Division Chief (14883, Grade 38)

Position Overview

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a nationally recognized public agency and multiple-time Gold Medal recipient for excellence in parks and recreation management. It is hiring a Division Chief for the Youth and Countywide Sports Division within the Department of Parks and Recreation in Riverdale, Maryland.

This division is responsible for expanding sports access for county residents and serving as a centralized resource for youth sports programs. The role supports healthier communities by improving access to wellness-focused programming and helping children, teens, parents, and coaches connect with skill-building and competitive sports opportunities.

Key Duties

• Set, recommend, and execute goals, priorities, and operating plans for countywide youth and adult sports programs, related operations, and partnerships.
• Coordinate with internal parks and recreation teams and outside partners such as the County Executive’s Office, County Council, public schools, and youth or athletic organizations to shape service priorities.
• Design, revise, and enforce program and partnership policies and procedures while ensuring compliance with established standards.
• Create methods to assess program results and review data such as participation levels and park or facility usage.
• Act as a communication bridge between department leadership, state and local officials, community groups, and the public regarding policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Track developments and trends affecting youth and adult sports.
• Lead the recruitment, promotion, training, and development of division staff and address performance concerns with the management team.
• Build and oversee the division budget and monitor spending to stay within approved limits.
• Set expectations, define performance standards, and provide ongoing feedback to staff.
• Represent the division in meetings, events, and forums related to youth sports in the county.
• Model strong leadership by encouraging growth, innovation, accountability, and employee empowerment.
• Oversee the employee lifecycle, including engagement, hiring, onboarding, retention, development, and separation.
• Set annual objectives for direct reports and manage disciplinary actions, time approvals, and leave requests.
• Plan, schedule, and allocate work for special activities.

Work Conditions

The job is office-based and can involve significant deadline pressure. Evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required and can go beyond the standard workweek. The role includes being on call 24/7. Duties also include handling public inquiries, exchanging information with residents, town officials, and volunteer organizations, resolving complaints and disputes, and responding to emergencies such as repairs, security issues, or scheduling needs. Depending on assignment, regular attendance at outdoor programs and activities may also be required.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation, Public Administration, Engineering, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• At least eight years of experience in parks and recreation or public administration/management in a related functional area, including four years in a supervisory role.
• An equivalent mix of education and experience may be accepted if the total equals 12 years.
• A valid driver’s license that complies with state and commission rules, with no restrictions, suspensions, revocations, or points that would interfere with driving commission vehicles or performing driving duties.

Additional Information

This position falls under the class/specification Parks/Recreation Programs Division Chief.

The role may require medical testing, drug testing, and alcohol testing.

The employer is an equal opportunity organization and supports a workplace built on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Employment decisions are made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants needing accommodations or special arrangements because of a qualifying disability should contact Recruitment & Selections Services at the time of application or call 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1). Reasonable accommodation efforts will be made.