Job Description

The City of Raleigh is currently searching for a detail-oriented, enthusiastic individual who is a dynamic recreation programmer with a passion for people to serve as the Assistant Director of John Chavis Memorial Park and Community Center.
This position is responsible for assisting with the delivery of numerous large-scale special events, programs/classes, athletics, and rentals while ensuring exceptional customer experiences for all users of John Chavis Memorial Park and Community Center. This position oversees a host of temporary part-time and seasonal employees. The mission of the entire staff is to successfully develop and deliver innovative programs/services to community residents and the broader Raleigh community at-large.
John Chavis Memorial Park, located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, was developed in 1937 as a separate but equal recreational center for African Americans. This is a landmark of treasured social and civic activity for over 80 years. In April 2016, John Chavis Memorial Park was added to the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places. As part of a park Master Plan revision, John Chavis Memorial Park has undergone renovations, including the completion of a brand-new community center, playground, splash pad and historic carousel house meeting space. The new facility and park officially opened on June 12, 2021. The new facility includes a two-story community center with a full-size indoor gymnasium, elevated walking track, fitness center as well as numerous classroom and meeting spaces. The exterior surrounding park updates consists of a new central plaza with an integrated water feature, renovated former carousel house, and a large playground for variety of ages and abilities. The existing park amenities also include a historic Herschell carousel, baseball field, outdoor walking track with multipurpose field and 3 picnic shelters.
The Assistant Center Director plans, organizes, and directs the operations and activities at John Chavis Memorial Park personally, with the Center Director or through subordinate employees. Central duties include the ability to dynamically engage the community and conduct outreach to underserved populations to develop and market programs for diverse ages and populations. Additionally, this role supervises part-time staff and volunteers.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with managing general and revolving funds, tracking, and reporting of expenses and analysis of facility spending needs and procures supplies for facility and program operation.
• Assist with coordinating facility rentals and offsite amenities
• Assist with developing, delivering and enhancing new and existing facility programs and special events for a 66-81 hours/week facility and oversees class observation and instructor evaluation
• Assist with recruiting part-time staff including front desk support, certified instructors, and internal partnerships for program implementation
• Provides customer service to patrons and the community, acting as a first-line departmental representative at public meetings and Neighborhood Registry Groups as well as managing patron complaints, refund requests, transfers or other exceptions
• Assist with administration of athletic leagues and communicates with involved parties regarding inclement weather, evaluation of fields, participant safety and canceling/rescheduling games
• Assist with resource teams, public leadership groups and citizen planning committees
• Assist with regularly inspection of the facility and park areas and submits service requests for maintenance as needed
• Assist with the planning, coordination, and execution of large-scale special events.

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation or directly related field and up to one year of related experience may be preferred.
OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.
Preferred Qualifications

• Five years of professional parks and recreation programming, planning and/or facility management experience.
• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional; City of Raleigh additionally offers support in obtaining this certification.
• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire, and a satisfactory driving record.

Additional Information

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of program administration and management.
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis.
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research.
• Best practices, trends and emerging technologies.
• Project management principles.
• Modern budget practices.
• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques (based on assignment).
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment).
• Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others (based on assignment).
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations (based on assignment).
• Customer service principles.
• Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment.
• Modern office technology.

• Managing a project or program.
• Gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason.
• Coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands and assigning/monitoring work performed.
• Researching industry trends, solutions and best practices.
• Interpreting, monitoring and reporting financial information and statistics.
• Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and presentations.
• Monitoring project schedules, status and compliance.
• Supervising and evaluating staff performance (based on assignment).
• Training and coaching staff (based on assignment).
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards (based on assignment).
• Providing customer service.
• Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications.
• Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.