CITY OF OVERLAND PARK - POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB SUMMARY STATEMENT: Supports the Director of Parks and Recreation, as a senior management team member, provides technical, administrative, and managerial assistance across the department. Coordinates the areas of budget development and analysis, strategic planning, performance measurement, policy review and communications. Serves as a principal contact for other departments, governing body members and outside agencies for information inquiries. Assists in the planning and execution of the department's Annex to the City's Emergency Operations Plan. Prepares, coordinates and maintains records and documentation required for the department accreditation. Coordinates the following activities: agendas and preparation of staff comments for the Community Development Committee, department items for City Council, Committee-of-the-Whole and Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee and Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. This position is also responsible for research, developing reports, spreadsheets, recommendations and other critical management documentation for review by the department's senior leadership management team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Represents the department on the City's Emergency Management Committee when required. Assists in coordinating efforts with national, state, and local emergency management programs. Provides training to staff related to emergency disaster assessment and mitigation.

Assists in the development and implementation of the department's operating budget. Serves as the Department liaison with Finance to provide revenue projections, resolving budget issues and source of funding for out-of-budget proposals and projects. Develops and prepares end-of-year operating budget strategies including encumbrance of funds, evaluation and closure of open purchase orders, and reprioritization of department funds. Collects data and prepares operating reports on personnel actions, budget expenditures, year-end forecasts of expenditures, salary projections, capital project costs, maintenance costs, and operating costs.

Coordinates the program cost analysis and performance measurement and benchmarking program for the department. Compares organizational performance to that of benchmarking partners and assists operating managers in determining reasons for variances and methods to improve performance.

Coordinates the Department's communications program including researching, writing and editing reports, articles, newsletters and other written documents to inform and educate internal and external audiences, advises on website development, creation of informational displays and materials prepared by others for dissemination. Coordinates and manages the Department Web Pages to assure the information is current, accurate and timely. Responsibility includes reviewing, redesigning, editing and writing information for the Web Page. Serves as the coordinator for the Department's and Intranet Committee and is the Department representative on the City's website committee.

Coordinates preparation and distribution of agenda for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council meetings, preparing/ reviewing staff comments, agenda order and overseeing final preparation of agendas with support staff, and presenting items as needed. Preparing the Community Development Committee Report for Council, Department items for Council agenda, Committee-of-the-Whole (COW) and FAED meetings, and overall responsibility for planning and coordinating special Committee meetings.

Represents the Department and related areas at meetings of professional organizations, homes associations, support and advocacy groups in promoting the mission and services of the Department.

Coordinates staff requirements within the Department, including one-time, high priority requirements that originate with the City Manager, other Departments or outside agencies. Receives requirements, assigns responsibilities, provides assistance and guidance, sets suspense dates and reviews and/or develops final staff actions/documents/responses.

Serves as project manager for various outreach activities.

Responds to requests for information from general public, keeps department head and division managers informed as appropriate.

Serves as a member of the Department's senior management team along with the Director and Division Managers.

Assists in evaluating and coordinating implementation of long and short-term planning, goals, objectives and policies of the Department. Develops and implements effective communication programs to educate and involve Department employees in the effort.

Provides support in the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during incident response and works with various City staff and public with PARD related after event follow up providing tracking and reports as needed.

The employee must work the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours or shifts) to communicate with subordinates, supervisors, customers, vendors and any other persons or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals.

The employee must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to, attendance standards and work deadlines; beginning and ending assignments on time; and scheduled work breaks, where applicable.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & SPECIAL LICENSE(S)/CERTIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in business administration, public relations, marketing, or a related field of study, or an equivalent combination of formal education and experience.

Must have a valid driver's license and maintain an insurable driving record.

EXPERIENCE:

Two years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated experience in planning and management of projects, strong organizational and communication skills, ability handling sensitive projects and processes. Operates with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and action.

SKILLS:

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Analytical skills, including research skills, ability to interpret data, conceptualize and analyze information.

Budget-related skills, including advanced accounting, math, and statistics skills.

Strong customer service ethic.

Strong knowledge of personal computers and ability to work with a variety of software programs, such as spreadsheets, databases, word processing, webpage, desktop publishing, and presentation software applications.

Strong organizational skills.

Strong public speaking/presentation skills.

Must have excellent facilitation skills.

Strong marketing skills.

Must have strong time/project management skills.

Leadership skills.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to learn and adapt to new computer technologies and software programs.

Attention to detail.

Ability to analyze complex issues, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

Ability to respond to common inquiries from citizens, regulatory agencies, other units of government, and members of the business community.

Ability to make effective presentations to top management and citizen groups.

Diplomacy and judgement.

Ability to recognize and protect confidential information.

Ability to work independently.

Ability to train and guide others.

Meet deadlines.

Ability to read and comprehend federal, state, and local policies and regulations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to reach, stand, bend, stoop, push, and pull.

Ability to talk.

Ability to make and receive telephone calls.

Ability to identify and distinguish colors.

Ability to operate City vehicles.

Hand and eye coordination adequate to input computer and typewriter.

Ability to sit and reach with hands and arms.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY (Direct & Indirect):

Direct: None.

Indirect: Other departmental personnel as required on a project basis.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.