Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities Director
City of Mesa, AZ

The City of Mesa is seeking a visionary executive to serve as its next Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities Director. This nationally accredited system blends neighborhood parks, recreation programming, aquatics, and major public venues into one of the most visible and community-impacting departments in the region. 

Serving more than 3 million annual visits, the department includes hundreds of parks and basins, sports complexes, recreation centers, adaptive and youth programs, aquatics facilities, a convention center, amphitheater, event venues, and professional spring training stadiums. 

The Director provides strategic and operational leadership to 351 full-time employees and oversees a $53 million operating budget, balancing community access with financial sustainability. This role serves as the City’s primary authority on parks and recreation, advising executive leadership and City Council while ensuring high-quality service delivery across a diverse system. 

Mesa seeks a leader who is: 

  • Strategic and operationally grounded 
  • Skilled in developing teams and building organizational culture 
  • Financially savvy with experience overseeing complex budgets 
  • Comfortable in public, political, and community-facing environments 
  • Collaborative across departments and regional partners 

This is a rare opportunity to guide a respected department at a pivotal time, aligning long-term vision, service priorities, and resource strategy while enhancing quality of life for a vibrant and growing community. 


Location: Mesa, Arizona
Salary: $158,828 - $212,284
Final filing date: First Resume Review on March 13, 2026

Please make sure to have your Resume, Cover Letter, and List of References ready for upload before you start the application process. One combined document that includes all three items is preferred.