JOB
Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $113,715 - $186,855 based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
WHO WE ARE
Montgomery County Department of Recreation is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with a mission to provide high-quality, diverse, and accessible community-based programs, activities, and services that serve the recreation and leisure needs of the Montgomery County community. The department manages 39 facilities, including recreation centers, senior centers, and indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities, and provides thousands of programs such as out-of-school activities, aquatics, classes, youth and adult sports programs and leagues, senior programs, and therapeutic recreation.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The Montgomery County Department of Recreation is seeking a dynamic and experienced full-time Division Chief (Manager II) to lead and strengthen a wide portfolio of recreation programs and services. This position is responsible for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of current offerings, identifying opportunities for new or expanded programs, and ensuring that the evolving needs of our diverse community are continually met.
The Division Chief oversees all operations within the Programming Division, including Classes, Camps, Sports, Therapeutic Recreation, 55+ Programs, and Youth Development. This leadership role ensures programs are strategically planned, well-managed, innovative, and aligned with Montgomery County Recreation’s mission to provide high-quality, accessible, and inclusive services for residents of all ages and abilities.
Recreation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences and cultures. Recreation encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. Bilingual candidates are also encouraged to apply!
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Key Responsibilities
This position provides customer-focused leadership, inspires teamwork, motivates employees, and establishes clear direction through effective communication of goals and expectations. The Division Chief (Manager II) will foster a positive, inclusive, and productive work environment grounded in participative management.
Communicating plans to supervisors, colleagues, and community stakeholders; identifying resource needs; monitoring trends in recreation; recommending program modifications to meet evolving community needs; and overseeing program budgets to ensure responsible, strategic, and equitable use of resources. Additional duties include analyzing data to initiate or revise programs, building and maintaining effective working relationships, and demonstrating flexibility and adaptability when managing competing priorities.
The position also requires preparing high-quality written documents and delivering presentations to senior leadership, community partners, and elected officials. Candidates must have the ability to cultivate and sustain meaningful partnerships with other government agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations to advance Montgomery County Recreation’s mission.
Some assignments require evening and weekend work to support programs, with occasional holiday coverage. The position also requires the ability to attend meetings and perform work at off-site locations.
The individual selected for this role will be designated as an Essential Employee and must report to work during general emergencies or periods of liberal leave.
As a manager or supervisor of unionized employees, this position carries the responsibility of promoting a positive labor-management environment based on mutual trust, respect, communication, and collaboration.
Ideal Candidate Will Have:
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong recreation programming and management experience, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to convey information in a clear, concise, and direct manner.
Additional Information-
This position may require work during non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
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As a member of a front facing Department Leadership team this position will be required to be onsite with limited telework opportunities.
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This position is considered essential, and the incumbent may be required to report to work during emergencies, including County closures.
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Selected candidates will be required to complete a background investigation and medical history review.
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Montgomery County Government is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace.
Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to building a stronger, healthier, and more connected community through recreation.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
We will use preferred criteria screening questions:
- Describe your executive leadership experience overseeing large-scale recreation or human-services program portfolios. Include the breadth of programs under your direction, your strategic approach to division-wide management, and how you measured organizational performance.
Provide an example of a strategic initiative you led to expand, redesign, or modernize programs or services. What assessment methods or data did you rely on, what decisions did you make, and how did the initiative advance organizational goals or community impact?
Explain your experience providing executive-level oversight of complex budgets. Include the size and scope of the budgets you managed, your approach to long-range financial planning, and how you ensured fiscal accountability while supporting innovation and service delivery.
Describe your experience cultivating high-level partnerships with government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations. What strategies did you use to align partners around shared goals, and how did these collaborations strengthen outcomes at the division or departmental level?
Explain your leadership approach to managing in a unionized environment. Describe how you have fostered a culture of trust, collaboration, and accountability, and provide an example of how you successfully navigated a complex labor-management issue.
