Senior Manager of Community Outreach

Job Description

The Senior Manager of Community Outreach provides leadership for the Outdoor Experiences Division urban community outreach programs (including Youth Outdoors and Mobile Outreach), staff, partnerships, and resources.

The Senior Manager develops, administers, plans, and coordinates Park District outreach for urban communities within the city of Cleveland (and nearby underserved communities) in their neighborhoods and at Park District locations.

The Senior Manager is responsible for building and maintaining community partnerships and complementing park-wide efforts that promote diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.

Essential Functions :

• Effectively supervises assigned employees, including the following :
• Interviews, selects and trains employees
• Coaches’ employees in proper job performance techniques and procedures
• Directs work of employees and sets / adjusts hours of work.
• Maintains records on employee productivity and appraises employees’ productivity and efficiency to recommend promotions or other changes in status.
• Handles employee complaints and disciplines employees when necessary.
• Apportions work among different employees.
• Monitors or implements legal compliance measures.
• Determines the type of materials, supplies, or tools to be used by employees and controls the flow and distribution of materials and supplies.
• Provides for employees' safety and Cleveland Metroparks' property (CM).
• Regular and predictable attendance is expected and required. All Cleveland Metroparks employees must be prepared to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, and / or holidays as required.
• Plans, develops, communicates, coordinates, educates, advises, recommends, and implements extensive diversified and comprehensive outdoor education and recreation programs for underserved, urban audiences in their communities and at Park District locations emphasizing natural features, environmental issues, biological research, health and wellness, sustainability, recreation, and land management-conservation practices.

Evaluates facility and programming efforts and seeks and develops program funding, i.e., grants for specific projects.

• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with community organizations that help the District better connect urban communities to the natural world.
• Assists in the leadership of the Outdoor Experiences (OE) Division in the District's overall strategic planning process by identifying issues, potential solutions, and initiatives pertinent to the future provision of quality outdoor experiences and recreation services for underserved urban communities.

Assists with long-term and short-term planning within the department, and as required, District-wide. Assists in the leadership of the division in implementing all CAPRA standards as they apply to outdoor education and recreation.

• Helps to guide the direction of the Division’s community outreach efforts : Communicates with all Outdoor Experiences managers and staff;
• prepares reports and publications, writes articles for newsletters, press releases, etc.; provides Marketing department with needed information about Outdoor Experiences;

guides the Creative Services requests from community outreach staff; writes grant submissions and reports to funders.

Represents Division to the Administration as requested by the Director : Prepares reports; participates in administrative meetings;

provides qualitative data for informed decisions; participates in Media Promotions with local media outlets; creates a comprehensive annual report for the division.

Assists in the creation of Division policy as it relates to community outreach : Provides input to Legal and Risk departments on Park District Policies that affect Outdoor Experiences;

assists with writing Division policy on uniforms, live animals, program presentation expectations, customer service expectations, social media expectations, workplace culture expectations, etc.

assures that contracts are approved by the Legal department.

Guides the direction of community outreach programming for the Division : guides mission 1 based and relevant experiences for urban communities;

guides staff in the use of mission 1 based programs, exhibits, and initiatives.

Interprets the park district outdoor education philosophy to Division staff, user groups, and the public orally and in writing.

Develops effective working relationships with regional and international outdoor education professionals and partners. Occasionally delivers outdoor education programs.

• Oversees coordination of community outreach activities with other units in Outdoor Experiences and other divisions and departments, including Natural Resources, Park Operations Maintenance, Human Resources, Marketing, Golf, Planning and Design, ITS, and Development.
• Establishes and maintains liaison with governmental agencies and jurisdictions, special user groups, community groups, affiliated non-profit organizations, and the public.
• Plans, develops, supervises, and manages operating and capital budgets, including purchasing services and materials, preparation of capital equipment specifications, and coordinates budget expenditures.

Develops, supervises, and coordinates requisition of services, materials, and supplies for the District’s community outreach programs.

Regularly reviews budget and makes adjustments accordingly.

Leads the Division’s community outreach initiatives in the District's overall strategic planning process by identifying issues, potential solutions, and initiatives pertinent to the future provision of quality Outdoor Experiences services.

Initiates long-term and short-term planning within the department, and as required, District-wide. Leads community outreach team in implementing all CAPRA standards as they apply to outdoor education and recreation.