Highland County Recreation Director-Position
Supervisor: County Administrator/ Highland County Recreation Commission
FLSA Status: Exempt
Essental Personnel Class: Non-Essential
Revision Date: May 2026
GenerlDefinition of Work
Performs complex administrative work planning, organizing, directing and administering County-wide parks and recreation programs, maintaining other county facilities, grounds and equipment, administering department budget, developing long term plans for the provision of recreational facilities and open space, maintaining records, preparing reports, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work involves setting policies and goals under the direction of the County Administrator. Departmental supervision is exercised over all personnel within the department.
Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions
Manages county facilities, grounds, and programs; manages customer relationships involving service recovery, recognition and retention; enforces participant code of conduct.
Recruits and selects department personnel; assigns, directs, trains and inspects the work of staff; rewards, disciplines, coaches, counsels and evaluates staff performance; develops staff schedules; recommends transfers, promotions, suspensions, terminations, and demotions.
Coordinates County programs with other community recreational organizations, County agencies and departments; assists representatives in developing and extending recreational and allied programs; coordinates facility usage with area youth and adult athletic organizations.
Prepares department operational budget; monitors expenditures of appropriated funds; prepares and administers grants; generates, monitors and evaluates revenues; approves payments of invoices; makes and approves purchases.
Oversee the maintenance of facilities and grounds; schedules maintenance as needed.
Represents the department at public, board and committee meetings and to the media; meets with civic organizations, special interest groups and citizens; participates in active public relations programs to address needs, encourage development of recreational programs and activities and promote interest in parks and recreational facilities; resolves issues and concerns.
Organizes and coordinates special events with other departments and agencies.
Provides input for risk management, safety, security plans, policies and procedures; updates and maintains standard operating procedures.
Develops long range plans for the provision of recreational facilities.
Manages aquatics facilities including water chemistry, filtration and pump maintenance and operation; oversees opening and closing procedures.
Coordinates, schedules, and conducts training for department staff.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
General knowledge in the use of standard office equipment, computer and associated software; general knowledge in the use of standard accounting software; ability to understand and apply governmental accounting standards in maintenance of financial records; ability to develop and execute a well-rounded program of parks and recreation activities; ability to cooperate with and interpret recreational philosophies to County authorities, private groups and agencies and the general public; ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to prepare and present detailed reports; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with governmental officials, volunteers, community groups, associates and the general public
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree with coursework in parks and recreation management, or related field and considerable experience in the administration of recreation programs and the development and planning of recreational facilities, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Physical Requirements
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires walking, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms and frequently standing, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, tasting or smelling, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm’s length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to outdoor weather conditions and exposure to vibration, frequently requires exposure to wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to fumes or airborne particles and occasionally requires working in high, precarious places, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to the risk of electrical shock, wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a very loud noise location (e.g. jack hammer work, garbage recycle plant).
Special Requirements
Valid driver's license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.