Director, Parks and Recreation

Director of Parks & Recreation

City of Claremont, New Hampshire

The City of Claremont, New Hampshire is seeking an energetic, visionary, and community-focused leader to serve as its next Director of Parks & Recreation.

Nestled in the scenic Upper Valley region of New Hampshire, Claremont offers an exceptional quality of life with abundant outdoor recreation, a vibrant downtown, historic charm, and easy access to the mountains, lakes, and cultural amenities of New England. With a strong sense of community and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for residents of all ages, Claremont is investing in its parks, recreational facilities, programs, and public spaces.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced parks and recreation professional to lead a department that manages more than 620 acres of municipal parks, forests, trails, athletic fields, recreation facilities, and community spaces while helping shape the future of recreation services for the community.

About the Position

Reporting directly to the City Manager, the Director of Parks & Recreation is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, planning, budgeting, and operation of the City's Parks & Recreation Department.

The Director oversees departmental personnel, recreational programming, community center operations, facility maintenance, capital improvement planning, special events, community partnerships, and the stewardship of the City's parks and recreational assets. The successful candidate will be a collaborative leader who can balance strategic planning with hands-on operational management while fostering strong relationships with residents, community organizations, schools, volunteers, and City leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and supervising Parks & Recreation staff and departmental operations.
• Managing parks, athletic fields, trails, playgrounds, community centers, and recreation facilities.
• Developing and administering departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Planning and evaluating recreation programs, events, and community initiatives.
• Coordinating facility improvements, capital projects, equipment replacement, and procurement activities.
• Building partnerships with schools, athletic organizations, nonprofits, and community groups.
• Pursuing grant opportunities and alternative funding sources.
• Representing the department before boards, commissions, community organizations, and the public.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Parks & Recreation Administration, Public Administration, or a related field required; Master's Degree preferred.

Candidates should possess at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible parks and recreation management experience, including a minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience, preferably within a municipal or public sector environment.

Current certification as a Certified Parks & Recreation Professional (CPRP) through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is required or must be obtained and maintained as required.

Compensation & Benefits

The Director of Parks & Recreation is a Grade 11 position within the City's Merit Compensation Plan.

Salary Range: $63,013.85 - $101,480.06

The City generally hires qualified candidates between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range based on experience, education, certifications, and overall qualifications.

The City of Claremont offers an excellent benefits package, including:

• New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) participation
• Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions for eligible employees
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible and supportive work environment committed to employee success

Join Our Team

If you are a forward-thinking parks and recreation professional who is passionate about community engagement, public service, outdoor recreation, and enhancing quality of life, we encourage you to apply and become part of Claremont's continued growth and success.

The City of Claremont is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For the full job description and employment application, visit the Human Resources page on the City of Claremont’s website here: https://www.claremontnh.com/human-resources