Parks & Open Space Director

Summary

Description

The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department is seeking to hire a Parks & Open Space Director. Boulder County is seeking a visionary and experienced leader to serve as the next Parks & Open Space Director. This is a unique opportunity to guide one of the top county parks and open space organizations in the nation that is dedicated to conserving natural areas, connecting communities, and providing exceptional visitor experiences and education programs.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader, skilled strategist, and trusted advisor to the Office of County Administrator, Commissioners, Staff and the Department’s appointed Advisory Board. This is a role for someone who thrives in complex environments, can balance big picture thinking with operational excellence, and understands how to bring diverse stakeholders together to achieve ambitious goals. They will have proven ability to navigate politically nuanced settings, guide large teams with accountability and empathy, and transform policies into action to advance the mission and goals of the organization. They are a leader who can move seamlessly between public meetings and one-on-one conversations, equally at ease engaging with elected officials as they are listening to and talking with community members.

Boulder County is a forward-thinking community with over 200 employees serving the needs of more than 300,000 residents. From the peaks of the Rocky Mountains to thriving agricultural lands and urban centers on the plains, Boulder County's 740 square miles include some of the Front Range’s most diverse and natural landscapes. Our county's leaders and employees have long held a commitment to being stewards of land, environment, and community. From visionary open space, land use, and sustainability policies to award-winning wellness and public service programs, our county government helps foster a vibrant, healthy, and active community. As individuals and as an organization, we value and respect diversity, striving for a high quality of life for all employees and residents. Our policies and practices reflect our dedication to providing the very best in public service. Even as we celebrate Boulder County’s achievements in preserving land through our open space program, we must also acknowledge that those lands were the territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples.

Boulder County has preserved more than 105,000 acres of land as open space, through fee acquisitions and conservation easements, including agricultural lands in the plains, foothills, and mountain landscapes. This land and the open space owned by government partners in Boulder County function together as rural buffers between communities, wildlife habitat, productive agricultural lands, and lands for passive recreation including non-motorized trails, fishing, and picnic areas.

The Parks & Open Space Director will provide strategic leadership and management for the sound stewardship of the county’s public lands, natural resources, and amenities. Areas of emphasis will include balancing new acquisitions and maintenance of existing lands, protecting natural systems and biodiversity, sustaining Boulder County’s agricultural lands, providing appropriate public access and passive recreation, and maintaining Parks & Open Space land as public use of the system dramatically increases.

The Parks & Open Space Director will also be responsible for initiatives to address climate change, advance racial equity consciousness within the department and with respect to the people who enjoy our parks and open space and expand culturally responsive and inclusive programs. The Director reports to the Deputy County Administrator and serves at the pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners. The Director leads the Parks & Open Space Management Team to advance the mission of conserving natural, cultural, and agricultural resources and providing passive public recreation and other open space uses that reflect sound resource management and community values.

This is a full-time, benefited position that will work, Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm. This position will work out of 5201 St. Vrain Road Longmont, Colorado. Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is exempt. 

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

2026 Hiring Salary Range: $165,000.00 – $185,000.00 Annually

Tentative Hiring Timeline:

• Phone Screening: January 29th
• First Round Interviews: February 11th
• Second Round Interviews: March 2nd
• Reference Check: March 6th

New employees receive an 80-hour bank (Download PDF reader) of vacation at the time of hire, in addition to 8 hours of both vacation and medical leave accruals each month (Must not have been employed at Boulder County during the 12 months prior to re-hire date to qualify). Boulder County offers bountiful benefits, including pension contributions.

Boulder County employees may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Visit studentaid.gov for more information. 

Examples of Duties

Operations
Through a team of senior managers: Directs the day-to-day operations of approximately 163 FTEs and 50 seasonal employees in nine divisions who are experts in their fields of acquiring and protecting land and water resources, supporting recreational use, protecting biodiversity, managing for sustainable agriculture, managing lands in the wildland urban interface for both fire preparedness and healthy forests, and improving soil health and carbon sequestration including:

1. Preservation of lands through acquisition of fee and conservation easements, with 1,100 properties and more than 108,000 acres in the county’s current portfolio. Maintenance of an active agricultural program, with 65 leaseholders operating approximately 130 leases
2. Design, construction, maintenance, and public safety of more than 120 miles of trails, 32 trailheads, 22 restrooms, and 15 shelters, for public use with nearly two million annual visits
3. Preservation of more than 1,800 cultural resource sites, more than 350 historic buildings and structures, and management of four small museums
4. Habitat protection and restoration for more than 1,700 native plants and 750 native wildlife species and protection of a water resources portfolio valued at more than $340M for agriculture, recreation, and environmental benefits
5. Planning, design, and construction for natural and built environment
6. Responsible for related services including: Coordinated high-impact volunteer and youth corps programs, education and research programs in cooperation with Colorado State University; and management of the Boulder County Fairgrounds which hosts community events, shows, and exhibitions
7. Supports innovation and use of best management practices in the stewardship of public lands, including safety standards and organizational processes

