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As a Recreation Manager II, you’ll lead teams across multiple recreation facilities, programs, and community events. This role provides strategic oversight to supervisors managing sites such as Colonial Oaks Park, the Ridge Teen Center, Bee Ridge Park, Newtown Estates Park, Longwood Park, Woodmere Park, Nokomis Community Park, Laurel Park, and Venice Train Depot.

The Recreation Manager drives the planning and delivery of summer and school-year day camps, ensuring high-quality, consistent experiences for our community. This position champions operational excellence, strong fiscal management, and compliance with accreditation standards (CAPRA, ACA).

Serving as a key member of the division’s leadership team, the Recreation Manager II works closely with internal teams and community stakeholders to strengthen accountability, enhance customer service, innovate programming and events, and support efficient, high-quality operations across facilities, programs, and events.

Apply today and be part of a team dedicated to serving our community through parks, programs, and events.

About the Position

Leadership and Oversight:

• Provides leadership and management for recreation facilities and parks, ensuring alignment with County policies, division goals, and accreditation standards.
• Directly supervises multiple supervisors responsible for operations at Colonial Oaks Park, the Ridge Teen Center, Bee Ridge Park, Newtown Estates Park, Longwood Park, Woodmere Park, Nokomis Community Center, Laurel Park, and Venice Train Depot.
• Plans, directs, and coordinates division-wide and countywide programs, special events, and day camp operations.
• Ensures division-wide accountability for service quality, operational consistency, customer experience, and compliance with CAPRA and ACA standards.
• Responds to public inquiries, complaints, and complex operational issues in a timely and professional manner. Serves as the escalation point for complex operational, staffing, financial, and customer service issues.
• Evaluates existing operations to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.
• Encourages staff to think strategically when making decisions.

Staffing and Leadership:

• Supervises, coaches, mentors, and evaluates supervisors and division staff; holds supervisors accountable for staff performance, accuracy, and adherence to County and departmental expectations.
• Ensures consistent application of County HR policies, labor agreements, performance management processes, corrective action, and disciplinary procedures.
• Oversees staffing planning, succession planning, and staff development to support operational and service demands.
• Promotes a positive, inclusive, and high-performing organizational culture through clear expectations, communication, accountability, and leadership.

Operational Management:

• Develops and directs implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Oversees division budgets, revenues, expenditures, pricing structures, and fiscal accountability.
• Ensures accuracy, internal controls, and compliance related to financial transactions, purchasing, and revenue collection.
• Ensures consistent, accurate use of operational systems, including RecTrac, CampDoc, Skynet, and related technologies; holds supervisors accountable for data and system compliance.
• Monitors performance measures to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Capital Planning and Facilities:

• Assist with the coordination of capital and non-capital facility improvement initiatives to enhance functionality, accessibility, sustainability, and customer experience.
• Participates in CIP reviews of parks and facilities
• Ensures parks and facilities are safe, clean, accessible, and well-maintained through coordination with internal teams and contractors. Ensures follow-through for completion of work.

Compliance, Audits and Accreditation:

• Ensures compliance with County policies, procedures, and environmental stewardship standards.
• Oversees division-wide compliance with CAPRA and ACA accreditation standards, including documentation, practices, and continuous improvement.
• Oversees financial, compliance, operational, and performance audits; reviews findings, ensures accuracy of responses, and implements corrective actions.
• Leads fraud awareness, prevention, detection, and risk mitigation efforts within areas of responsibility.

Operating Hours are Sunday - Saturday

What to expect:

• 40-hour work week

• Weekdays, Weekends, and Nights

• Schedule will be based on business needs, events, rentals, programs, etc.

About You

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in recreation, leisure services, education, or a highly related field AND four (4) - six (6) years of professional experience related to the position

• -OR- A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in an appropriate recreation, leisure services, or environmental field can substitute for one year of professional experience.

• A valid Florida Driver's License at the time of hire

Preferred "BONUS" Qualifications:

• Previous experience in the management of recreation facilities, events, and programming

• Previous experience with Summer Camp

• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional certification  by the National Parks and Recreation Association

Physical Demands: Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

Subject to Passing Substance Screening:  This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening.  An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment for a period of five (5) years

Fingerprint Screening Requirement: This position requires a fingerprint-based background check, as required by law. The screening reviews criminal history and other legally permitted information. Applicants who do not meet the screening requirements will not be eligible for employment. Learn more: https://info.flclearinghouse.com

About Everything Else

Starting Pay Range: $77,105.60 - $80,953.60 / annually, based on experience

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

About Sarasota County Government

Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department, a CAPRA Accredited Agency, is comprised of seven divisions: Beaches and Water Access; Business Operations; Maintenance Services; Natural Areas and Trails; Park Planning and Development; Recreation and Neighborhood Parks; and Sports Development and Athletics. Our department oversees more than 55,000 acres of preserves, parks and trails, and offers outstanding natural areas, unique sporting venues and safe places for people of all ages and abilities to play, learn and grow. Our playgrounds, beaches, trails, natural areas, athletic facilities, recreation centers and water access parks provide Sarasota County residents and visitors a wide range of opportunities to stay healthy and active.

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