Manager, Recreation

Posted: November 4, 2026
Position Type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Port Elgin, Ontario (on site)

Number of Vacancies: 1 (This posting is an existing vacancy within the Community Services team)

Condition of Employment: the successful applicant will be required to provide a satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check

Saugeen Shores: Both city and town, wrapped in a village.
Choosing to work and live in Saugeen Shores gives you an unparalleled choice of easy-going lifestyles, economic opportunities and nature at every turn. You can truly create your own village in this growing, diverse community of neighbourhoods and amenities. You can replace long commutes with easy lakeshore rides. You can choose to be as active or relaxed as you want to be. You can make all these great choices without sacrificing family life, schools, and even access to the wide world. Nestled on the shores of Lake Huron with forests and farms all around, Saugeen Shores is the promise of both cities and towns, wrapped in a village.

The Team:
We take our team-first culture so seriously; we wrote a Team Saugeen Charter to celebrate and protect it. Our shared role is to keep Saugeen Shores safe, well-serviced, growing and vibrant in ways that respect the public and reflect our team. We develop careers from the inside first. We engage each other personally and professionally. We welcome change. we embrace new ideas. We do more than live with work processes; we seek to continuously improve them. And we have each other's backs - because that is what great teams do.

The Position at a Glance:

As the Manager, Recreation, reporting to the Director of Community Services, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Town’s recreation services, including wellness, community programming and camps, aquatics, recreation facilities, and recreation related special events and initiatives. You will establish service standards, oversee financial and human resources, advance safe and inclusive service delivery, and build partnerships that strengthen community participation and facility use.

What You’ll Do:

• Strategic Leadership & Advisory: Serve as strategic advisor to the Director of Community Services, representing the division externally, supporting Council and Committees, and ensuring alignment with municipal procedures and statutory requirements under relevant legislation.

• Planning & Performance Management: Develop and implement divisional and annual strategic plans, monitor progress towards business plans, prepare and deliver reports, and facilitate annual goal setting and performance reviews for staff.

• Team Development & Operations: Oversee the Recreation Division operations, promote staff development, manage recruitment and coaching, and encourage continuous improvement, corporate initiatives, and the adoption of new tools and opportunities.

• Recreation Programs and Services: Oversee recreation, aquatics, camps, recreation-related special events, and community programs for all ages and abilities; use community needs, participation data, emerging trends, and feedback to guide planning and continuous improvement; ensure accessible, inclusive, financially responsible services aligned with Council and corporate priorities; and build partnerships with community organizations, third-party service providers and agencies, schools, businesses, and other stakeholders.

• Recreation Facilities Management and Operations: Oversee the Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre, Community Complex (including Municipal Office), and Southampton Coliseum, including scheduling, maintenance coordination, customer service, rentals, bookings, and tenant relationships; ensure compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, standards, policies, emergency procedures, and health and safety requirements; optimize facility use, program capacity, service quality, and revenue opportunities; and support capital planning, asset renewal, facility improvements, and project implementation.

• Project Management: Participate in preparing and evaluating tender documents, recommending external contractors, and managing capital projects; negotiate and manage contracts as required; and contribute to Community Services strategic business initiatives, lead and support project teams, and champion corporate goals among colleagues.

• Financial Oversight: Prepare and manage divisional budgets, present to management and Council, and communicate fiscal responsibility to staff.

• Policy & Health and Safety: Ensure regular review and development of policies, programs, and procedures, and promote Health and Safety initiatives division wide.

What You Bring to the Role:

Education:

• ​​Post-secondary degree or diploma in recreation, leisure studies, public administration, business administration, facility management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA) / Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) applicable designations and certifications are an asset.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Five (5) years of progressive experience in recreation, aquatics, facility operations, community services or a related municipal environment, including two (2) to three (3) years of municipal management experience.
• Thorough working knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office applications, database management, and office equipment. Knowledge and experience working with financial systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading supervisors and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with operating and capital budgets, policy development, project management, service planning, and contract administration.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation including the Employment Standards Act (ESA), Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Ontario Building Code (OBC), Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), Canadian Standards Associations (CSA), and applicable provincial, federal regulations.
• Possess a valid Class G Driver’s License.
• Experience managing in a unionized environment is a strong asset.
• Experience working within a public sector environment is considered a strong asset.

Skills and Competencies you bring to the role:

• Excellent facilitation and team leadership skills, with the ability to guide groups in identifying issues, evaluating options, building consensus, and implementing practical solutions.
• Demonstrates adaptability and accountability by responding effectively to changing priorities, taking ownership of decisions and results, and following through on commitments.
• Exercises sound judgment and critical decision-making by analyzing complex information, assessing risks and impacts, and making timely, evidence-informed recommendations and decisions.
• Excellent problem-solving, work planning, project management, and prioritization skills. Able to manage competing demands and work under pressure to meet legislative, corporate, and departmental deadlines while exercising discretion and sound judgment in planning programs and projects.
• Maintains a strong customer and community focus by understanding diverse needs, providing responsive and inclusive services, and balancing service expectations with operational, financial, and policy requirements.
• Builds strong collaborative relationships with staff, Council, community partners, user groups, tenants, service providers, and other stakeholders to achieve shared objectives and resolve issues constructively.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, supported by well-developed analytical, report-writing, public relations, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to develop clear and audience-appropriate materials, facilitate engaging presentations, and deliver effective information sessions and recommendations to staff and Council.
• Provides effective change leadership and promotes continuous improvement by engaging employees, communicating the rationale for change, addressing concerns, and improving programs, services, and work processes.

What We Offer You:

• Salary: $120,745 to $137,210 per year (depending on qualifications and experience)
• Hours of work: 35 hours per week (8:30 am to 4:30 pm), with after-hour meetings required
• Vacation: A generous number of vacation days per year in addition to 10 paid personal days.
• Benefits: Comprehensive extended health and dental benefits, including an Employee and Family Assistance Plan and enrollment in the OMERS pension plan.
• Professional development: A passion for investing in our workforce through continuous learning and development.

Application Process:

If you’re interested in joining our team, click the “Apply Now” at the top and/or bottom of the job posting to start the application process by the posting closing date. We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Anticipated Recruitment Timeline:

Application Period Opens: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Application Period Closes: Monday, November 23, 2026 at 4:30 pm EST

1st Round Interviews (on site): Week of November 30, 2026

2nd Round Interviews (on site): Week of December 7, 2026

References and Qualifications Checks: Week of December 14, 2026

Anticipated Start Date: January 2027

The Town of Saugeen Shores is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The Town of Saugeen Shores will make every effort to accommodate applicants with disabilities in its recruitment and selection process. Information received relating to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990 and will be used for the purpose of this employment opportunity only.

If you require an accommodation to submit your resume for an employment opportunity, or for more information on accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Coordinator at [email protected] or by phone at 519-832-2008 x.161.