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Posted: 25-Jun-26
Location: Austin, Texas
Type: Full-time
Salary: $75,930 - $96,430 annually.
Sector:
Internal Number: JR104226
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a Recreation District Manager for Zilker Metropolitan Park. This senior leadership role coordinates operations across 351 acres of parkland and multiple flagship facilities including Zilker Botanical Garden, Mayfield Cottage and Park and Joan Means-Khabele Bathhouse,. The manager will oversee the complete visitor experienceincluding transit, entry systems, contractor and facility management—to ensure a safe and cohesive operation for millions of annual visitors.
Working with general direction, this position will oversee the strategic direction and operational management of multiple facilities, including facilities within Zilker Park, services, and district-wide programs, ensuring the delivery of high-quality recreational services to the community.
Minimum Qualifications:
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Graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Recreation, Physical Education, Parks Administration, Therapeutic Recreation, or a related field, plus five (5) years of supervisory or management capacity in developing and implementing recreational programs and activities, three (3) years of which were directly supervising or directly managing the daily operations of a recreational facility · Experience may substitute for education up to four (4) years.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
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May require certification in CPR, First Aid, Water Safety Instruction, or other areas as specified for the assigned class.
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Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) is required with Therapeutic Recreation assigned positions.
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Texas Class "C" Driver or Commercial Driver license if required for the assignment.
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Appropriate certifications as specified for the assignment.
Preferred Qualifications/Experience:
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Education & Credentials: Degree in parks or public administration; CPRP or CPRE certification.
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Credentials: Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) credentials.
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High-Volume Programmatic Leadership: Demonstrated success managing customer-centric visitor services, operations, and public programming within high-traffic public spaces, cultural landmarks, botanical gardens, or flagship municipal park systems.
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Strategic Stakeholder Diplomacy: Proven capability to navigate and balance competing public viewpoints, build consensus among vocal community advocacy groups, and maintain effective governance with non-profit partner boards.
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Event & Crisis Operations: Active, hands-on experience directing multi-agency operational logistics for large-scale public events and a strong operational command of the Incident Command System (ICS) structure.
Preferred Skills:
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Ability to fluently communicate (reading, writing, speaking) in English and Spanish.
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Intermediate level or above in Microsoft Office to include Word, Excel, Publisher, Power Point, Teams and Outlook.
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Current CPR certification or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.
Other:
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Ability to travel to more than one work location.