About the Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD)

The City of Boston’s Parks and Recreation Department leads the nation in creating and maintaining public parks that are vibrant and welcoming to all. With every resident in the city living within a 10-minute walk of a park, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to green spaces that foster community, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for families across all of Boston’s neighborhoods. 

BPRD owns 2,200 acres of permanently protected open space, 1,000 acres of which make up the historic Emerald Necklace. This inventory includes 283 properties including two award-winning golf courses, 16 historic burying grounds and three active cemeteries. The land and assets under BPRD’s stewardship provide numerous ecosystem services that are central to our strategies for protecting the city from climate-related flooding and mitigating extreme heat.

Boston’s parks and open spaces are the heart of our city, providing beauty, recreation, and community in every neighborhood. Under the leadership of Mayor Wu’s administration, BPRD has sustained our commitment to free year-round cultural programming and youth recreation. Park acquisitions and renovations are ensuring that residents and visitors will continue to enjoy active and welcoming spaces even as the city grows. Major investments in urban forestry and natural areas support the city’s public shade trees and ecologically rich urban landscapes and help us build the community of park friends and volunteers who help us steward these places.  

Job Description

The City of Boston is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader and environmental steward to serve as Commissioner for the Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD). The next Commissioner will play a critical role in advancing the department's mission to create resilient, accessible, and vibrant parks and open spaces that enhance the quality of life for all residents and communities across the city. The Commissioner will oversee a staff of over 300 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. This role will also be responsible for managing a $250+ million multi-year capital plan to continue the construction and renovation of playgrounds, open spaces, and athletic fields across the city and an approximately $35 million annual operating budget.

The Commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department will set and advance strategic goals of bolstering the climate and community resilience of Boston’s parks and open spaces for every city neighborhood. The Commissioner will also oversee a senior leadership team that spearheads the department’s key pillars: parks operations and maintenance, external affairs and programming, open space and natural resource planning, capital projects, and administration and finance. BPRD sits in the Environment, Energy and Open Space (EEOS) Cabinet in the City, and this position reports to the City’s Chief Climate Officer, who leads the EEOS Cabinet.

• Envision and execute strategic goals and establish key performance indicators for citywide parks and recreation initiatives and programs.
• Drive innovation using research and public feedback to deliver new strategies for improvements to service delivery and the green infrastructure and climate resilience benefits of the assets under BPRD stewardship. 
• Set priorities for operational and capital investments to ensure alignment of resources with present and future community needs. 
• Cultivate relationships with community members, park partners, advocacy groups, and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Manage and lead the leadership team of BPRD and ensure efficient and effective oversight of the department.
• Expand partnerships with private, public, and corporate sectors to leverage innovative fundraising opportunities for the department. 
• Partner with state and federal government agencies to ensure successful delivery of significant capital projects and maintenance of Boston’s open spaces. 
• Represent the City at public forums and events, stakeholder groups, and professional organizations; serve on committees as needed.    
• Chair the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission.

• Must have at least ten (10) years of full-time paid professional experience in parks, open space, and/or recreation management or a comparable field, including five years experience in a supervisory or managerial role. Experience in managing and administering urban park systems is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree and/or Master’s degree in public policy and administration, business management, land use planning, natural resource management, forestry, horticulture, and/or related fields.
• Experience in budget management, fundraising, and strategic private/public partnerships.
• Strong public speaking skills and ability to engage with various types of audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office and Google Suite. 
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/Non-Graded

Hours per week: 35