Job Description
New as of 01/01/2026: Your well-being matters from the start — benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave. Position Description Catawba County Parks is looking for an energetic, experienced, and hands-on leader to join our team as a Park Superintendent. If you love the outdoors, enjoy staying active, and take pride in maintaining beautiful natural spaces for your community, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. This position offers steady, meaningful work with a collaborative team, reliable pay, and the strong benefits that come with a career in county government. A Park Superintendent is a working supervisor who oversees the operations of a specific County park and also serves as a steward of the entire Catawba County Park System. This position manages individual park operations; manages and implements park maintenance and programming plans; implements park improvement and beautification projects; assures park safety; enforces park ordinances; and engages in public relations and programming activities. This position supervises full-time rangers and hourly staff and works closely with the County's other Park Superintendents and Parks Director to optimize resources across the entire park system. This is a full-time position with benefits, regularly scheduled to work both weekday and weekend hours. To learn more about Catawba County Parks, visit: https://www.catawbacountync.gov/county-services/parks Responsibilities Implements and manages park maintenance plans and procedures, including grounds, landscaping, trails, facilities, and equipment Recommends and implements natural habitat preservation/restoration plans, including invasive species management Ensures effective daily park operations, including management of daily workflow and routine inspections of all park trails, grounds, structures, and facilities Performs park maintenance duties Provides direct supervision to full-time and hourly staff, including work assignments, scheduling, training, coaching, team building, and performance management/evaluation Schedules, supervises, and trains approved volunteers and assists in the recruiting and hiring of full-time and hourly staff Maintains supplies and materials inventory and procures approved supplies and materials following County and Park System purchasing policies Handles revenue/deposits and monitors expenditures to ensure compliance with budgetary limits Manages shelter/facility reservation system and recommends park and/or policy improvements to the Parks Director Implements approved park improvement projects and establishes and oversees safety precautions in collaboration with the Parks Director Implements the park's emergency operations plan as needed and ensures staff are trained to respond to emergencies Prepares monthly reports tracking park usage, equipment service logs, etc. Provides positive public and community relations through direct interactions with park visitors and collaborations with community partners Develops and implements approved park programming and oversees community service projects, special events, and community outreach activities Provides content for inclusion in Catawba County Park System communications and social media platforms Other duties as assigned Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation Management, Biology, Natural Resources Management/Forestry, Horticulture, or other related field, and 2 years of park operational experience; OR Associate's degree in Parks and Recreation Management, Biology, Natural Resources Management/Forestry, Horticulture, or other related field, and 4 years of park operational experience; OR High school diploma or GED equivalent and 6 years of park operations experience Additional Requirements A valid driver’s license with a safe driving record (Driving is an essential function of this position) Forest Service Chainsaw Certification and CPR/First Aid (or willingness to obtain upon hire) Ability or willingness to learn how to operate, maintain, and perform light repairs on tools and equipment (e.g., chainsaws, weed eaters, tractors, mountain bikes, trail motorcycles) Proven supervisory, leadership, and teambuilding skills with the ability to manage, motivate, and train individuals and teams Thorough knowledge of materials, methods, and equipment used in park operation and maintenance Knowledge of natural habitat maintenance and preservation<