POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
New Orleans Recreation Development Commission
POSITION: Chief Executive Officer, New Orleans Recreation Development
COMMISSION FUNCTION: The mission of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) is to advance the physical, mental, and social well-being of New Orleanians by providing safe and welcoming environments for recreational, athletic, and cultural experiences. The Commission plans, supervises, conducts, and coordinates programs for cultural and physical recreation that will be administered by the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. NORDC provides a wide range of sports, health, aquatics, day care, and fitness programs for residents and visitors of all ages. NORDC manages senior services, therapeutic recreation, youth camps, teen development, and athletic programs in over 160 facilities city-wide. The Commission promotes cooperative planning with public and private entities concerned with recreation.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum five years of supervisory experience in the administration of a parks and recreation department or sports organization.
- Experience with facilities, operations, and leading and managing professional staff and teams to higher levels of performance.
- Bachelor’s degree or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
SALARY RANGE: $150,000 to $200,000
POSITION SUMMARY
The CEO of the Commission will have the responsibility to plan, organize, and direct the employees and programs of NORDC; to oversee development, implementation, and administration of NORD policies, programs, and facilities; to manage daily operations; to ensure the effective maintenance and operations of recreation facilities, including all outdoor athletic and recreational centers; to coordinate with and delegate to outside agencies and community groups; to assist in building financial and strategic support for NORDC; and to provide highly effective and comprehensive information and support to the Commission. The CEO receives policy direction from the Commission and works in conjunction with the Executive Director of the NORD Foundation.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Organizational Functions —
- Serve as an internal consultant to all units and departments/agencies of New Orleans concerning recreation issues and as a key participant in divisional and organizational strategic planning.
- Communicate with the community at large (schools, churches, parent groups) through various channels, including local media, newsletters, annual reports, and speaking to parents' groups, churches, and/or other stakeholders.
- Develop, implement, disseminate, and interpret NORDC policies and procedures.
- Promote teamwork, information-sharing, and departmental understanding of service goals, objectives, budgeting, and capital improvement projects that support NORDC's mission and strategic plan.
- Oversee the delegation of management and operations of recreation programs for the City of New Orleans.
Oversight Functions —
- Visit recreation sites and programs to evaluate program effectiveness and citizen/participant satisfaction.
- Ensure that funding decisions are prioritized according to importance and urgency of needs and that funding actually occurs as directed.
- Prepare reports as directed by the Commission.
- Ensure that programming meets the needs of all city residents, including residents from low-income backgrounds and those that require special assistance.
Budgetary/Financial Functions —
- Review, analyze, and monitor the NORD budget and expenditures.
- Monitor departments to ensure that they are efficiently and effectively providing needed services while staying within budgetary limits.
- Review financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement and to determine areas needing cost reduction and program improvement.
- Direct and coordinate NORDC's financial and budgetary activities in order to fund operations, maximize investments, and increase efficiency.
- Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding and implementation of programs.
- Negotiate or approve contracts and agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal and state agencies, and other organizational entities.
Staffing Functions —
- Establish appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service methods and procedures; allocate resources accordingly; oversee personnel management and negotiation issues.
- Select, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned personnel; provide or coordinate personnel training; work with subordinate personnel to correct deficiencies; and implement discipline and termination procedures.
- Review reports submitted by staff members in order to recommend approval or to suggest changes.
Community Functions —
- Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints; review and reply to daily correspondence and phone inquiries.
- Build community support of and engagement with NORDC's mission and strategic plan.
- Develop relationships with individuals and organizations in an effort to financially and strategically support NORDC's mission and strategic plan.
- Represent NORDC to outside agencies and the community; coordinate assigned activities with outside agencies and organizations.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:
- National best practices of youth development programming
- Business and management: principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Principles and practices of marketing and public relations. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, promotion of services provided, and assessments of current and future value of services provided by NORDC.
- Principles and practices of program development and administration.
- Principles of personnel recruitment, selection, training, supervision, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits, and personnel information systems.
- Methods and techniques related to facility acquisition, planning and development, and recreational facility management.
- Principles and practices of risk management and insurance coverage.
Ability to:
- Develop a performance measurement system, in conjunction with local community organizations, to measure the impact of the organization on its constituents.
- Create an atmosphere within NORDC that fosters constant learning and professional development.
- Develop and administer NORDC goals, objectives, and procedures.
- Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs.
- Develop strong community support for NORDC's mission and strategic plan.
- Build relationships to financially and strategically support NORDC's mission and strategic plan.
- Conceptualize abstract situations regarding potential and future funding, programming, and operations.
- Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the work of subordinate staff.
- Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff.
- Monitor and assess the performance of oneself, other individuals, and/or departments to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Analyze problems and identify alternative situations, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
- Understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; communicate in the political arena.
- Prepare clear and concise reports.
- Operate a computer and standard office equipment
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To qualify for consideration, candidates should submit an application packet consisting of:
- A letter of application that succinctly addresses the applicant’s understanding of NORD’s opportunities, its relationship to the communities of New Orleans, and how his/her experience and professional qualifications are in line with the Chief Executive Officer position summary and prepare him/her to serve the needs of the Commission and the city.
- The applicant’s administrative philosophy.
- A curriculum vitae or resume that includes the applicant's email address and cell and home phone numbers.
- Three (3) letters of reference.
- Electronic application packets (in PDF format) should be sent by email to [email protected]. The application period will close on August 10, 2026.
OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Prior to appointment, we will verify education, driver’s license, and/or professional licenses/certifications claimed by the applicant to qualify for the position. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials.
Offers of employment are required to be withdrawn for applicants who are found to have misrepresented their credentials during the application process.
This Chief Executive Officer search is subject to Louisiana’s Public Records and Open Meetings Laws.
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Pay: $150,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year
Application Question(s):
- Do you have a minimum of five years of supervisory experience in the administration of a parks and recreation department or sports organization?
- Do you have experience with facilities, operations, leading and managing professional staff and teams to higher levels of performance?
- Do you have a Bachelor’s degree or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience?
Work Location: In person
