Assistant Director of Recreation & Community Services

Job Description:

Assistant Director of Recreation & Community Services

Description

Definition

Come join an incredible team-orientated department that positively impacts the lives of the City of Milpitas's diverse community!

The City of Milpitas seeks an enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented professional to join a dynamic and high-functioning Recreation & Community Services Department as the Assistant Director. This position supports the strategic leadership, administration, and day-to-day operations of the Recreation and Community Services Department, ensuring programs, services, and facilities align with community needs and City priorities. This position oversees departmental business operations, including budgeting, contracts, personnel management, performance measurement, process improvement, and regulatory compliance while fostering a culture of continuous learning and operational excellence. The Assistant Director serves as a key liaison to community stakeholders, partners, and organizations, leading engagement, inclusion, marketing, and assessment efforts to enhance service delivery, expand community impact, and support the Department's mission.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and strategic leader who combines strong business acumen with a passion for public service and community engagement. They possess demonstrated experience in organizational leadership, budget and contract management, staff development, and operational improvement, with the ability to translate data and community feedback into effective programs, services, and policies. The successful candidate is an innovative problem-solver, skilled relationship builder, and effective communicator who values inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement while fostering a positive, high-performing team culture. The position reports to the Director of Recreation and Community Services and oversees a team of one Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Arts and Culture Recreation Assistant II, and one Special Project Associate.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Director of Recreation and Community Services.
May exercise supervision over management/supervisory, professional, office administrative, technical and part-time staff.

For the complete Job Description, click here: Class Specifications | Assistant Director of Recreation & Community Services

Examples of Duties

Duties below are related to the Recreation and Community Services Department, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Works collaboratively with the Director of Recreation & Community Services to establish goals and policies consistent with the Department's mission and service levels.
• Assists in the strategic planning, coordination, and implementation of departmental policy and administration.
• Oversees the department’s financial and administrative operations, including budgeting, revenue management, purchasing, and compliance with applicable policies and regulations.
• Provides strategic and operational support to programs and services by analyzing data, improving business processes, and coordinating resources to ensure efficient and effective service delivery, and enhancing revenue generation.
• Assists in evaluating department staffing levels, performance standards; and training and development of Department personnel.
• Manage, train and evaluate staff and develop processes designed to support a continuous learning environment.
• May oversee departmental timekeeping, payroll processing, and approvals for new hires, rehires, and candidate interviews.
• Reviews and approves time off requests.
• Conducts timely employee performance evaluations.
• Conducts community needs assessments in collaboration with stakeholders, including residents, community groups, and school officials, to ensure programs and facilities meet evolving recreational and cultural demands.
• Works collaboratively with the Director and management personnel in preparing and maintaining the Department budget.
• Consistently attend City-sponsored special events to further brand the City’s commitment to wide-ranging inclusionary programs and services to the community.
• Create and nurture City connection to community stakeholders through regular interaction, relationship-building, and follow-through.
• Manages the department’s permitting processes for public venues, events, and rentals assisting with fee collection in compliance with City regulations.
• Encourage dialogue and feedback from Milpitas community members in regard to the types of programs and services that the City currently offers, as well as ideas for future potential offerings.
• Conduct outreach meetings and focus groups in the community to assess comprehensive and inclusive needs
• Negotiates and manages contracts and agreements; coordinates with other City department staff to determine City needs and requirements for contractual services.
• Oversees with the Recreation and Community Services Program Coordinators on the cultural accessibility of department publications, resource material and social media marketing content.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of press releases and other marketing material related to community engagement and inclusionary efforts
• Serve as Department liaison to local non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, community groups and colleges/universities
• Research and analyze relevant literature and other benchmark information in order to develop grant proposals, new program ideas and propose program enhancements
• Develop program objectives and monitor quantitative and qualitative data on progress toward objectives
• Collect data, conduct analysis, and provide reports through surveys and focus groups on the progress related to accessibility, equity, inclusion, and diversity in recreation-related programming
• Develop, administer and analyze assessment/evaluation questionnaires. Compile statistics and prepare reports

• May act as the Director of Recreation and Community Services in their absence and may represent the Department at internal and external meetings
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Experience:

• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience managing service-related programs, ideally in a municipal recreation setting.
• Two (2) years of management and supervisory experience in Public Administration, Recreation Administration, or a related field.

Education Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public Administration, Recreation Administration or a related field of study.

Desirable:

• A Master’s Degree Public Administration, Recreation Administration or a related field of study.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATES

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License at the time of appointment
• Possession or ability to obtain, and maintain CPR & First Aid Certificates within sixty (60) days of appointment
• Possession or ability to obtain, and maintain FEMA NIMS 100, 200, 700, 800 Certificates within eleven (11) months of appointment

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
To submit a complete application , please attach a professional resume and cover letter. Your cover letter should explain why you are a strong candidate based on both your personal and professional experience. It should also include areas where you have less experience but are eager to grow, and describe your approach to leadership—both formal and informal roles—as well as your approach to team development.

