JOB DESCRIPTION

The Executive Director of Dix Park provides strategic leadership to guide the continued transformation of Dix Park into a premier urban destination within the Raleigh Parks system. Over the last decade, Dix Park has evolved from a vision established in the Master Plan to a thriving and cherished park that welcomes over two million visitors each year. The next director will help advance the park's transition into this next phase, guiding operations, programming, events, and customer experience for a rapidly growing park, while also planning for its future development.

At its core, this role is responsible for managing a dynamic team of professionals responsible for advancing the implementation of the Dix Park Master Plan, enhancing visitor experience, ensuring efficient park operations, managing public-private partnerships, and maintaining strong administrative and fiscal oversight.

Dix Park is Raleigh's premier urban park. A 308-acre destination where natural beauty, deep-rooted history, and boundless potential come together. Dix Park is located on a sweeping landscape of rolling meadows, dramatic hills, old-growth oaks, and historic architecture, offering an immersive experience in nature and culture in the heart of North Carolina's capital city.

New features like a world-class adventure playground, restored historic buildings housing a visitor center, event venue, and concessions, along with a family of giant troll sculptures, have catapulted Dix Park onto the map for locals and visitors alike - with over 2 million visits in the last year.

Dix Park is part of a comprehensive parks system that encompasses more than 200 public parks, greenways, and recreational facilities managed by the Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

Explore the vision behind Dorothea Dix Park and its transformational future at dixpark.org.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Team Leadership and Staff Development: Lead, mentor, and manage staff by fostering a collaborative, high-performing workplace. Provide clear direction, professional development opportunities, performance management, and team leadership to support organizational success.
• Park Planning and Development: Lead the implementation of the Dix Park Master Plan, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with long-term vision. Oversee capital projects, design initiatives, and planning, in coordination with City departments, consultants, and community stakeholders.
• Engagement and Visitor Experience: Support programming that provides a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational experiences and reflects the themes and guidance of the Dix Park Master Plan. Guide marketing and communications efforts to increase awareness, visitation, and community connection.
• Operations: Oversee park operations, including coordination with maintenance and facilities staff, to ensure a safe, clean, and welcoming experience. Manage vendor relationships and service contracts (e.g. security, cleaning, traffic management), monitoring performance, budgets, and compliance with City standards and park policies.
• Partnership and Engagement: Build and maintain strong partnerships with other City departments, nonprofit organizations, namely the Dix Park Conservancy, community stakeholders, and private-sector partners. Provide management support to the Dix Park Commission and Dix Park Stewardship Committee.
• Budget and Administrative Responsibilities: Prepare and administer an assigned budget and assist in managing capital improvement and bond programs. Manages the annual operating revenue program and expenses of operating the park.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree in Art, Art History, Historic Preservation, History, Museum Studies, or related field; 5 to 7 years' experience in art history, historic preservation, museum management, or related field.

Please Note: Bachelor's Degree in Parks and Recreation Management, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, or a related field would also be considered as an equivalency

OR

Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrating success managing large-scale projects within complex organizational structures
• Working within or alongside municipal government structures and public-private partnerships
• Possessing strong financial management and budgeting expertise
• Exhibiting exceptional communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder-engagement skills
• Showing familiarity with and experience in transformational public space projects

Licensing and Certifications:

• Valid North Carolina Class C driver's license with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire

BENEFITS

City of Raleigh Employee Benefits: https://raleighnc.gov/services/jobs-and-volunteering/pay-and-benefits