Community Services and Events Manager

Full Job Description

This position is primarily in the office. Travel to various work sites, businesses, and meeting locations is also expected.

Requirements

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

As the Community Services and Events Manager, you will lead efforts to make our facilities vibrant, accessible spaces that reflect the community’s needs and interests.

You will champion management practices that ensure sites are accessible and ready for recreational programs, special events, and passive uses, creating opportunities for everyone to connect and enjoy.

Collaboration is key; you will coordinate and market our facilities in partnership with Parks teams, other departments, and local and regional organizations to maximize impact.

Your work will include studying participation trends and evaluating program effectiveness, using insights to shape and improve services.

You will plan, promote, and oversee comprehensive departmental programs while driving innovation through new initiatives that engage the community.

Immediate priorities include department-wide special events, facility rentals, and enhancing public ease of use, with a spotlight on community festivals and celebrations.

As a supervisor, you will lead a team of four Recreation Supervisors and one Parks Specialist, providing oversight for specialized recreation programs and managing operations at key properties such as Cross Park, Lakewood Community Center, Frontier Park and Fair Grounds, and Meridian Habitat Center.

Why It's a Great Department:

Pierce County Parks and Recreation manages more than 5,200 acres of parks, trails, and open space, ranging from community hubs to natural areas. We deliver diverse recreation programs and maintain the infrastructure that supports both active play and quiet connection with nature.

Our department is made up of four divisions: Park and Recreation Operations, Business Operations, Volunteer and Resource Development, and Park Stewardship and Infrastructure Delivery, working together to serve one of the most dynamic and fast-growing regions in Washington.

Guided by our mission to create livable communities, we provide opportunities for people to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, live healthy lives, and experience inclusive, thriving public spaces.

Joining Pierce County Parks means being part of a forward-thinking team that values collaboration, innovation, and community impact, where your work truly makes a difference every day.

Learn more about the Pierce County Parks and Recreation Department

How to Succeed in the Role:This role requires experience in park and trail maintenance, programming, partnerships, event planning, marketing, facility scheduling, personnel management, and community engagement.

You will also oversee budgets and regional expenditures.

Strong computer skills are essential, including database use, scheduling tools, Microsoft Office, virtual platforms, social media, and internet navigation.

Regular meetings with your supervisor will set expectations and goals for you and your team.

Success depends on clear communication, collaboration, and the ability to build relationships with local groups and stakeholders to keep our parks vibrant and inclusive.

Your Future in this Role:The Community Services and Events Manager is a mid-management position with regional oversight responsibilities.

As part of the Parks and Recreation Division, you will report directly to the Deputy Director.

This role encompasses various activities aimed at supporting business processes through community engagement, benefiting all residents and workers of Pierce County.

Pierce County is committed to your professional development, offering comprehensive online learning modules and additional training opportunities throughout your career to ensure sustained success.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of a large park, inclusive of all indoor and outdoor facilities and programs.

Ensure the facility is maintained and recommends improvements if needed.

Plans, assigns, organizes and directs projects and employees in response to parks and recreation maintenance and repair work involving recreational areas, buildings, playgrounds, athletic facilities, structures, gardens and equipment.

• Design and implement planned maintenance, turf maintenance, and other management practice protocols that ensure sites can used for recreational programming, events, and passive uses in accordance with community needs and interests.
• Coordinate and market the facility for overall use with other departments, local and regional organizations.
• Study and evaluate program participation and attendance, determining the effectiveness of programs and services being offered.
• Selects, trains, supervises, motivates, evaluates, disciplines and manages full-time and seasonal personnel. Determine work procedures, prepare work schedules and determine methods for expediting workflow; assign, review and approve the work of subordinate staff.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Qualifications

• Additional education or experience may substitute for the recruiting requirements.
• Bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation, Business Administration, or related field.
• Four or more years of experience in parks and recreation services or similar field related to maintenance, operations, and programming of public facilities.
• Two years of supervisory level and facility management experience.
• Please attach a copy of your cover letter and resume. Failure to attach these will result in an incomplete application.

Special Requirements and/or Qualifications

• A valid driver’s license is required.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Additional Information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration.

Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date.

Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?