Recreation Manager Jobs
Recreation Manager jobs are open across parks and recreation departments, municipal agencies, fitness centers, resorts, and nonprofits, at every level from program coordinator to director, with specializations in aquatics, therapeutic recreation, and youth programming. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 38+ Recreation Manager jobs
Dallas is Growing. Grow With Us.
Looking for more than just a job? The City of Dallas offers careers with purpose. With competitive benefits, growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture,
we’re committed to helping you thrive while you help our city flourish. Be part of a team that’s committed to service, innovation, and community.
Job Summary
Performs highly advanced and complex management or oversight activities for daily operations of an operating unit orfunctional program. Work involves establishing short-, mid-, and long-term goals and objectives; developingguidelines, procedures, rules and regulations; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving establishedgoals; coordinating and evaluating program activities; and developing and evaluating budget requests. Directlyaccountable for functional operations of unit in its entirety. Works under limited direction with extensive latitude forthe use of initiative and independent judgment.
Job Description
Overview
The Manager-Events manages, monitors, directs, and provides extensive oversight for all events and special events planning for City departments to ensure compliance with the policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the facilities and its uses.
Essential Functions
1 Manages, monitors, and oversees event planning, art commissioning, and other wide ranging services for the City and its departments; manages planning and coordination for events, festivals, sports seasons, parades, art displays, and other meetings and conferences; provides guidance and direction for events, productions, educational conferences, training meetings, airport operations, parks usage and sports tournaments and any other special events throughout the City's departments and facilities.
2 Directs, manages, and oversees work and planning through managers, coordinators, and specialized staff; provides coaching or assistance with challenging situations as needed; implements plans and schedules and determines objectives needing emphasis; recommends or adjusts work priorities, project schedules, resources, and work plans as required.
3 Coordinates, manages and supervises public art selection process, commissioning, contracting, fabrication, and installation; oversees all processes and supervision of public art coordinators to ensure that public art processes are on track, including design phase and fabrication phase contracting, invoicing and payments, and installation review and approvals.
4 Manages the planning, organizing and implementing of festivals and special events; provides high level clarity on policies, procedures, and regulations for special events, public art displays, and other City projects, festivals, and meetings.
5 Prioritizes funding and implementation strategies for events within the City; creates and determines budget to allocate sufficient funding to each project while soliciting new funding resources and managing resource and financial allocation.
6 Communicates with staff and clients to keep abreast of details pertaining to upcoming events; checks, approves, and monitors computer databases and reporting systems to expedite logistical services and track event requirements.
7 Interviews potential staff and makes determinations on hiring and termination; provides technical guidance and manages the workflow of the department; executes strong social media strategies and ensures staff are communicating effectively across all media outlets regarding events and related planning and management.
8 Performs any and all other work as needed or assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or Recreation.
Equivalencies
Eight (8) years of related experience will meet the educational minimum requirement.
Experience
Five (5) years of experience in event planning and event management preferably in a municipal or government setting, including at least three (3) years of supervisory experience.
Licenses and Certifications
None
Minimum Qualification Notation: All qualifying information outlined in the minimum qualifications section: including education, experiences, and licenses/certifications MUST be included in the respective sections of the application (not simply the attachments - for example: resumes or cover letters) to be considered for this position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1 Knowledge of general business practices and laws.
2 Knowledge of planning and managing events.
3 Knowledge of departmental management, policies, and procedures.
4 Knowledge of conservation project, public art management, and community engagement practices.
5 Ability to determine, create, and implement budget.
6 Ability to organize and facilitate multi-faceted logistics for events throughout the City.
7 Ability to establish short and long range goals and objectives.
8 Ability to manage, lead, directs, and oversee staff.
9 Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.
10 Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Salary Range
$70,075.20 - $87,609.60
The salary listed on this job posting is the starting salary range; amount offered will depend upon qualifications.
City of Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Welcome to the City of Dallas!
The City of Dallas is one of the largest employers in the DFW Metroplex. We offer growth opportunities and a chance to make a difference in our community.
Contact: TalentCentral@dallas.gov
Dallas is Growing. Grow With Us.
Looking for more than just a job? The City of Dallas offers careers with purpose. With competitive benefits, growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture,
we’re committed to helping you thrive while you help our city flourish. Be part of a team that’s committed to service, innovation, and community.
Job Summary
Performs highly advanced and complex management or oversight activities for daily operations of an operating unit orfunctional program. Work involves establishing short-, mid-, and long-term goals and objectives; developingguidelines, procedures, rules and regulations; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving establishedgoals; coordinating and evaluating program activities; and developing and evaluating budget requests. Directlyaccountable for functional operations of unit in its entirety. Works under limited direction with extensive latitude forthe use of initiative and independent judgment.
Job Description
Overview
The Manager-Events manages, monitors, directs, and provides extensive oversight for all events and special events planning for City departments to ensure compliance with the policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the facilities and its uses.
Essential Functions
1 Manages, monitors, and oversees event planning, art commissioning, and other wide ranging services for the City and its departments; manages planning and coordination for events, festivals, sports seasons, parades, art displays, and other meetings and conferences; provides guidance and direction for events, productions, educational conferences, training meetings, airport operations, parks usage and sports tournaments and any other special events throughout the City's departments and facilities.
2 Directs, manages, and oversees work and planning through managers, coordinators, and specialized staff; provides coaching or assistance with challenging situations as needed; implements plans and schedules and determines objectives needing emphasis; recommends or adjusts work priorities, project schedules, resources, and work plans as required.