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, kneel, bend, squat and stoop in the performance of daily activities; repetitive hand movements and fine motor coordination is required when using a computer keyboard; near vision is required when writing reports and other documents, and far vision is required when out in the field; ability to attend (evening and weekend day) events and meetings; ability to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Milpitas; occasionally works in outside weather conditions; occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; occasionally lift, carry and push office supplies weighing up to 25 pounds; exposure to the outdoors, noise, fumes, dust, allergens and air contaminants.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict-of-Interest Statement upon assuming office, annually, and upon leaving office, in accordance with Resolution No. 8833.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Milpitas will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Human Resources Department.

The City of Milpitas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

RETIREMENT
Miscellaneous Unrepresented:
1. Classic Tier 1 employees (Employees hired before October 9, 2011): 2.7% at 55 Retirement Plan including the highest final compensation amendment. (Employee pays 8% contribution rate)
2. Classic Tier 2 employees (Employees hired on or after October 9, 2011 and before January 1, 2013, or who qualify for CalPERS pension reciprocity): 2% @ 60 Retirement Plan including three year final average compensation period (Employee pays 7% contribution rate)
3. Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) employees hired on or after January 1, 2013: 2% @ 62 Retirement Plan including three year final average compensation period (Employee contribution rate as stated in annual CalPERS actuarial report)
City of Milpitas employees do not participate in Social Security, but do contribute to Medicare.
Police Unrepresented:
1. Classic Tier 1 employees (Employees hired before April 8, 2012): 3% @ 50 Retirement Plan including the highest final compensation amendment. (Employee pays 9% contribution rate)
2. Classic Tier 2 employees (Employees hired on or after April 8, 2012 and before January 1, 2013, or who qualify for CalPERS pension reciprocity): 3% @ 55 Retirement Plan including highest final compensation (Employee pays 9% contribution rate)
3. Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) employees hired on or after January 1, 2013: 2.7 % @ 57 Retirement Plan including three year final average compensation period (Employee pays half of normal cost, July 2018 at 10% contribution rate)
Fire Unrepresented
1. Classic Tier 1 employees (Employees hired before April 8, 2012): 3% @ 50 Retirement Plan including the highest final compensation amendment. (Employee pays 9% contribution rate)
2. Classic Tier 2 employees (Employees hired on or after April 8, 2012 and before January 1, 2013, or who qualify for CalPERS pension reciprocity): 3% @ 55 Retirement Plan including highest final compensation (Employee pays 9% contribution rate)
3. Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) employees hired on or after January 1, 2013: 2.7 % @ 57 Retirement Plan including three year final average compensation period (Employee contribution rate as stated in CalPERS actuarial report.)
City of Milpitas employees do not participate in Social Security, but do contribute to Medicare.

MEDICAL INSURANCE
Choice of CalPERS Medical Plans. City pays coverage up to the Kaiser rate. Employees who waive health coverage are eligible to receive $125 per month in lieu of medical plan coverage with proof of other coverage.

RETIREE MEDICAL
Employees are eligible upon CalPERS retirement from the City to receive up to 100% retiree medical coverage (currently based on the Kaiser health rate), based on years of service.

DENTAL & VISION
City provides full family coverage for dental and vision at no cost to the employee.

LIFE INSURANCE
City provides $50,000 term policy. Supplemental employee-paid life insurance is available up to $500,000, based on carrier acceptance.

DISABILITY INSURANCE
City provides a Short-Term Disability plan similar to State Disability Insurance (SDI) coverage. Employees do not participate in SDI. Long-Term Disability coverage of 60% of base salary up to $1,500 per month is available after a 60-day waiting period. Additional buy-up options for LTD are available.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
City contributes $75 per month on the employee's behalf.

VACATION
Employees earn 16-36 days of vacation based on years of service.

MANAGEMENT LEAVE
Employees earn 40 hours of Management Leave per year.

HOLIDAYS
Employees receive 12 paid holidays and one (1) floating holiday per year.

SICK LEAVE
Employees earn 12 days annually.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
Employees are eligible to receive up to $3,000 per fiscal year in tuition reimbursement.

FITNESS PROGRAM
Employees are offered free access to City-sponsored sports and fitness programs.

The City also offers a flexible spending benefits plan, employee assistance program, and other voluntary insurance. Contact Human Resources (HR) at 408-586-3090 or visit https://www.milpitas.gov/245/Benefits for more information on employee benefits.

Closing Date/Time: 7/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$148,252.74 - $207,553.84 Annually