Director of Parks and Recreation

Community Description

Wyoming is a vibrant, diverse community of approximately 78,000 people on the southwest side of Grand Rapids. Located a short drive from Lake Michigan and a range of other outdoor recreational activities, Wyoming offers a high quality of life to its residents including 21 city parks, a newly built community marketplace, an active senior center, several school districts, and an expanding non-motorized trail network. The City hosts a popular Concerts in the Park series in the summer, and the new Godwin Mercado hosts regular markets which attract a wide range of visitors.

The Opportunity

The City of Wyoming seeks an experienced candidate to join our team as the Director of Parks and Recreation. This position will partner with the city leadership team to develop and progress toward strategic goals and will guide the day-to-day operation of the parks and recreation department. The scope of responsibilities includes technical, administrative, and professional work and requires a comprehensive understanding of park development and maintenance, generational and accessible recreation and programming, community marketplaces, and special events.

In addition to competitive wages of $95,000 - $140,000 for the position (dependent on qualifications), the City of Wyoming provides a generous benefits package, including:

• Four-day workweek
• 12% employer-paid retirement package
• Comprehensive health insurance through Priority Health
• Employer-paid dental, vision, and AD&D life insurance
• Language incentive pay for multi-lingual employees
• Employer commitment to education, training, and development
• Paid leave time including holidays, sick, vacation, and personal days
• Free access to an employee assistance program

Our Vision

We believe parks, recreation, and community spaces are essential to creating the vibrant and diverse community that Wyoming is proud to have. The City is committed to providing spaces and events that enrich lives of residents of all ages.

As the Director of Parks and Recreation, you will help bring our vision to life by:

• Creating beautiful, accessible parks and public spaces that inspire outdoor recreation where residents of every age and ability feel they belong.
• Providing short-term and long-term planning to foster spaces and experiences that bring people together today while shaping the future of the community.

What you will bring along:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g. parks and recreation, public administration, and/or a related field). A master's degree is preferred.
• Certification by the National Recreation and Park Association preferred but not required.
• Experience in areas of responsibility, including work related to park and recreation administration, including budget, personnel, planning, programming, and maintenance.
• Minimum of 5 years responsible supervisory experience and training employees.
• Creative and strategic thinking and excellent skill in communication.
• Possession of a valid Michigan motor vehicle operator's permit.

This job may be a great fit for you if:

• You have experience supervising, mentoring, and developing others.
• You enjoy solving problems and taking initiative.
• You build relationships and collaborate with internal and external partners.
• You work well as part of a team.
• You let respect, competency, and integrity guide you.
• You are driven by casting a vision and leading your team.
• You are results-oriented and exercise sound judgment.
• You are a collaborator who looks for creative solutions.
• You enjoy turning ideas into community experiences.

Timeline:

Position will be accepting applications through August 24, 2026. First interviews will occur September 3, and second interviews will occur September 14.

For accommodation requests during the application process, contact the human resources department at hr_fax@wyomingmi.gov.