3 Coordinates, manages and supervises public art selection process, commissioning, contracting, fabrication, and installation; oversees all processes and supervision of public art coordinators to ensure that public art processes are on track, including design phase and fabrication phase contracting, invoicing and payments, and installation review and approvals.
4 Manages the planning, organizing and implementing of festivals and special events; provides high level clarity on policies, procedures, and regulations for special events, public art displays, and other City projects, festivals, and meetings.
5 Prioritizes funding and implementation strategies for events within the City; creates and determines budget to allocate sufficient funding to each project while soliciting new funding resources and managing resource and financial allocation.
6 Communicates with staff and clients to keep abreast of details pertaining to upcoming events; checks, approves, and monitors computer databases and reporting systems to expedite logistical services and track event requirements.
7 Interviews potential staff and makes determinations on hiring and termination; provides technical guidance and manages the workflow of the department; executes strong social media strategies and ensures staff are communicating effectively across all media outlets regarding events and related planning and management.
8 Performs any and all other work as needed or assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or Recreation.
Equivalencies
Eight (8) years of related experience will meet the educational minimum requirement.
Experience
Five (5) years of experience in event planning and event management preferably in a municipal or government setting, including at least three (3) years of supervisory experience.
Licenses and Certifications
None
Minimum Qualification Notation: All qualifying information outlined in the minimum qualifications section: including education, experiences, and licenses/certifications MUST be included in the respective sections of the application (not simply the attachments - for example: resumes or cover letters) to be considered for this position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1 Knowledge of general business practices and laws.
2 Knowledge of planning and managing events.
3 Knowledge of departmental management, policies, and procedures.
4 Knowledge of conservation project, public art management, and community engagement practices.
5 Ability to determine, create, and implement budget.
6 Ability to organize and facilitate multi-faceted logistics for events throughout the City.
7 Ability to establish short and long range goals and objectives.
8 Ability to manage, lead, directs, and oversee staff.
9 Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.
10 Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Salary Range
$70,075.20 - $87,609.60
The salary listed on this job posting is the starting salary range; amount offered will depend upon qualifications.
City of Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Welcome to the City of Dallas!
The City of Dallas is one of the largest employers in the DFW Metroplex. We offer growth opportunities and a chance to make a difference in our community.
Contact: TalentCentral@dallas.gov
See All 38 Recreation Manager Jobs
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Find Recreation Manager JobsRecreation Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Construction & Real Estate
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in recreation manager jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in recreation management, kinesiology, public administration, or a related field
- Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) credential or eligibility to obtain it
- Experience planning, budgeting, and supervising community or facility-based recreation programs
- Current CPR, first aid, and AED certification
- Proficiency with recreation management software and scheduling or registration platforms
- Demonstrated ability to hire, train, and evaluate part-time and seasonal program staff
Tips for Your Recreation Manager Job Search
Tailor your resume for the sector
Municipal recreation departments, private fitness clubs, and resort properties each want different things. Lead with budget management and community programming for government roles, and shift toward member retention and revenue metrics for private-sector openings.
List your certifications prominently
Certifications like Certified Park and Recreation Professional, CPR, aquatics director credentials, or therapeutic recreation specialist status move your application forward fast. Put them in a dedicated section near the top, not buried in a footnotes line.
Quantify program reach in every bullet
Hiring managers for recreation roles respond to numbers: participants served, programs launched, facilities managed, and budgets overseen. Replace vague descriptions like 'coordinated activities' with specific outputs that show the scale of what you ran.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists recreation manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare scenario answers for safety incidents
Interviewers for recreation manager roles almost always ask how you've handled injuries, liability issues, or policy violations on-site. Prepare two or three concrete examples that show your judgment, documentation habits, and follow-through under pressure.
Negotiate your programming budget authority
Recreation manager compensation packages often include discretionary budget for equipment, events, and staffing. Ask during offer discussions what your spending threshold is and whether it's been consistent, since that directly shapes what you can deliver in the role.
Recreation Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most recreation managers?
The most active employers for recreation managers right now are Marriott International, City of Dallas, and Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, and the most openings are in Texas, Florida, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Municipal parks departments and large resort operators tend to post the most volume year-round.
How many recreation manager jobs are remote?
About 17% of recreation manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most roles require on-site facility oversight. Administrative sub-roles such as program planning, grant writing, and scheduling coordination are the most likely to offer partial remote flexibility within an otherwise in-person position.
How do you become a recreation manager?
Start with a bachelor's degree in recreation management, kinesiology, public administration, or a closely related field. Build hands-on experience as a program coordinator or activity specialist, then pursue the Certified Park and Recreation Professional credential. Demonstrating budget management and staff supervision in progressively larger programs is what moves candidates into manager-level roles.
Can you get hired as a recreation manager with little experience?
Some employers, particularly municipal agencies and nonprofits, will consider candidates who have led volunteer programs, coached youth sports, or coordinated events at scale, even without a formal recreation management title. Emphasizing certifications, any budget or staff responsibility you've held, and specific program outcomes closes the gap left by limited direct experience.
What does the recreation manager interview process look like?
Most recreation manager interviews include a phone screen with HR, followed by one or two in-person rounds with the department director and sometimes a panel of program staff or community stakeholders. Expect scenario questions about handling safety incidents, managing seasonal employees, and responding to low program participation. Some agencies ask candidates to present a sample program plan.
Where can I find and apply to recreation manager jobs?
You can find and apply to recreation manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your background and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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