What should I include on a parks and recreation director resume?

Include a targeted summary that matches the role, a skills section with keywords from the job description, and experience bullets that show measurable impact. Lead each bullet with a strong action verb and follow it with a specific outcome. Education and relevant certifications round out a strong resume.

How do I make my parks and recreation director resume ATS-friendly?

Use a clean, single-column format with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills). Include keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume. Avoid tables, graphics, and unusual fonts. Stick to a standard file format like PDF and make sure your contact information is in plain text at the top.

What are the most important skills for a parks and recreation director resume?

Review the job description carefully and match your skills section to their requirements. Include both technical skills and relevant soft skills. Use the exact terminology from the posting to pass ATS keyword filters. Group skills logically rather than listing them randomly.

Parks and Recreation Director Resume Example (2026)

Joanne Prescott

Sacramento, CA | [email protected] | (555) 417-8230 | linkedin.com/in/joanneprescott

Summary

Parks and recreation director with 12 years of progressive leadership experience managing municipal departments with budgets up to $8.5M. Secured $3.2M in grant funding for park renovation projects serving 45,000 residents. Experienced in capital improvement planning, community engagement, and intergovernmental partnerships.

Technical Skills

Leadership: Department Management, Strategic Planning, Staff Development, Union Relations, Council Presentations
Operations: Capital Improvement Planning, Facility Management, Park Maintenance, Risk Management, ADA Compliance
Finance: Budget Development ($8.5M+), Grant Writing, Revenue Generation, Fee Structure Analysis
Community: Public Meetings, Stakeholder Engagement, Master Planning, Intergovernmental Partnerships

Experience

Director of Parks and Recreation - City of Roseville Feb 2020 – Present

Directed a department of 42 full-time and 120 seasonal employees managing 28 parks, 6 community centers, and 3 aquatic facilities

Secured $3.2M in state and federal grants for park renovation projects, completing 5 capital improvements on time and under budget

Increased department revenue by 22% ($1.1M) through new fee structures, facility rentals, and sponsorship partnerships

Led a community master planning process engaging 2,500 residents through 8 public meetings and an online survey with 4,200 responses

Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation - City of Elk Grove Jun 2016 – Jan 2020

Managed a $4.2M operational budget and supervised 18 full-time staff across programming, maintenance, and administration divisions

Launched 15 new community programs that attracted 6,800 participants in the first year, generating $380K in registration revenue

Negotiated 3 intergovernmental agreements for shared facility use, saving the city $250K annually in maintenance costs

Reduced workplace injury incidents by 30% through implementation of a safety training program for 85 maintenance workers

Education

M.P.A. Public Administration - University of Southern California 2016

Why This Resume Works

Budget and grant figures prominently featured

$8.5M budget and $3.2M in grants immediately communicate leadership scale and fundraising ability.

Community engagement quantified

2,500 residents engaged and 4,200 survey responses show genuine public participation results.

Revenue generation alongside cost savings

Both sides of fiscal management are demonstrated with specific dollar amounts.

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

Summary: Lead with total years of leadership, budget size, and your biggest grant or capital achievement.

Skills

Skills: Include government-specific terms like intergovernmental relations, council presentations, and ADA compliance.

Experience

Experience: Director-level bullets need department-wide metrics. Staff counts, facility portfolios, and budget amounts are essential.

Education

Education: MPA or related graduate degree is expected at director level. CPRP certification adds credibility.

Key Skills for Parks and Recreation Director Resumes

Based on analysis of thousands of job postings, these are the most frequently required skills:

Department Leadership Strategic Planning Budget Management Grant Writing Capital Improvement Community Engagement Staff Development Facility Management Revenue Generation ADA Compliance Risk Management Intergovernmental Relations Master Planning Union Relations Public Speaking Park Maintenance

Common Mistakes on Parks and Recreation Director Resumes

⚠Writing operational bullets at a director level - Directors set strategy and manage budgets. Leave day-to-day program details to coordinator-level resumes.
⚠No grant funding achievements - Securing external funding is a top priority. Include total amounts, sources, and project outcomes.
⚠Missing community engagement metrics - Public meetings, surveys, and resident participation numbers show you listen to constituents.
⚠Omitting council or board interactions - Directors present to elected officials regularly. Show your experience with presentations and policy recommendations.
⚠Ignoring capital project delivery - Park renovations, facility construction, and infrastructure projects need completion timelines and budget adherence.

How to Write a Parks and Recreation Director Resume That Gets Interviews

A strong resume focuses on measurable outcomes, not job duties. Show what you accomplished in each role, using specific numbers and results that prove your value to the next employer.

Start each bullet with a strong action verb

Replace "Responsible for" with "Led," "Built," "Reduced," or "Delivered." Action verbs show initiative and ownership.

Quantify your impact wherever possible

Revenue generated, costs saved, time reduced, team size managed, or customers served. Numbers make abstract accomplishments concrete.

Tailor your resume for each application

Read the job description and mirror their exact keywords and phrases. ATS systems match your resume against the posting, and close matches score higher.

Keep formatting simple and ATS-friendly

Single column, standard fonts, clear section headers, and no tables or graphics. A clean format ensures both ATS parsers and human reviewers can scan your resume quickly.

Before submitting, run a free ATS check on your parks and recreation director resume to catch keyword gaps.

Parks and Recreation Director
Resume Example

Joanne Prescott

Why This Resume Works

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

Skills

Experience

Education

Key Skills for Parks and Recreation Director Resumes

Common Mistakes on Parks and Recreation Director Resumes

How to Write a Parks and Recreation Director Resume That Gets Interviews

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