Deputy Director Of Parks, Open Space, and Forestry

JOB LOCATION

15151 E Alameda Pkwy Aurora, Colorado 80012-1555

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
 
Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Are you ready to cultivate a greener, grander Aurora and lead a team that keeps our city shining? The City of Aurora is seeking a Deputy Director of Parks, Open Space, and Forestry to oversee an incredible urban forest, over 100 parks, 8,000 acres of open space, and a small army of dedicated staff who maintain it all. This isn't just a job; it's an exciting opportunity to provide strategic leadership, shape our city's natural future, and drive impactful changes from trailheads to treetops. You'll collaborate with executive management, champion conservation initiatives, and engage deeply with our vibrant community. If you're passionate about nurturing nature, fostering high-performance teams, and creating an environment where every tree and trail thrives, we invite you to grow with us. Join us and help us ensure Aurora remains a truly beautiful place to live, work, and play for everyone!

Hiring salary $129,213 - $161,516/annually

Salary to be commensurate with experience. 

The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, July 20, 2025. Please note, the City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first-come, first-served basis; as soon as we determine a qualified pool of applicants exists, this position may be closed without notice.

Qualified candidates will be contacted no later than July 29th to participate in phone screens August 1st.

The Deputy Director of Operations- Parks, Open Space, and Forestry will oversee a diverse range of parks, open space, and forestry operations within the city of Aurora. The Parks Operations & Management division maintains over 100 parks, 180 athletic fields, 2 splash pads, and over 100 miles of medians. The Open Space and Forestry division maintains over 8,000 acres of open space, 119 miles of trails, 3 nature centers, 2 reservoirs, and over 70,000 trees spanning residential areas, parks, and open space.

Reporting to the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, the Deputy Director will supervise two direct reports, the Manager of Parks Operations and the Manager of Open Space and Forestry, along with approximately 140 full-time and 500+ seasonal employees.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the future of Aurora's parks, open space, and forestry services while engaging with the community and driving impactful changes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leadership and Team Development: Provide strong leadership to teams of parks, forestry, and open space maintenance professionals, naturalist, and park rangers. Foster a positive work environment, promote professional development opportunities, and encourage teamwork, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Support Department Director in all areas of the department including Acting as Director in their absence, representing the Director at meetings, and serving as a policy advisor to the Department Director, and represent the department at citizen led Open Space Advisory Board.
• Financial Management: Manage the budget and resources allocated to the Park Operations & Maintenance and Open Space & Natural Resources organizations. Monitor revenue, expenditures, seek funding opportunities, and make informed financial decisions to support financially strong operations, infrastructure improvements, and program enhancements.  Provide input on Capital budget needs