Deputy Administrator Parks and Outdoors

The Deputy Administrator of Parks & Outdoors is responsible for assisting the Administrator in delivering, expanding and improving services for the citizens of Chattanooga. The Deputy Administrator supports integration of the Mayor’s and Administrator’s vision, goals, and strategy for the Parks & Outdoors Department by assisting with directing, planning and organizing services, programs, and operations; developing and implementing policy; as well as crafting and accomplishing department and City objectives, goals, and performance metrics within guidelines established by the Administrator, Mayor and City Council. The Deputy Administrator of Parks & Outdoors must exercise a high degree of judgment and discretion along with political acumen and an understanding of the needs of the community. 

***This is an Appointed Position***

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. 

• Assists in directing the activities of multiple divisions within the department, to include planning, coordinating, administering and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, goals, objectives, systems, and standards; strategic planning; and ensuring compliance with Federal, State and Local laws, regulations, codes and/or standards.
• Supervises lower level staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
• Oversees and facilitates the preparation of the Parks & Outdoors annual budget; analyzes and reviews budgetary and financial data; controls and authorizes expenditures in accordance with established limitations; reviews, prepares and directs major department purchases.
• Participates in the City’s strategic planning of the Department to ensure the priorities and goals of the City are met.
• Evaluates and maintains quality control over staff assignments, reviews progress and directs changes as needed.
• Develops, recommends, updates and implements operating policies and procedures.
• Collaborates and confers with internal staff, external agencies, community organizations, citizens and/or other interested parties in executing the department’s goals, objectives and strategies.
• Attends and conducts a variety of meetings as assigned; serves on assigned committees; prepares and delivers presentations and recommendations to the City Council, commissions, committees, and government boards.
• Advises the Chief of Staff, the Mayor and City Council on all matters of community development and the delivery of related services.
• Must meet regular attendance requirements.
• Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.
• Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of experience in roles of growing scope, responsibility, and demonstrable results in the urban parks and recreation sector or a related field; or any combination of equivalent experience and education; or any combination of equivalent experience and education.
• Advanced degree in parks, recreation, landscape architecture, or a related field may be substituted on a year-for-year basis up to two years of the required 7 years of experience as described above.
• All employees must maintain Tennessee residency from the date of hire.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:

A valid Tennessee Driver’s License.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Considerable knowledge of managerial principles and practices; policy analysis techniques; grant management principles and practices; financial accounting principles and practices; strategic planning principles; Federally funded programs related to community development; budgeting principles and practices; public relations principles; applicable Federal, State and Local laws, ordinances, codes, rules and regulations; project management principles and practices; and government protocols.
• Skill in monitoring and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; prioritizing and assigning work; preparing a variety of reports and correspondence; managing projects; managing and administering budgets; applying independent judgment, personal discretion and resourcefulness in interpreting and applying guidelines; and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees and those contacted in the course of the work.
• A strong commitment to providing services that will improve and enhance the quality of life for all residents.
• Demonstrated ability to execute projects while balancing multiple and competing priorities on tight deadlines, all while providing continual attention to detail and quality.
• Politically astute with a proven track record of working effectively in partnership with City departments, elected officials, local, regional, and state governments, outside agencies, residents, small businesses, and other key stakeholders to achieve goals and objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and manage organizational cultural change and development, comprehensively leading and energizing a diverse team.
• Highly effective communicator with maturity who demonstrates cultural competence, active listening, and responsiveness to the community, residents, and staff.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Positions in this class typically require reaching, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Safety Sensitive: N
• Department of Transportation – CDL: N
• Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

All employees must maintain Tennessee residency from the date of hire.

This position requires satisfactory clearance of all post-offer processes that may include, but not be limited to, a criminal history background check and drug screening.