How to hire a parks recreation director

How to hire a parks recreation director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step parks recreation director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a parks recreation director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new parks recreation director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a parks recreation director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The parks recreation director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A parks recreation director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, parks recreation directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents parks recreation director salaries for various positions.

   Type of Parks Recreation Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Parks Recreation Director	Recreation workers design and lead recreational and leisure activities for groups in volunteer agencies or recreation facilities, such as playgrounds, parks, camps, aquatic centers, and senior centers. They may lead activities such as arts and crafts, dance, sports, adventure programs, music, and camping.	$13-40
   Summer Camp Counselor	Summer camps are programs with different themes organized for children or teenagers during the summer months. Summer camp counselors are responsible for the overall supervision of campers and the planning and implementation of the different programs to give children a memorable experience... Show more	$8-17
   Site Leader	A site leader is responsible for managing the staff's performance, ensuring the smooth delivery of daily operations, and guiding the successful project completion by maximizing the staff's productivity within the specified timeframe and budget goals. Site leaders work closely with the clients, together with the site manager, to identify their specifications and requirements, as well as providing progress updates and suggesting design adjustments as needed... Show more	$14-64

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Aquatics
   • Recreation Programs
   • Flag Football
   • Recreational Facilities
   • CPR
   • Program Development
   • Community Organizations
   • Athletic Fields
   • Master Plan
   • Performance Evaluations
   • Oversight
   • Community Events
   • Golf Courses
   • Capital Improvement Projects

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage recreation staff and programming for assist living and rehabilitation and skil nursing facilities.
   • Perform minor first aid and CPR as needed.
   • Acquire MDS data for the use of the clinical reimbursement team, as well as assessed patients.
   • Examine injure persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
   • Maintain written and personal communication with general public and local community through ongoing PowerPoint presentations, weekly newsletters and monthly newspaper.

   More parks recreation director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your parks recreation director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A parks recreation director salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, parks recreation directors' average salary in iowa is 51% less than in mississippi.
   • Seniority. Entry-level parks recreation directors earn 67% less than senior-level parks recreation directors.
   • Certifications. A parks recreation director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a parks recreation director's salary.

   Average parks recreation director salary

   $48,942yearly

   $23.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level parks recreation director salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average parks recreation director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$68,142	$33
   2	Washington	$58,723	$28
   3	New Jersey	$57,030	$27
   4	Massachusetts	$56,840	$27
   5	Texas	$54,368	$26
   6	Nevada	$53,732	$26
   7	North Carolina	$52,168	$25
   8	New York	$50,685	$24
   9	Colorado	$49,033	$24
   10	Florida	$47,890	$23
   11	Virginia	$47,430	$23
   12	Illinois	$47,038	$23
   13	Maryland	$46,133	$22
   14	Wisconsin	$41,963	$20
   15	Michigan	$41,588	$20
   16	Utah	$40,713	$20
   17	Indiana	$38,153	$18
   18	Missouri	$36,108	$17

   Average parks recreation director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Icma-rc	$98,591	$47.40	5
   2	City of Cupertino	$63,162	$30.37
   3	Montclair State University	$62,776	$30.18
   4	Ilitch Holdings	$59,758	$28.73
   5	City of Baltimore	$58,252	$28.01	1
   6	Student Conservation Association	$57,075	$27.44
   7	New York State Restaurant Association	$55,450	$26.66
   8	City of Reno	$52,316	$25.15	7
   9	Salt Lake County	$50,573	$24.31	29
   10	City of Austin	$45,789	$22.01
   11	Minnesota Limited	$44,226	$21.26
   12	GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation	$41,531	$19.97
   13	Bluefield, VA	$41,531	$19.97
   14	City of Spokane	$40,166	$19.31
   15	City of Stephenville	$39,893	$19.18
   16	City of Cape Coral	$39,413	$18.95	2
   17	Charter Schools USA	$38,349	$18.44
   18	Howard County Government	$38,186	$18.36
   19	Compass Group USA	$36,873	$17.73	5
   20	City of Hillsboro	$35,093	$16.87

4. Writing a parks recreation director job description

   A good parks recreation director job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a parks recreation director job description:

   Parks recreation director job description example

   • Performs landscape maintenance
   • Applies fungicides, herbicides, fertilizer and pesticides
   • Performs skilled operational activities
   • Provides technical knowledge regarding assigned functions
   • Ensures that proper procedures are followed and service quality levels are maintained
   • Contributes to the overall success of the department by performing other essential duties as assigned.

   • Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

   • Subject to 24 hour recall: The City reserves the right to require an employee in this position to work overtime including during emergency situations (defined as any natural or man-made disaster that may or may not necessitate the relocation of City personnel or citizens). In the event of an emergency and/or a required evacuation, the incumbent may be required to remain at work to provide needed services or perform essential duties for the benefit of the general public including services or duties different from those performed in the normal course and scope of the position.

   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES: To perform in this position successfully, and individual(s) must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required at time of application and duration of.

   • Applicable Federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations and/or ordinances;
   • Equipment, tools, and materials of assigned area;
   • Specialized equipment relevant to area of assignment;
   • Utility vehicle operation techniques;
   • Adhering to safe work practices;
   • Prioritizing work and managing time;

   EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING (Certification/Licensure): The preferred way to obtain the minimum knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position are listed below. The City reserves the right to allow substitutions in the event that a candidate or incumbent exceeds requirements in one area but may be deficient in another.

   • High School Diploma or GED and three (3) years of experience related to area of assignment; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
   • Valid Texas Driver's License

   ADA AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

   Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

   Very Heavy Work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

   Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions, intense noises, travel and environmental conditions such as disruptive people, imminent danger or a threatening environment.

   The City of Stafford is an Equal Opportunity Employer

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right parks recreation director for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your parks recreation director job on Zippia to find and recruit parks recreation director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit parks recreation directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new parks recreation director

   Once you have selected a candidate for the parks recreation director position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new parks recreation director. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a parks recreation director?