Manager, Sport & Community Events

Join our Recreation and Sport Services Management team with the City of Richmond as a leader in the sport and recreation sector, delivering the department’s vision. Richmond is a leader in the planning and delivery of recreation and sport opportunities, inspiring individuals and communities to be active, connected and healthy for a lifetime. This an opportunity to make a difference, working with the community to make Richmond one of the most appealing and liveable municipalities in Canada.

Reporting to the Director, Recreation and Sport Services, the Manager, Sport & Community Events is accountable for the overall management of outdoor sport amenities and community events, city-wide physical literacy initiatives, and volunteer management.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the implementation of strategic initiatives related to the Recreation and Sport Strategy, Sport Hosting Strategy, Volunteer Management Strategy, Signature and Community Events Plan and other Divisional and Corporate priorities.
• Provide leadership for the annual allocation of City and School District sport fields and park amenities in alignment with Council policies and guidelines, including the development and implementation of Richmond Field Sport Agreements and Sport Field User Fees.
• Manage the seasonal West Richmond Pitch and Putt golf course, including seasonal hiring and day-to-day operations.
• Provide technical expertise into the design of City wide sport facilities including sports fields, and outdoor sport amenities.
• Overall responsibility for caretakers at a variety of City Parks.
• Oversee the community events application process and provide leadership to the multi-departmental and/or multi-jurisdictional Richmond Event Approval Coordination Team (REACT) to serve the needs of community groups involved in organizing outdoor sport activities, tournaments, festivals and special events.
• Oversee the coordination of the City’s volunteer management system, I Can Help, and related volunteer opportunities, and work with the Volunteer Development Coordinator to provide guidance and city-wide subject matter expertise related to volunteer data collection and reporting, recruitment and training.
• Develop and monitor budgets; recommend sport and outdoor event facility capital development and infrastructure maintenance projects.
• Contributes to relevant capital projects in collaboration with other City departments
• Inform the Director, General Manager, Parks Recreation and Cultural Services Committee and Council of key issues; prepare reports; communicate corporate/divisional policies.
• Represent the City at meetings or events attended by external agencies such as local, regional, provincial, national and international sport governing bodies, Richmond Sport Council, Pacific Sport, Sport BC, ViaSport etc.
• Work with the Managers of Public Works and Parks and other various managers to develop cross departmental guidelines and procedures, programs and services, recruitment and training and implementation of new work methods.
• Responsible for resolving customer inquiries and problems in a timely manner; anticipate and forecast customer requirements; define quality standards for customer service and create new solutions to meet customer needs.
• Provide leadership, supervision and direction to a team of three (3) direct reports, including the development of work plans and regular feedback and coaching; participate in performance conversations and/or labour relations matters as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Plan and implement strategic initiatives to improve sport delivery in Richmond in alignment with provincial and national initiatives.
• Develop corporate strategies for improving service delivery in areas such as sport services, community festivals and development of major community events and sport tourism initiatives.
• Lead project teams as the project lead for both corporate wide projects, departmental projects and divisional projects.
• Negotiate facility use licence agreements with Richmond field and sport amenity user groups.
• Develop and administer the Parks Sport, Special Events and Administration Office budget; provide input into the annual Parks capital budget for sport and outdoor event facility development.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with various external agencies regarding sport and event hosting services such as Richmond Sport Council, Tourism Richmond, various local, regional, provincial and national sport organizations, Richmond community associations and various organized sports groups.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to provide technical direction and/or specialty advice on sport facility design standards to architects and City Parks staff involved in designing outdoor sport facilities and events.
• Lead, develop, and supervise a team of staff and work collaboratively with other departments as needed.
• Deal with a broad range of people using interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy.
• Provide subject matter expertise and leadership for citywide physical literacy and sport initiatives.
• Resolve complex or contentious sport and event facility scheduling conflicts and facility use incidents.
• Solve customer complaints and problems and enforce Park Use Code of Conduct regulations.
• Exhibit strong decision making skills and judgement for complex and far-reaching issues with results assessed against organization-wide objectives.
• Recommend fees and charges for a variety of facility users and event services.
• Demonstrate project management, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Display excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Successfully pass a Criminal Record Check.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelors Degree in Recreation, Sport/Physical Education, Business or Sport Management with courses in event management, project management, problem solving, community engagement, park planning and decision making, business writing, communication, and public speaking.
• A minimum of 10 years experience is required, including experience working with community sport and event planning organizations, establish operating agreements with community societies and the hosting of large outdoor community events.
• Experience working with sport in a variety of capacities at a local, provincial or national level. Considerable experience in leading community consultation meetings, public speaking, researching and writing reports, presenting reports to senior staff, community groups, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee and City Council.
• Extensive knowledge of the technical design and event staging requirements of various outdoor sport tournaments.
• Experience working within a municipal environment is preferred.
• A valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence for the Province of British Columbia.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed mainly in an office environment. Evening and weekend work is regularly required.

This posting will remain open until the position has been filled with applicant reviews happening throughout the posting period; shortlisting to be completed and interviews beginning shortly after the week of August 31st 2026.