Director of Parks Planning and Maintenance

Director of Parks Planning and Maintenance

Responsible for planning, organizing, supervising, and directing parks planning, maintenance, and operations programs, projects, and systems for the City of Olympia. Work involves providing guidance and direction to the parks planning, engineering, maintenance, operations, stewardship, and park rangers teams.

The ideal candidate for the Director of Parks Planning and Maintenance will be a visionary and collaborative leader who embraces the values of the City of Olympia and is committed to advancing parks, arts, and recreation for the community. The successful candidate will demonstrate :

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and establish a strategic direction that aligns with City goals and community priorities.
• A track record of cultivating a positive, respectful, learning-oriented workplace culture.
• Skill in directing, motivating, influencing, and guiding both represented and non-represented employees.
• Experience in community engagement and municipal long-range planning, preferably within parks, recreation, or a closely related field.
• Ability to manage multiple projects or initiatives simultaneously in a municipal environment.
• Demonstrated success working collaboratively and respectfully with Maintenance and Operations teams.
• Aptitude for navigating complex challenges through creative, cooperative, and solution-oriented approaches.
• Skill in development, oversight, and interpretation of municipal budgets, contracts, and financial reports.
• Excellent public-speaking and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences.

To Apply : If you are interested in this position, please apply through the Workday career site. Be sure to include a letter of interest and resume. Your letter of interest should be no more than 2 pages long and outline how your professional experience aligns with the Ideal Candidate Profile above. Applications are due by Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 5 pm.

Contact Information : If you have questions about this position, please feel free to contact Sylvana Niehuser at 360.753.8068 or email sniehuse@ci.olympia.wa.us.