Director of Recreation and Culture Services

Choose Barrie

The City of Barrie is a vibrant, progressive, and growing community with deep connections to our heritage, to nature and to the opportunities surrounding us.

Our community values quality of life; the ability to play year-round with 300 hectares of park space, our beautiful waterfront, our lively downtown core and the nearby hills, wetlands, and forests.

We also value connections; to our neighbours and the community, to our road and rail network, and to the opportunity Barrie provides to enjoy life.

Everything Barrie has to offer, from the water we drink to the roads we travel on, has one thing in common - municipal workers.

Joining a municipality is one of the most rewarding, engaging, and exciting careers you could choose. It is a career you can take pride in knowing that every day you make a positive impact on an entire community.

We are one team, with one goal and we all work together to continue making our community great. The Opportunity Recreation and Culture Services builds vibrant, healthy, active and connected communities by providing facilities and programs that give all Barrie residents an opportunity to participate in recreational activities.

Key responsibilities include identifying community recreation needs and interests, developing and delivering recreation opportunities which meet these needs and interests, maintaining and operating recreational and cultural facilities to provide a setting for these activities, and managing the provision of space to external community providers and groups.

Reporting to the General Manager of Community and Corporate Services, the Director of Recreation and Culture oversees the general administration and financial management of the Recreation and Culture Services Department.

Specifically, this position is responsible for major multi-use Community Centres and satellite facilities, the Barrie Community Sports Complex and large rental contracts for sports fields, fully equipped theatres, and the provision of recreation and culture programming, beach lifeguard services, annual summer camps, and community events.

This position assesses the community recreation and cultural needs, oversees the preparation of master plans to guide the planning of service delivery, and monitors the renovation and maintenance of facilities / building infrastructure.

Through leadership of Recreation and Culture Facilities, Recreation and Culture Programs, Recreation and Culture Client Services, and Recreation and Culture Business Services, this position ensures diverse and accessible recreation and cultural activities, safe and engaging special events, and leading financial and technological practices in the delivery of services.

Our Culture and Qualifications of the Job Corporate Culture : Your workplace values align with our corporate values of Strive, Share and Care and you want to join us in providing exceptional services and programs to build a prosperous, growing and sustainable community.

Education (degree / diploma / certifications)

• Four (4) year University Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies, Recreation and Sport Business, Arts and Culture, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• Professional membership in good standing with Parks and Recreation Ontario or Ontario Recreation Facilities Association, Theatre Ontario, Festivals and Events Ontario.

Don’t meet the credentials as outlined but have years of directly related experience? Please see the City’s Education Equivalency Policy to determine if you may qualify for equivalency.

Further information is available at www.barrie.ca / government-news / jobs

Position Equivalency Code : F

Experience

• Ten (10) years of experience performing duties related to the above mentioned major responsibilities, including demonstrated leadership / supervisory experience
• Demonstrated experience in municipal recreation and culture programming and operations, working with elected officials and community stakeholders / partner organizations and, municipal financial planning, budgeting, and purchasing
• Demonstrated experience in a unionized work environment

Knowledge / Skill / Ability

• Working knowledge of the following legislation, regulations, or requirements : Applicable recreation and culture legislation and regulations, including the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA);
• Municipal Act; Occupational Health and Safety Act; Ministry of Tourism and Recreation Act; Ontario Fire Code; Ontario Building Code;

Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries regulations.

• General knowledge of the following principles and standards : Municipal structure, functions and procurement practices
• Thorough knowledge of the following principles and standards : Management principles, labour relations principles and collective agreement administration, and contemporary management practices
• Demonstrated Ability to : think strategically in a political and community service environmentset priorities, meet deadlines, and manage work demandsbuild cohesive and motivated staff teams and develop, promote and maintain external alliances / partnerships;

align departmental programs / services with corporate goals, objectives and initiatives and ensure that the mission and values the City are achievedallocate budgets, time and human resources to support the achievement of Section, Branch, Divisional and / or corporate objectivesidentify complex problems, develop and evaluate options, and implement solutions, utilizing reason, judgement and prescribed resourcesinterpret and analyse data, identify challenges or opportunities, and make recommendationslead, coach, mentor and support staff in achieving objectives and encourage others to work in a manner that will meet or exceed the desired objectives or resultsmaintains a high standard of public relationspromote a culture of respect for and responsiveness to community, sports organizations, special events and cultural stakeholders

Intermediate skills include : Negotiation; Project Management; Public Relations; Report-writing; Research; Verbal Communication;

Written Communication

• Advanced skills include : Analytical; Interpersonal; Leadership; Organizational; Supervisory; Time Management
• Intermediate computer literacy using the following systems and software : Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word), ActiveNet and, E-provals and use of the Internet.
• Availability to assist with after-hours questions, concerns, or emergencies;

Conditions of Employment

• Valid Ontario Class G Driver’s Licence in good standing
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check*
• Please note that this is a requirement of the position for any new employees to the City of Barrie in accordance with the Police Record Check Procedure .

Existing employees who have met this criteria will be exempt from this requirement.