Director of Community Services Salary $163,654.40 - $198,931.20 Annually Location 91942, CA Job Type Regular Full-Time Job Number 24-41 Department Community Services Opening Date 12/05/2024 Closing Date 2/7/2025 11:59 PM Pacific + Description + Benefits + Questions Position Summary The City of La Mesa is seeking an innovative, flexible, and collaborative leader who values teamwork and is committed to developing and mentoring staff as the next Community Services Director. This is an at-will management position, reporting to the Assistant City Manager. The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking individual with strong communication skills who can align departmental objectives with the City’s long-term vision. They will have the ability to identify community needs, evaluate programs, and implement innovative solutions to create inclusive and accessible community services and facilities for all residents. The successful candidate will combine their technical expertise, leadership, community focus, and strategic thinking to enhance the City’s community services and improve the quality of life for La Mesa residents. Please see recruitment brochure (https://www.cityoflamesa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23760/Director-of-Community-Services-Brochure) for detailed information. Key Responsibilities Key functions and priorities include: + Assuming full management responsibility for all Community Services Department services and activities providing leisure, educational, and cultural activities for the City of La Mesa including aquatics programs, community recreation activities, and Human Services programs; plan and direct the operations of and providing custodial services for public buildings; recommend and administer policies and procedures. + Providing leadership and expertise in the implementation of Park Master Plans, including the development of new parks and facilities. + Managing the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies and priorities for each assigned service area. + Establishing, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitoring and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; allocating resources accordingly. + Selecting, training, motivating and evaluating assigned personnel; coordinating staff training; working with employees to correct deficiencies; implementing discipline and termination procedures. + Managing the development and administration of the department budget including budget development for aquatics, recreation programs and Human Services programs; approving the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; approving expenditures and implement budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary. + Planning, directing and coordinating, through subordinate level staff, the Community Services Department's work plan; assigning projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviewing and evaluating work methods and procedures; meeting with key staff to identify and resolve problems. + Overseeing the operations of non-profit Park and Recreation Foundation as required in accordance with the City's mission; raising funds for project; serving as the liaison between the foundation, community and City; participating in the development of a volunteer leadership team to guide the Foundation create community awareness of Foundation; developing long term funding for Foundation. + Representing the Community Services Department to other departments, elected officials, outside agencies, and the general public; coordinating assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations. + Providing staff assistance to the City Manager; participating on a variety of boards, commissions and committees; preparing and presenting staff reports and other necessary correspondence. + Attending and participating in professional group meetings; staying abreast of new trends and innovations in the fields of leisure, educational and cultural services. + Responding to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints. Please see recruitment brochure for detailed information on priorities and opportunities (https://www.cityoflamesa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23760/Director-of-Community-Services-Brochure) . Minimum Qualifications Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Education/Training Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major work in recreation administration, business administration, public administration, or a related field. A Master's degree is highly desirable. Experience Seven years of increasingly responsible experience in community services programs including three years of experience in managing and supervising a comprehensive community services, recreation, and/or human services program. License or Certificate Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license. Please see recruitment brochure (https://www.cityoflamesa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23760/Director-of-Community-Services-Brochure) for additional information. Examination Process To be considered, interested candidates must submit a job application, cover letter and resume online through the City's website no later than 11:59 P.M., Friday, February 7, 2025. Candidates whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the City will be invited to participate in the examination process for this position. Extensive reference and background checks will be completed on the selected candidate. For additional information, please contact Gretchen Spaniol, Director of Human Resources, at gspaniol@cityoflamesa.us. Management benefits are provided at the direction of the City Manager. The City Manager may periodically adjust the Management benefits package. Although Management employees are not represented, certain Management benefits are administered according to the terms of other bargaining unit MOUs. These MOUs and applicable policies and procedures may be consulted for guidance when determining if/how other benefits afforded to represented employees should be applied to Management employees. Exceptions to Management benefits, as summarized in the benefit summary (https://www.cityoflamesa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23958/Management-Benefits-Jan-2025-PDF) , may be made by the City Manager. In the case of any dispute or question concerning the application of Management benefits, the matter shall be decided by the City Manager. Please click here (https://www.cityoflamesa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23958/Management-Benefits-Jan-2025-PDF) for the Management benefit summary. 01 Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to continue in the selection process. Resumes in lieu of this questionnaire will not be accepted. Please be as descriptive as possible in your responses. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application? + Yes + No 02 A cover letter and resume must be submitted to be considered for this position. Did you attach a cover letter and resume to your application? + Yes + No 03 APPLICANT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT - NOTIFICATION VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL): The City of La Mesa Human Resources Department uses e-mail to notify our applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of your application. Therefore, as an applicant, you are hereby advised of the following: 1. Ensure that the e-mail address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. Do not share e-mail addresses. Spam or other filters should be adjusted to accept our e-mails. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our e-mail notifications, i.e., for the non-delivery of e-mail or if you fail to check your e-mail inbox on a timely basis, etc. 2. Carefully read any notices that we send in a timely manner. Follow further instructions, if any. We recommend that you print and keep a hard copy of our notices for your records. I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the above. + Yes + No Required Question Employer City of La Mesa Address 8130 Allison Avenue La Mesa, California, 91942 Phone 619-667-1175 Website http://www.cityoflamesa.us Apply Please verify your email address Verify Email