phone 713-274-5445 Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx