Parks and Recreation Director bei Town of Clayton, NC

About the Department

* Salary Grade SG*415 *Salary Grade Range: $103,711.00 - $165,937.00 * 

*Recruitment Range: $103,711.00 - $120,000.00*

* Salary offered will be determined based on directly related experience and an offer at the top of the SG is not guaranteed *

* Work Location is 715 Amelia Church Rd. Clayton, NC (Johnston County) *

The Town of Clayton is seeking applicants for a Parks and Recreation Director for the Parks and Recreation Department. The Town of Clayton employs more than 340 full-time staff in areas including police, fire, and electric utilities. The Town of Clayton also offers a range of PT positions including positions in Parks & Rec, Library, and Cultural Arts.

The Town of Clayton is the fastest growing town in Johnston County, which is the fastest growing county in the State of North Carolina. The vision for the Town of Clayton includes a thriving town where growth contributes to the quality of life enjoyed by long-time residents and newcomers alike; easy access but with an atmosphere that feels smaller than it is; a system of parks and greenways that connect people and places; neighborhoods with a variety of quality living options; a town that offers opportunities for people to live, create, shop and eat; a bustling and historic downtown, and businesses that are successful, growing, and investing in the community.

Position Duties

• Plans, directs and participates in providing an expanding and flexible program of parks, recreation, athletics, open space programs and facilities for all segments, groups, ages, and interest levels of the community. 
• Develops long range of plans for recreation programs and facilities according to anticipated Town growth, future interests, community input, and expanded parks and recreation needs.
• Works with Town Manager, elected, and appointed officials to determine vision, priorities, and funding resources to develop long range plans for facilities and programs.
• Plans, organizes, and oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of varying recreational and athletics programs and events for all ages and segments of the Town.
• Plans, organizes, and oversees the maintenance of various facilities, parks, fields, and buildings related to departmental activities. 
• Recommends the acquisition and development and maintenance of park and playground areas and structures and facilities so as to best serve the wide interests of the community; develop and administer grants.
• Solicits and receives input from community groups, neighborhood groups and individuals with regard to the parks and recreation needs, problems, and utilizes such input for overall planning and programming and program evaluation. 
• Directs the preparation of the departmental budget, submits recommendations to Town management; coordinates and monitors the expenditure of funds; develops and administers grants.
• Develops staff including hiring, training, motivation, performance counseling and evaluation, discipline, and team building.
• Oversees and/or participates in managing the design and construction of facilities.
• Advises management and elected officials on departmental issues.
• Supervises and/or participates in studying and analyzing programs, facilities, and needs of the community; adjusts programming as necessary.
• Supervises and participates in interpreting the recreation and parks program through press releases and other publicity and through cooperative planning and effective working relationships with community agencies and groups, public and private.
• Attends meetings of department heads, boards, agencies, and community groups to present department programs and needs.
• Performs related duties as required.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of the trends, principles and methods of parks and recreation planning, programming, evaluation, and development.

• Extensive knowledge of programs, laws, and processes required in municipal recreation and administration.

• Thorough knowledge of legal liability and safety issues related to public programs and facilities.

• Considerable knowledge of land use ordinance and resulting recreational and park needs.

• Considerable knowledge of the application of information technology to the department.

• Considerable knowledge of modern and management principles and practices including leadership, motivations, communications, performance coaching and evaluation, mentoring and team building.

• Considerable knowledge of the Town’s personnel, purchasing and budgeting policies and procedures and laws, regulations, principles and practices related to hiring and employment in the public sector.

• Knowledge of construction management, landscape and turf maintenance and related fields.

• Skilled in collaborative conflict resolution, meeting facilitation, and public speaking.

• Ability to effectively communicate, motivate, hire, conduct performance coaching, and team building with staff.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with local officials, the general public, and employees.

• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.

• Ability to write policies, grants, and reports supporting the programs and activities of the department.

• Ability to evaluate programs, analyze needs, and solve problems effectively.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Physical Education, or related major field required. 
• Master's Degree in Public Administration or related major field preferred. 
• Considerable experience in the management of a municipal recreation program including considerable supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Depending on the position, the Town may consider an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Other Qualifications

*SUBMIT OFFICIAL APPLICATION USING THE TOWN'S CAREER WEBSITE*

https://www.townofclaytonnc.org/

If you have technical issues submitting your application, please call the NEOGOV (governmentjobs.com) Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please contact the Human Resources Office. If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. To check the status of your application, please log on to your NEOGOV account and click “Application Status”.   It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application.  Normal processing time for applications is 30-45 days from the closing date of the posting.

To obtain veterans preference, you must scan and upload a copy of your DD-214 or discharge orders. Degrees must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. Any information omitted from the application cannot be considered for qualifying credit.   Attached or incorporated resumes (including Text Resume’s on the on-line application) WILL NOT be used for screening for qualifying credit.  “See Resume” or “See Attachment” WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completing an on-line application form. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check.  Effective October 1, 2025, in accordance with North Carolina state law, all applicants for positions that involve working with children in any capacity are required to undergo criminal history record checks conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Credit and motor checks are required for some administrative, finance and operational positions. Applicants will be required to take and pass a Pre-Employment Drug and Alcohol screen once they are verbally given a conditional offer of employment. Depending on the position, employees may be subject to random drug and alcohol screens throughout their employment. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).   

Town of Clayton employees enjoy many benefits including a retirement pension plan, 401K membership, Paid Vacation, Sick and Holiday Leave, State Health Plan, and various other benefits.  Benefits information can be found by going directly to the Town of Clayton website at: https://www.townofclaytonnc.org/251/Benefits.

When a salary range is posted, the actual salary will be based on relevant competencies, knowledge, skills & abilities, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.  The Town of Clayton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring salary will not exceed hiring pay range unless approved by the Town Manager.

Applications may be reviewed to determine if applicants education and experience is more applicable to other vacant positions within the Town.