The City of Savannah is seeking an innovative, strategic, and community-centered executive to serve as its next Senior Director of Recreation & Leisure Services.
This is more than a department director position—it's an opportunity to shape the experiences that define quality of life for nearly every Savannah resident. From youth athletics and aquatics to senior services, therapeutic recreation, community events, and neighborhood recreation centers, the Recreation & Leisure Services Department serves as a cornerstone of a vibrant, healthy, and connected community.
The Senior Director will provide visionary leadership for a diverse organization while fostering a culture built on accountability, collaboration, innovation, and exceptional public service. This executive will work closely with the Chief of Community Services, City Manager, key City Departments, community partners, and staff to advance the City's strategic priorities and deliver meaningful recreation opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities.
The ideal candidate is a visible and engaged leader who is equally comfortable developing long-term strategies, mentoring leaders, analyzing performance data, building community partnerships, and rolling up their sleeves to help solve complex operational challenges.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief of Community Services, the Senior Director provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the Recreation & Leisure Services Department. This position is responsible for developing organizational priorities, overseeing departmental operations, managing significant operating and capital budgets, and ensuring the delivery of equitable, innovative, and high-quality recreation services throughout Savannah.
As the department's executive leader, the Senior Director serves as the principal advisor on recreation policy and operations, represents the department before City leadership and, when requested, before City Council, and cultivates partnerships that expand recreational opportunities across the community.
The Leader We're Looking For
The successful candidate understands that this role requires both operational rigor and human-centered leadership – and treats these as inseparable, not competing, priorities. Recreation & Leisure Services meets community members at some of their most meaningful moments: a child learning to swim, a family gathering to grieve or celebrate, an older adult finding connection after isolation, a teenager finding support and belonging through an after-school program. Leaders who thrive here can manage budgets, facilities, and performance with discipline– while never losing site of the people those numbers represent and their staff who make it happen every day.
They are:
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A strategic thinker who moves between big picture direction and hands-on problem solving.
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A visible, present leader who builds trust through direct engagement with staff, residents, and community partners.
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A leader who sets high expectations while investing in the growth of their full staff, from leaders to frontline.
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A confident communicator, equally effective briefing City leadership and connecting with residents at a community event.
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A data-informed decision maker who uses performance metrics, staff knowledge, and community input to guide program and budget decisions.
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Comfortable operating within a structured, accountable public-sector environment while continuing to support complex human-centered frontline recreation work.
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A leader who brings emotional intelligence and collaboration to daily work, and raises difficult issues early for support rather than absorbing them alone.
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Passionate about creating recreation opportunities that strengthen neighborhoods and improve quality of life.
Why This Role Matters
The Recreation & Leisure Services Department impacts thousands of Savannah residents every day through recreation centers, athletic programs, aquatics, therapeutic recreation, senior programming, youth development, special events, and community partnerships.
As Senior Director, your leadership will help shape healthier neighborhoods, greater independence and connection for older adults, meaningful opportunities for individuals and families of every kind, safer communities, and a higher quality of life for generations to come.
If you are a visionary public servant who believes recreation is essential to building thriving communities—and you're ready to lead a talented team toward the future—we encourage you to apply.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Successful candidates willdemonstrateexperience in:
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Executive leadership and organizational development
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Strategic planning and organizational performance
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Public sector budgeting and financial stewardship
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Capital planning and facilities management
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Recreation and leisure services administration
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Grant administration and revenue development
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Community engagement and public policy
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Data analytics, performance measurement, and KPI development
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Building high-performing teams
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Change management and continuous improvement
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Public presentations and executive communications
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Negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus building
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Work involves setting policies and goals under the direction of the Chief, Community Services. The supervisor reviews work through conferences, reports, and observation of department activities.
GUIDELINES: Guidelines include City policies, Title III federal and state regulations, CBS/Adult Day Care state regulations, USDA Department of Early Care and Learning guidelines, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and fire and health regulations. These guidelines require judgment,selection, and interpretation in application.
COMPLEXITY: The work consists of varied duties related to directing and managing the programs, services, buildings, grounds and employees of the Recreation and Leisure Services department. Communication difficulties, working with special populations and minors, and incidents of conflict and/or vandalism contribute to the complexity of the position.
SCOPE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this position is to direct and manage the programs, services, buildings, grounds and employees of the Recreation and Leisure Services department. Successful performance helps ensure the provision of recreational services to citizens of the City of Savannah.
PERSONAL CONTACTS: Continuing contact involving difficult negotiations calling for a well-developed sense of timing and strategy; representing the department or organization in policy settings. Contacts are typically with the Chief of Community Services and City Manager on strategic and operational matters, City Council in advisory and briefing capacities as requested by the City Manager, other City departments including Park and Tree on shared facilities and the Police Department on youth athletics programming (PALS), co-workers and other City employees, City residents, and community partners such as youth organizations, senior services partners, and neighborhood organizations, as well as professional associations including GRPA and NRPA.
PURPOSE OF CONTACTS: Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, resolve problems, and provide services.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is typically performed while intermittently sitting, standing, stooping, or walking. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work is typically performed in an office or outdoors.
SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY: This position has direct supervision over managerial, administrative and program staff.
