Deputy Park and Recreation Director

Pay Range: $150,000 - $177,000

Job Posting Closing on: Thursday, October 16, 2025 📅

To learn more about this opportunity and department click the link below:

Now Hiring - Park & Recreation Deputy Director – Welcome to the City of Fort Worth

Join Our Team!

The City of Fort Worth, Texas is offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to help lead the Park & Recreation Department of one of the fastest growing large cities in the country.  The Deputy Director will assist the Director of this accredited agency by overseeing the Park Operations and Planning and Resource Management Divisions of the department.  Aspirational new goals and initiatives have been outlined by GREENPrint Fort Worth, the recently updated strategic master plan, as well as the Good Natured Greenspace initiative.  It’s a great time for Fort Worth parks – come join our team!

About Cowtown – Where the West Begins

Fort Worth is a vibrant blend of Western heritage and modern innovation. Known for its deep roots in cowboy culture, it's home to the historic Stockyards, world-class museums, and a thriving arts scene. The city balances its rich traditions with a forward-looking spirit, offering everything from cutting-edge urban development to family-friendly parks and green spaces. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Fort Worth boasts a diverse economy, welcoming communities, and a strong sense of identity.  Our employees serve the needs of over 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.

The Park & Recreation Department

The Fort Worth Park & Recreation Department, a nationally accredited agency, oversees 310 parks and public spaces spanning more than 13,000 acres across the city. With a team of 851 dedicated employees and a Fiscal Year 2025 budget of $87.5 million, the department delivers a wide range of recreational programs and educational opportunities that enhance quality of life and help make Fort Worth a dynamic place to live, work, and play.

The Park & Recreation Department oversees the planning, design, development, and maintenance of Fort Worth’s extensive system of parks, trails, and public rights-of-way. It also oversees the planning and management of the city’s recreational programs. The department is structured into five divisions, and in partnership with the Park & Recreation Director, the ideal candidate will play a key leadership role in overseeing multiple divisions and advancing the department’s mission.

The Administration Division delivers essential support services across the department. Its responsibilities include coordinating volunteer programs, managing public communications, overseeing fleet and safety operations, and handling budget and finance, human resources, and purchasing functions. The division also manages the Fort Worth Zoo contract and provides staff support to the Park & Recreation Advisory Board.

The Park Operations Division oversees general park maintenance duties for the department, either with assigned staff or contracts for service.    Currently, the grounds maintenance contracts cover services such as mowing, litter removal, planting bed care, and irrigation repairs across city parks, medians, rights-of-way, commercial corridors, and other city-owned sites managed by various departments.  Other key functions managed by the division include park reservations, contract management, the Graffiti Abatement Program and operations for the Fort Worth Water Gardens.  The division also oversees the management agreement with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) for the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

The Recreation Division oversees key cultural and recreational sites including the Log Cabin Village, the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Forest Park and Marine Park Pools, Sycamore Park Sprayground and 23 community centers that provide recreation and community resource programs that serve all audiences and abilities.

The Golf and Athletics Division oversees both the Municipal Golf Fund and General Fund-supported athletic programs and facilities. The division manages three golf complexes, which feature four 18-hole courses, a six-hole practice course, two driving ranges, and full-service clubhouses at each location. Notably, Rockwood Park Golf Course is home to The First Tee of Fort Worth’s Ben Hogan Learning Center. On the athletics side, the division is responsible for the