Strategic Leadership

1. Develops and articulates a clear, compelling, shared vision and strategy for Parks & Open Space; serves as primary spokesperson for the department
2. Recommends new or revised policies and initiatives to enhance the acquisition, maintenance, and management of Parks & Open Space properties and balance the varied needs of resource protection, agriculture, and public access for recreation
3. Responsible for meeting the Board of County Commissioners’ Land and Water Stewardship and other Strategic Priorities with other Department Directors and Elected Officials
4. Implements and aligns the department’s Strategic Plan, Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion Strategic Plan, Vision 2025, and Culture of Collaboration Plan
5. Develops and fosters strategic relationships with community partners, cities and towns, and water conservation districts to advance conservation and support recreation and community health through enjoyment of open space
6. Engages internal and external stakeholders to achieve the department’s mission through visionary, adaptive leadership

Administration and Finance

1. Overall responsibility for development and execution of an annual operating and capital budget of approximately $70 million
2. Ensures allocation of resources to continue acquisition of critical open space parcels with capacity planning for management, maintenance, and infrastructure for current portfolio
3. Overall direction for administrative and business services including GIS and other technologies; planning, design, and project management activities; and informing and engaging the public and other stakeholders

Management and Internal Leadership

1. Provides inspirational leadership and management for a highly qualified staff, assuring a culture that promotes excellence, continuous quality improvement, shared leadership, and a high degree of collaboration
2. Supports a knowledgeable, effective and trustworthy team of scientific and subject matter experts, creating opportunities for growth and development across the organization
3. Encourages team development crossing disciplines to build cohesion
4. Establishes a culture that emphasizes the best in public service and employee retention
5. Advocates for the department with the Board of County Commissioners and the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee
6. Evaluates the performance of direct reports, counsels employees concerning performance, and takes personnel actions in the areas of hiring, discipline, and termination
7. Works collaboratively with other Boulder County Department Directors and Elected Officials to develop policies, implement county priorities, and resolve conflicts
8. With Boulder County Elected Officials and Department Directors, manages comprehensive disaster response and recovery operations for economic and environmental disasters.
9. Provide overall leadership for the department, including strategic planning, budgeting, and staffing
10. Direct the planning, acquisition, design, and development of open space facilities, parks, trails, natural and historic areas, ensuring compliance with county goals, policies, and standards
11. Develop and implement operating policies and procedures; research, draft, interpret, and recommend policy to county leadership
12. Represent the department to the Deputy County Administrator, Board of County Commissioners, Advisory Committees, and other stakeholders; present issues, provide recommendations, and implement directives
13. Thoughtfully and respectfully interact with community organizations, special interest groups, and advisory bodies to identify needs, address concerns, and guide land acquisitions, land management and conservation and program development
14. Collaborate with county departments, municipalities, state and federal agencies, and citizen groups to advance open space and recreation initiatives
15. Represent Boulder County at local, state, and national meetings, conferences, and professional forums
16. Provide strategic leadership setting the tone and direction for the department; oversee staff supervision, mentoring, and evaluation to support professional growth and team success while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and belonging
17. Performs related work, as required
18. May be reassigned during emergency situations

Required Qualifications

PLEASE NOTE: When completing your application describe all relevant education and experience, as applications are assessed based on the required qualifications listed. Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications and will not be reviewed in the initial screening process. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your attachments will then be shared with the hiring team.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Parks and resource management, environmental science, recreation management, public administration, or a related field.

• 7 years of progressively responsible executive management or leadership experience, including personnel and fiscal management, with a minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience, with a large, multi-function organization in resource management, public lands, parks, open space, land conservation, public sector management, nonprofit or related organizations

Additional related education may count towards required experience.
 

DRIVER'S LICENSE & RELIABLE VEHICLE:

• Applicants must have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record
• For more information regarding a clean driving record, please click here.

BACKGROUND CHECK & FINGERPRINTING:

• A job offer is contingent on passing a background investigation with fingerprinting

Supplemental Information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of a large multi-function organization in resource management, public lands, parks, open space, land conservation, public sector management, nonprofit, or related organizations.

• Strong skill in organization, administration, and leadership of multiple teams.

• Able and experienced negotiator, consensus builder with excellent conflict resolution skills.

• Adept at collaboratively developing and implementing action plans within organizational requirements and accepted practices.

• Confidence to act independently and determine how to best allocate resources to achieve goals.

• Supportive management approach that fosters teamwork, empathy and high performance within the department and in collaboration with other departments and functions serving the Boulder County community.

• All executive leaders in the County are expected to possess the following attributes, known as cultural capital, that are used by Courageous Conversation About Race Practitioners:
  · Aspirational Capital: The ability to maintain hopes and dreams for the future, even in the face of real and perceived barriers.
  · Linguistic Capital: Includes the intellectual and social skills attained through communication experiences in more than one language and/or style.
  · Familial Capital: Refers to an understanding of community history and context and cultural practices and traditions.
  · Social Capital: Can be understood as networks of people and community resources. These peer and other social contacts can provide both instrumental and emotional support to navigate through society’s institutions.

Boulder County is a workplace dedicated to supporting individuals and families of all types and to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.