Situated just 55 miles north of San Francisco and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Rosa is the hub of trade, government, commerce, and medical facilities for the North Bay area, serving as the seat of Sonoma County. The area boasts over a hundred wineries and vineyards, many picturesque parks and recreational facilities, and 16 golf courses. The City of Santa Rosa is a full-service city, providing police and fire protection; construction and maintenance of streets, public facilities, and other infrastructure; water, storm water and wastewater utilities; planning and building services; housing and homeless support; economic development; transit; parking; and recreation programs, city parks, and cultural services, including a municipal golf course. The City has 13 departments with approximately 1,500 regular and temporary employees.

With a mission to “create community through people, parks and programs”, the Recreation and Parks Department operates and maintains over 1,100 acres of City park lands, open space, civic space, and roadside landscaping along with over 10,000 trees. Serving under and reporting to the City Manager, the Director of Recreation and Parks, known as the “Director of Fun” plans, develops, coordinates, and supervises the implementation of comprehensive recreation and aquatics programs for youth, adults, and seniors. The ideal candidate will be a results-driven professional with a multi-disciplinary track record of achievement. The ideal candidate will have a high level of technical expertise complemented by strong interpersonal skills – both vital in order to successfully implement the City’s vision for the needs of the community. The overall success of this Department will be highly dependent on this individual’s ability to manage a multi-faceted agency with significant public involvement.

The annual salary range for the Director of Recreation and Parks is $155,183 - $194,150. Placement within this range is based on qualifications and experience. The City of Santa Rosa also offers an attractive benefits package.