Posted: 1/7/25
Salary: $125,000-$150,000
Location: Vashon, WA

Application Deadline: February 2nd, 2025

Description:

Vashon, Washington, a community located on Vashon and Maury Islands in Puget Sound between the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, is a picturesque blend of pastoral landscapes, small communities, and a small town center, all with a peaceful, natural beauty. With a total area of 37 square miles and 52 miles of shoreline, Vashon is home to nearly 12,000 residents. Access to the island is exclusively by ferry, with auto ferries connecting Vashon Island to West Seattle, Tacoma's Point Defiance, and Kitsap County’s Southworth dock, with 20-minute crossings. The King County Water Taxi provides 25-minute passenger-only service to downtown Seattle.

The community boasts a vibrant arts scene, a farmers market, unique shops, galleries, and live performances. The island’s low crime rate and strong community spirit are evident in initiatives supporting affordable housing, environmental conservation, youth engagement, and mental health resources. Public schools on Vashon rank among the state’s best. The Vashon Park District (VPD) is governed by a five-member board of locally elected commissioners serving four-year terms, and operates with an annual budget of approximately $2 million. The District is staffed by nine full-time employees and up to fifty part-time or seasonal staff members. The District manages sixteen parks and facilities, and oversees 418 acres of property, ranging from small natural open spaces to expansive wildlands and nature preserves. VPD offers a wide variety of recreation programs and events, including pool programming, Sailing Camp, Skate Camp, Ski School, the summer Concerts in the Park Series, and the Low Tide Festival.

Additionally, the District facilitates facility rentals for sports clubs, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and private enterprises. Reporting directly to the Board of Commissioners, the Executive Director serves as the chief administrative officer, overseeing all aspects of the District's operations, including the development and maintenance of parks, recreational programs, and facilities that serve the Vashon community. The Executive Director manages fiscal operations, leads staff recruitment and supervision, coordinates with governmental agencies, develops and administers grant funding and contracts, and ensures that District policies, safety standards, procurement restrictions, and maintenance practices are upheld. The new Executive Director will be required to live on Vashon Island. Ideally, the selected candidate will relocate to Vashon within six (6) months of the employment start date.

Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience is required.
• Five (5) years or more of previous government management experience strongly desired.
• A master’s degree is preferred.

Benefits include:

• Medical/dental/vision/life insurance.
• 12 days of vacation for the first 3 years of service.
• 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• WA PERS retirement participation and contribution. (No contribution to Social Security.)
• All VPD employees and their immediate family members may participate in all VPD recreational and pool programs free of charge.

How to Apply:

For a complete position profile, full job description, and to apply online, visit Prothman at https://www.prothman.com/ and click on "Open Recruitments". For questions, call 206-368-0050. The Vashon Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Apply by February 2, 2025. (First review, open until filled.)