What are the responsibilities and job description for the Parks & Trails Manager position at City of Corona?
Description
Bring your strategic leadership to the City of Corona as our Parks & Trails Manager. In this pivotal role, you’ll steward a dynamic portfolio of parks, open spaces, and multi-use trails—elevating maintenance standards, optimizing resources, and guiding capital projects that enhance community life. We’re seeking an experienced manager known for impeccable organization and attention to detail, who thrives on solving complex operational challenges, builds clear, data-driven plans, and leads personnel with empathy and accountability. You’ll streamline processes, mentor supervisors and field crews, align budgets with priorities, and collaborate across departments, contractors, and community partners to deliver safe, welcoming, and resilient public spaces. If you’re a strategic planner and hands-on problem solver ready to shape Corona’s outdoor legacy, we want to meet you!
The City of Corona is seeking an innovative and highly organized Parks & Trails Manager to oversee the planning, maintenance, and enhancement of our parks, landscape areas, open spaces, and trail systems. In this leadership role, you’ll guide the daily operations of parks, trails, and landscape services, supervise staff, coordinate improvement projects, and ensure that Corona’s outdoor spaces remain safe, beautiful, and accessible for residents and visitors. If you’re passionate about public spaces, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, this position offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact.
As the Parks & Trails Manager, you’ll oversee a wide range of responsibilities—from developing long-term maintenance strategies to managing budgets, contracts, and capital improvement projects. You’ll collaborate closely with city departments, contractors, and community groups to ensure that parks, trails, and landscape areas are well-maintained and aligned with the city’s vision for recreation and open-space development. Your work will include evaluating park conditions, developing maintenance standards, implementing sustainability practices, coordinating repairs, and ensuring compliance with safety and environmental requirements. You’ll also play a key role in shaping future park and landscape enhancements, trail expansions, and public-use amenities.
This role is ideal for a forward-thinking leader who enjoys balancing field work with administrative strategy. You’ll guide a dedicated team, foster a culture of excellence, and help create outdoor environments that promote wellness, recreation, and community pride. If you’re ready to lead meaningful projects and elevate the quality of life in Corona, we invite you to apply and help shape the future of our parks and trails.
Education & Experience
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
THE DEPARTMENT
The Community Services Department in the City of Corona is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents through recreational programs, cultural events, and essential community resources. It offers a wide range of services, including parks and facility maintenance, library services, senior programs, youth activities, and special events that bring the community together. The department also provides educational opportunities, volunteer programs, and assistance resources to support residents of all ages. With a focus on engagement, health, and enrichment, it strives to create a vibrant and connected community.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will be accepted until Monday, May 18, 2026, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as the recruitment may close at any time without notice.
The selection process will consist of a review and evaluation of all applicants' qualifications. Those applicants deemed to possess the most desirable qualifications will be invited to participate in the oral interview. The top scoring candidates from the oral interview will be placed on an eligibility list from which the department may hire. The eligibility list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill the current and/or additional vacancies throughout the City. The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference / background check including livescan and pass a pre-employment medical examination (which will include a drug/alcohol screening).
COMMUNITY
A City whose heritage spans more than 125 years, the City of Corona, located in Riverside County, California, encompasses approximately 40 square miles and has a vibrant, culturally diverse population of approximately 170,000 residents. Residents of Corona enjoy a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities that provide a first-rate quality of life for its residents and visitors. Within an hour's travel time, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy winter activities such as snowboarding and skiing and summer activities including surfing, boating, or simply relaxing on world class beaches. Corona's economy is strong and getting stronger; more than 84,000 people work here. Our retail, commercial, and housing areas are expanding, and office development continues to be strong.
THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Corona is a General Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. Policy making and legislative authority is vested in the City Council, consisting of a Mayor and four Council Members. Members of the City Council are elected by District to a four-year term. The Mayor is selected by the Council and serves as the presiding officer for one year.
The City is organized into the following departments/organizational units: Community Services, City Manager’s Office, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Risk Management, Police, Planning & Development, Public Works, and Utilities. Oversight of these departments is divided between the City Manager and an Assistant City Manager.
The City's total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $422.7 million with a General Fund operating budget of $231.3 million. Corona enjoys a workforce of 935 dedicated employees who provide high-quality services to its residents and visitors each day.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
To view the essential duties and responsibilities, click here.
Qualifications Guidelines
To view the qualifications guidelines, click here.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
To view the physical/mental demands and work environment, click here.
Bring your strategic leadership to the City of Corona as our Parks & Trails Manager. In this pivotal role, you’ll steward a dynamic portfolio of parks, open spaces, and multi-use trails—elevating maintenance standards, optimizing resources, and guiding capital projects that enhance community life. We’re seeking an experienced manager known for impeccable organization and attention to detail, who thrives on solving complex operational challenges, builds clear, data-driven plans, and leads personnel with empathy and accountability. You’ll streamline processes, mentor supervisors and field crews, align budgets with priorities, and collaborate across departments, contractors, and community partners to deliver safe, welcoming, and resilient public spaces. If you’re a strategic planner and hands-on problem solver ready to shape Corona’s outdoor legacy, we want to meet you!
The City of Corona is seeking an innovative and highly organized Parks & Trails Manager to oversee the planning, maintenance, and enhancement of our parks, landscape areas, open spaces, and trail systems. In this leadership role, you’ll guide the daily operations of parks, trails, and landscape services, supervise staff, coordinate improvement projects, and ensure that Corona’s outdoor spaces remain safe, beautiful, and accessible for residents and visitors. If you’re passionate about public spaces, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, this position offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact.
As the Parks & Trails Manager, you’ll oversee a wide range of responsibilities—from developing long-term maintenance strategies to managing budgets, contracts, and capital improvement projects. You’ll collaborate closely with city departments, contractors, and community groups to ensure that parks, trails, and landscape areas are well-maintained and aligned with the city’s vision for recreation and open-space development. Your work will include evaluating park conditions, developing maintenance standards, implementing sustainability practices, coordinating repairs, and ensuring compliance with safety and environmental requirements. You’ll also play a key role in shaping future park and landscape enhancements, trail expansions, and public-use amenities.
This role is ideal for a forward-thinking leader who enjoys balancing field work with administrative strategy. You’ll guide a dedicated team, foster a culture of excellence, and help create outdoor environments that promote wellness, recreation, and community pride. If you’re ready to lead meaningful projects and elevate the quality of life in Corona, we invite you to apply and help shape the future of our parks and trails.
Education & Experience
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
- A Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, horticulture, landscape architecture, urban forestry, environmental science, or a related field.
- Master in Business or Public Administration preferred.
- Six or more years of park and landscape maintenance and operations experience.
- Six or more years of budgeting and contract management experience.
- Five years of research and analytics experience.
- Three to Five years of supervisory experience.
- Strong grasp of staff supervision, budgeting and financial management is highly desirable.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Community Services Department in the City of Corona is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents through recreational programs, cultural events, and essential community resources. It offers a wide range of services, including parks and facility maintenance, library services, senior programs, youth activities, and special events that bring the community together. The department also provides educational opportunities, volunteer programs, and assistance resources to support residents of all ages. With a focus on engagement, health, and enrichment, it strives to create a vibrant and connected community.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will be accepted until Monday, May 18, 2026, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as the recruitment may close at any time without notice.
The selection process will consist of a review and evaluation of all applicants' qualifications. Those applicants deemed to possess the most desirable qualifications will be invited to participate in the oral interview. The top scoring candidates from the oral interview will be placed on an eligibility list from which the department may hire. The eligibility list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill the current and/or additional vacancies throughout the City. The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference / background check including livescan and pass a pre-employment medical examination (which will include a drug/alcohol screening).
COMMUNITY
A City whose heritage spans more than 125 years, the City of Corona, located in Riverside County, California, encompasses approximately 40 square miles and has a vibrant, culturally diverse population of approximately 170,000 residents. Residents of Corona enjoy a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities that provide a first-rate quality of life for its residents and visitors. Within an hour's travel time, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy winter activities such as snowboarding and skiing and summer activities including surfing, boating, or simply relaxing on world class beaches. Corona's economy is strong and getting stronger; more than 84,000 people work here. Our retail, commercial, and housing areas are expanding, and office development continues to be strong.
THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Corona is a General Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. Policy making and legislative authority is vested in the City Council, consisting of a Mayor and four Council Members. Members of the City Council are elected by District to a four-year term. The Mayor is selected by the Council and serves as the presiding officer for one year.
The City is organized into the following departments/organizational units: Community Services, City Manager’s Office, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Risk Management, Police, Planning & Development, Public Works, and Utilities. Oversight of these departments is divided between the City Manager and an Assistant City Manager.
The City's total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $422.7 million with a General Fund operating budget of $231.3 million. Corona enjoys a workforce of 935 dedicated employees who provide high-quality services to its residents and visitors each day.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
To view the essential duties and responsibilities, click here.
Qualifications Guidelines
To view the qualifications guidelines, click here.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
To view the physical/mental demands and work environment, click here.
Salary : $423