Director of Citywide Services Division (Executive 2)

City of Seattle -
Seattle, WA

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Job Details

Full-time
$64.56 - $110.35 an hour
21 hours ago

Benefits

Disability insurance
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance

Qualifications

Staff supervision
Fiscal management
Managing projects
Program budgeting

Full Job Description

Position Description

About Seattle Parks and Recreation:

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR)is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.

Equity & Inclusion:

Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs and facilities.

About the Position:

The Director of the Citywide Services Division will oversee operations for the Natural Resources, Emergency Services, and Unified Care Team. More specifically, the division provides citywide services and manages the following programs area: Horticulture, Urban Forestry, Trails Maintenance, Landscape Renovation, Greenhouse and Nursery operations, Japanese Garden, Volunteer Park Conservatory, and Kubota Gardens maintenance, Landscape capital projects, comprehensive vegetation management, integrated pest management, and landscape and forest restoration. Citywide Services works 365 days a year on multiple shifts and operates 24 hours a day to provide an outstanding level of service and responsiveness. The division is comprised of approximately 200 FTE with $35M in annual funding. This position provides strategic, operational, and people centered leadership for these critical services. Reporting to the Deputy Superintendent, this Executive 2 role ensures that division operations exemplify SPR’s commitments to environmental stewardship, high-quality service delivery, and racial equity and social justice.

Job Responsibilities

Set the overall vision, direction and strategy for the Citywide Services Division.
Direct all aspects of operations in a division of approximately 200 FTE with 6 direct reports and biennial funding exceeding $35 million.
Provide fiscal oversight to ensure the division’s resources are allocated appropriately, managed responsibly, and expended within established limits.
Lead staff in developing and executing annual and multiyear work plans; facilitate results-based team meetings; and strategically deploy resources to maintain natural assets and ensure safe, clean, and welcoming parks.
Promote equity and inclusion by being a leader in maintaining safe and welcoming spaces for the community and visitors.
Partner with SPR Human Resources on classification and compensation processes, recruitment and training, employee and labor relations, health and safety, and collective bargaining activities.
Monitor and evaluate division operations to ensure effective, customer centered service delivery.
Prepare briefing papers, legislation, and contractual documents in coordination with SPR leadership and the City Attorney’s Office for the Superintendent, Mayor’s Office, and City Council.
Represent SPR in meetings, workgroups, and partnerships involving elected officials, advisory councils, community stakeholders, and other City department staff.
Collaborate with department leadership on SPR’s annual budget development and the renewal of the Seattle Park District.
Ensure quality control of work products and guide the development of performance metrics, operating standards, and workplace protocols.
Promote and reinforce sustainable, climate forward landscape practices that support the long-term health of natural areas and help achieve the City’s urban forest and climate goals.

Perform other duties as needed to ensure that the goals and objectives for the Division are achieved.

Focus Areas Include:

Natural Resources and Urban Forestry: Responsible for horticulture for specialty gardens; pest management; wildlife management; the Green Seattle Partnership (restoration of natural areas and urban forests); urban forestry; trail maintenance; and the Green Youth Corps
Horticultural Asset Stewardship: Maintenance, care and renovation of specialty gardens, trees, shrubs, and planting beds throughout city parks.
Unified Care Team Oversight: Managing a team of SPR staff that is part of a broader multidepartment effort working to ensure Seattle’s public spaces, sidewalks, and streets remain clean and accessible to all.
Emergency Management and Security: Responsible for Emergency Management Operations; management of a 7 day after-hour call center; and the management of Security and Park Rangers.
Park Activation: These activations support positive use of park spaces, work to build a stronger sense of safety among community members and creates space for increased social and community connections. The park activation program includes daily Busking, Park Concierges, annual special events such as Center City Cinema Series, Dancing 'til Dusk, ongoing community and culturally relevant events and many other classes and activities
Communications: conveying information on important green programs, projects, and initiatives
Partnerships: Supporting and enhancing SPRs partnerships with local, regional, national, and international partners to advance SPR’s Thriving Environment goals.
Policy: Adherence and advancement of the City and SPR policies and initiatives including but not limited to the Climate Action Plan, Nature Based Solutions, Sustainability practices, Tribal Relations and Biodiversity Goals.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree in public administration; Business Administration; Environmental Management; Forestry and Horticulture, and Parks and Recreation Management or a related field (or the equivalent of two years' experience and/or training and/or education in the fields mentioned above that provides the equivalent to work in the class).
At least seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including five or more years in supervisory roles managing teams, budgets, and complex operational or environmental projects in a large urban or public-sector setting.

In addition to the minimum required qualifications, competitive candidates for this position will demonstrate:

Deep understanding of change management and process improvement methodologies.
Demonstrated leadership abilities, including strategic thinking, sound judgment, interpersonal effectiveness, and collaborative decision-making.
Experience leading cross functional teams and largescale operational initiatives.
A proven track record of effectively managing relationships with employees, residents, community members, elected officials, partner organizations and advocacy groups.
Excellent leadership and supervisory skills including strategic thinking, sound decision-making, strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to achieving results.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to distill complex information for decisionmakers.
Demonstrated ability to strengthen organizational capacity by developing high-performing teams and leaders that improve collaboration, productivity and long-term effectiveness.
Politically astute and comfortable dealing at all levels of City government, concerning local and regional issues, while maintaining clear focus on Department values and vision.
Ability to manage and direct a professional staff by ensuring the quality and efficiency of work, the understanding of their responsibilities, and the resolution of their questions.
Ability to effectively direct multi-dimensional responsibilities simultaneously while understanding and supporting a work/life balance.
Ability to quickly learn and use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology.
Ability to work in an urban environment with people from a broad range of cultural backgrounds; experience with diversity including economic, ethnic, age, and gender.
Strong communication skills with the ability to deliver clear, concise and strategically aligned messaging to diverse audiences (including internal and external stakeholders).

Additional Information

Please submit the following with your online application:

A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement.
A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

We recognize that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as chatbots, automated response generators, or language models, can be helpful during the job search process. If you choose to use them, please carefully review all materials before submission to ensure accuracy, as you will be required to affirm that your responses are true and correct during the application process. Submitting inaccurate or misleading information may result in disqualification. Please also note that relying on AI to complete text-based supplemental questions or during interviews may not accurately represent your skills and experiences, which are critical to applicant success. In some cases, you may be instructed not to use AI tools during the selection process. Learn more about the City of Seattle AI Policy here.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle Parks and Recreation values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle Parks and Recreation encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

This position is classified as an Executive 2. The full salary range for this position is $64.56 - $106.52 per hour. Salary will be determined during the offer stage.

Currently, the city requires full-time employees to be in-office 3 days per week.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits

SPR's Core Competencies for Managers:

Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions, decision-making and promoting high quality standards.
Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.
Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.
Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.
Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.
Aligns Performance for Success: Collaboratively guiding and engaging the team to accomplish defined work goals.
Direction and Delegation: Sharing authority and responsibilities with others to distribute decision-making and accountability throughout the organization enabling individuals to stretch their capabilities; and accomplishing the organization’s strategic priorities.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

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