Job Announcement

Join a dynamic team as manager of the Park Authority’s premier park, Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, VA. Park amenities include a 1930s working farm, wedding/rental venue, equestrian facility, pre-school, and natural and cultural resources on the 135 acre site with over 700,000 visits annually. Position includes an oversight for the equestrian activities at Turner Farm and Laurel Hill.

Supervises the planning, protection, development, and maintenance of cultural and natural resources, including historic buildings, grounds, other facilities, collections records, and public use compliance. Develops and implements short and long-term goals, annual operations plans, programs, park resource management plans, and plans to retain professional museum accreditation.

Must have experience preparing operations budgets, coordinating, monitoring, and approving budget expenditures. Also serves as a contact for donations and fundraising activities.

As the manager of this location, recruits, trains, supervises, directs, evaluates, and provides guidance to parks’ personnel and assigns projects and schedules staff. Oversees an active volunteer program.

A strong candidate will have the demonstrated ability to connect with a variety of partners and stakeholders within the community and the agency to lead Frying Pan Farm Park to be a premier park that meets the needs across a broad spectrum of visitors.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will provide a virtual realistic job preview on December 8th at 2:00PM (you can access the meeting by clicking on this link: December 8th: Realistic Job Preview ) and/or December 16th at 10:00AM (you can access the meeting by clicking on this link: December 16th: Realistic Job Preview ).

Note: these links are Microsoft Teams meetings. If you are joining from a mobile device you will need to download the Microsoft Teams app. If joining from a computer, simply click the link.

Illustrative Duties

General

• Directs the overall operations, services, and personnel of an assigned park location or unit and ensures that agency standards for cleanliness, maintenance, safety, and operational effectiveness are met at assigned sites and facilities;
• Plans, schedules, and evaluates the work of subordinate staff and ensures the availability of training and professional development programs;
• Coordinates and interacts with other county agencies on issues affecting park/recreation management and operations;
• Compiles and monitors the annual budget for the assigned unit and develops quarterly target projections and budget plans;
• Researches and develops program standards that comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, that meet industry standards, and that assure participant safety;
• Researches, develops and analyzes consumer needs, interests, and resources through a variety of assessment tools to determine appropriate instructional opportunities and leisure activities;
• Oversees the development and implementation of community outreach plans to target underserved populations, to increase overall participation in programs, and to ensure the resolution of community concerns and customer complaints;
• Establishes fee schedules and marketing formats and evaluates program participation levels and profit margins;
• Prepares, reviews, and evaluates financial and administrative reports to analyze current practices and trends and initiates actions to maximize site use and revenue;
• Participates in the development of short- and long-term goals, operating objectives, strategies and implementation plans, and submits recommendations for improved service delivery to ensure that scheduling of activities at facilities maximizes revenue and customer satisfaction;
• Authorizes the procurement of required items or services;
• Reviews and recommends actions on plans for the acquisition, development, construction, and renovation of park facilities;
• Inspects, reports, and resolves encroachments with citizens and appropriate staff;
• Ensures that all required certificates, licenses, and permits are current and posted.

Programming

• Plans, organizes, and coordinates field trips, County-wide tournaments, dances, picnics, family outings, and other events;
• Designs, plans, promotes, and supervises recreation program delivery through classes, camps, tours, workshops, and clubs at community centers, schools, trips, tournaments, family outings, and other recreational areas;
• Coordinates recreation programs with other public and private agencies' programs.

Management

• Participates in interdisciplinary human service planning teams;
• Plans and coordinates with agency and County staff on resource management issues for developed and undeveloped parks.
• Develops and supports ongoing collaborative relationships with County agencies and other community-based agencies in order to identify service delivery needs, identify and develop community resources and coordinate efforts to meet those needs.
• Develops a regional communication network to share and exchange information on regional issues and trends.
• Identifies and establishes collaborative partners hips with community leaders, schools, agencies, businesses and non-profits to develop programs that support agency initiatives.
• Manages group processes through facilitation, conflict resolution, mediation, consensus building and leadership development.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of park or recreation center management;
• Knowledge of financial management controls relating to accounting and budgeting;
• Knowledge of group work methods;
• Knowledge of various athletics, arts and crafts, drama, group activities and day camps;
• Ability to manage a large complex operation with extensive capital equipment, property value, and inventory;
• Ability to motivate, supervise, and evaluate staff and to develop and implement staff training programs;
• Ability to schedule, coordinate, and prioritize the work of a diverse groups of employees;
• Ability to analyze programs and procedures and evaluate their performance against established objectives;
• Ability to prepare clear and concise financial, administrative, and operational reports;
• Ability to prepare and adhere to budgets;
• Ability to use a personal computer, applicable software, and peripheral equipment;
• Ability to obtain support of leaders and participants for programming implementation;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff, citizen groups, and the public;
• Knowledge of OSHA/Universal precaution standards;
• Knowledge of legislation and design standards for persons with disabilities.
• If assigned to teen/senior positions:
• Knowledge of principles, practices, tools and techniques of team-based management- facilitation, consensus decision-making, conflict resolution;
• Knowledge of principles, practices, tools and techniques of community building and planning.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park management, therapeutic recreation, business administration/management, public administration, or a closely related field.;
Plus four years of progressively responsible experience in park management or multi-faceted recreation center management providing a variety of recreation programs in the area of assignment; two years of the required experience must have included supervisory duties.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
• A valid motor vehicle driver's license.
• CPR and/or First Aid certification within 6 months of appointment.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a check of the Child Protective Services Registry, and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer. The appointee to this position may be required to work nights, weekends, or odd hours depending on project needs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience desired:
Historic park development, planning, operations, and oversight cultural and natural resource management.
Budget and Finance Personnel Program development.
Facility and grounds operational planning and oversight fundraising.
Previous farm, agricultural, historic site, and/or natural resource site management experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with applying the methods, principles, techniques, and practices necessary to document a site with agricultural, natural, and cultural resources.
D emonstrated ability to use effective leadership skills related to interpersonal relations, team building, and establish positive relationships with mangers, peers, subordinates, customers, and stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement master plans, interpretive plans, operations plants, etc. Demonstrated ability to set and maintain multiple program priorities while having the flexibility to adapt to change, collaborate, and negotiate with diverse stakeholders.
Experience with managing revenue generating programs and facilities.
Comprehensive understanding of budget development and management.
Experience with budget development and management.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Any National Association for Interpretation certification is desirable.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to lift, carry, push or pull 25 up to 40 pounds. Ability to stand and maintain visual concentration for prolonged period and to have a high level of hand/eye/foot coordination. Ability to travers uneven terrain. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or status as a veteran in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.