The City of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, is accepting applications to fill the position of Parks & Recreation Director. The Parks & Recreation Director is responsible for the administration, direction and coordination of the Black River Falls Parks & Recreation Department which includes an aquatic center. The City of Black River Falls has a population of 3,622.
The Department
The Parks & Recreation Department has one full-time employee (the Director), 6 part-time parks & recreation employees, and a minimum of 30 part-time, seasonal aquatic center employees.
The Parks & Recreation Department’s portion of the 2021 City Operating Budget is set at $216,465.00. The 2021 Capital Budget for the department is set at $39,000.00 which includes $20,000 allocated to replenish the capital reserve fund.
The Position
The Parks & Recreation Director has administrative responsibility for effectively and efficiently planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, and managing operations, vehicle maintenance, equipment maintenance, facility maintenance, and all other activities of the Parks & Recreation Department.
The Parks & Recreation Director is under the immediate supervision of the City Administrator, and subject to general direction from the Mayor and the Common Council.
The Parks & Recreation Director is an exempt, non-represented employee. The normal work week is Monday through Friday 7:00am – 3:30pm. The Parks & Recreation Director is also expected to attend the Committee of the Whole meeting held the third Wednesday of each month and other meetings as needed. The position requires working varying hours as needed for Parks & Recreation Department related business and activities which will include some evenings and weekends.
The position’s annual salary is initially established by the City of Black River Falls Hiring Committee and then annually established by the Common Council. The starting annual salary for the position will be $50,000 – $57,500 depending on qualifications.
An excellent benefit package including health insurance coverage and retirement benefits under the Wisconsin Retirement System accompanies this position. Additional benefits and optional insurances are available.
A detailed job description is available on our website at: Forms
Required Education and Certifications
The Parks & Recreation Director must have a high school diploma or equivalent, possess a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, Commercial Driver License (CDL) endorsement preferred, hold current certification as an Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) or be able to obtain certification within 6 months of hire, certification in playground safety preferred, and have extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of Parks & Recreation Department administration. Preference will be given to an individual with an Associate’s Degree or higher in Parks & Recreation Management or related field, and/or additional training or certifications in parks & recreation services and management/supervisory skills.
The ideal candidate for this position should also have a track record focused on strong public service, human relations, leadership, managerial, and supervisory skills. This professional, supervisory position must be able to lead the department to full performance capability and achieve high morale. Qualified candidates should possess the skills for writing grant application submissions & organizing people, projects and schedules on an ongoing basis.
The Recruitment Process
Interested applicants MUST submit the following items to the address noted below:
- A cover letter
- A current resume, detailing qualifications for this position
- Copies of all relevant certifications
- At least 3 professional references
The application deadline is 4:30 P.M. on Friday, March 5, 2021. The application review process will begin on March 9, 2021 and will remain open until the position is filled.
Application materials should be placed in a sealed envelope, addressed as follows, and either mailed or hand-delivered by the deadline noted above to:
City of Black River Falls
Attention: Hiring Committee
101 South SecoNd Street
Black River Falls, WI 54615
Electronic submissions are acceptable and may be forwarded to city.admin@blackriverfallswi.gov.
Applicant names are subject to release pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes, unless confidentiality is requested in writing. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed for finalists.
The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation, a physical examination, and drug screen.
Additional questions on this position or on application procedures may be directed to City Administrator via email at city.admin@blackriverfallswi.gov or by phone at (715) 284-2315.