City of Ellsworth - Director of Parks and Recreation

Start Date: May 26, 2025 | End Date: August 29, 2025
County: Hancock County
Job Type: Parks & Recreation
More Information: Click here

Job Title: Director of Parks and Recreation
Department: Parks and Recreation
Reports To: City Manager
Salary Range: $70,000-$90,000
Status: Full-Time, Exempt

About the Job

The City of Ellsworth, Maine, is seeking a bold, creative, and mission-driven leader to serve as its first-ever Director of Parks and Recreation—a transformational role that will establish and lead the most modern, dynamic, and forward-thinking recreation department in the state.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design a department from the ground up. The successful candidate will shape not only the vision and strategy of Ellsworth’s recreation system, but also the very culture of how public space, natural assets, and community life intersect in one of Maine’s fastest-growing cities.

In close collaboration with the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Public Works, Planning, and Economic Development teams, the Director will oversee and grow a department that touches nearly every part of life in Ellsworth—from parks and trails to harbor access and citywide programming. This role will carry immediate oversight of over $500,000 in assets and operational funds across Knowlton Park, the Harbor, and the Recreation Commission budget, with strong support from Ellsworth’s engaged citizen boards including the Recreation Commission, Arbor Commission, Cemetery Commission, and Harbor Commission.

Key Responsibilities

Foundational Department Building

· Launch Ellsworth’s first-ever Parks and Recreation Department with autonomy and strategic support from city leadership.

· Lead the design of internal structures, maintenance coordination, programming models, and capital planning strategies.

· Evaluate and build systems for long-term department success including staffing models, volunteer coordination, and revenue-generating initiatives.

· Establish and maintain productive partnerships with local nonprofits, land trusts (e.g., Frenchman Bay Conservancy), school athletics, civic organizations (Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Heart of Ellsworth, and Chamber of Commerce, YMCA), and volunteers.

Tourism, Trails, and Waterfront Development

· Advance Ellsworth’s identity as a premier outdoor and recreational tourism destination.

· Lead the planning and future development of recreation and eco-tourism opportunities around Branch Lake—one of Maine’s hidden gems—including trail systems and potential waterfront recreation opportunities.

· Oversee implementation of the Riverwalk South trail system to connect Ellsworth’s marina (soon to be dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers) to its historic downtown—unlocking new tourism and economic activity from oceangoing vessels.

· Support the transformation of the Card Brook area—adjacent to the new Hancock County Courthouse site—into a recreational gateway to the Downeast Sunrise Trail, which links Ellsworth by foot, bike, and ATV to Machias and beyond.

Program and Asset Management

· Supervise, schedule, and support potential future staff teams in programming, grounds maintenance, and trail crew operations.

· Coordinate recreational events and festivals, including new possibilities such as a Winter Christmas Market and an Ellsworth Eel Festival.

· Implement preventative maintenance schedules and assess capital needs across Ellsworth’s 27+ recreational assets.

· Lead community programming and work with partners to ensure access to sports fields, playgrounds, public trails, and water-based recreation.

· Help secure and manage grants and sponsorships to enhance programming and facilities.

Community Engagement & Policy Leadership

· Serve as the primary liaison to the Recreation Commission, Arbor Commission, Cemetery Commission, and Harbor Commission.

· Promote public use and stewardship of parks and open spaces through marketing, signage, storytelling, and inclusive programming.

· Champion Ellsworth’s urban forest and tree canopy, working closely with the Arbor Commission to support tree planting, maintenance, and public education around the ecological, aesthetic, and climate benefits of trees in parks and public spaces.

· Create feedback loops to keep citizens engaged in recreational priorities and ensure that facilities and events reflect the city’s values of equity, access, and community well-being.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

· Proven leadership experience in parks, recreation, community programming, or public space management.

· Those with and without a formal college degree are encouraged to apply. Results and initiative matter most.

· Experience in municipal government, nonprofit leadership, tourism, or outdoor programming is highly desirable.

· Background in volunteer coordination, recreational planning, or grant writing strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

· Strong project management and organizational design skills; ability to start something from scratch and make it thrive.

· Comfort working across departments and with external partners to align recreation with infrastructure, planning, and community health goals.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially in public engagement and interdepartmental coordination.

· Deep appreciation for the role recreation plays in health, tourism, sustainability, and community identity.

Job Environment

· This is a full-time, senior-level position embedded in a highly collaborative municipal team.

· While typical office hours apply, regular evening meetings and seasonal weekend events are expected.

· A mix of office and field work will be required, including visits to city parks, trail systems, and recreational facilities.

Compensation and Benefits

· Starting salary: $70,000 - $90,000

· Generous fringe benefit package including health insurance (with 90% of premiums covered by the city), retirement plan, paid time off (up to 7 weeks/year), and professional development support.

· Additional benefits are available through MePERS (Maine Public Employees Retirement System).

· Opportunities for long-term advancement as the department grows.

About the City of Ellsworth
Ellsworth is Maine’s fastest-growing city and the economic heart of the Downeast region. At 97 square miles, it combines historic charm, sweeping waterfronts, and boundless outdoor opportunities. Home to over 27 public and partnered recreational assets—including Knowlton Park, the Downeast Sunrise Trail, the Ellsworth Marina, Branch Lake Public Forest, the Riverwalk, the Grand Theatre, and more—Ellsworth is poised to become a leader in outdoor living, wellness, and year-round recreation.

With over 4 million visitors passing through Ellsworth en route to Acadia National Park, and a rapidly growing residential base, the city offers a rare chance to shape the future of public space in a place that still feels personal.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and references to HR Manager, Kerri Taylor at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but priority will be given to submissions received by July 1, 2025.

The City of Ellsworth is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workplace.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement