Recreation Specialist

Recreation Specialist

Situated on the beautiful Ottawa River, Pembroke is a vibrant city of 16,200 that is renowned as “the heart of the Ottawa Valley.” Established in 1858, it was a bustling timber town during the early part of the 20th century. Today, there are still several companies connected to the forestry sector, as well as a growing number of companies associated with a knowledge-based economy and ecotourism.

We are currently recruiting for a Recreation Specialist. This is a full-time position.

The Recreation Specialist will assist in a leadership role to oversee the core recreation initiatives of the department, which include programming, events, and recreation opportunities.

Duties of this position:

• Assist with developing, managing and supervising recreation projects which promote active living and community engagement.
• Collaborate with community stakeholders, including residents, local organizations and educational institutions, to assess and fulfill recreational needs within the community.
• Research and solicit funding opportunities including grants, to foster growth in recreational activities within the community.
• Assist and oversee the delivery of the parks and recreation master plan and evaluate its progress with annual milestones.
• Design marketing and promotional materials to include community outreach including department semi-annual recreation guides.
• Attend a variety of appointed committees and act as a city resource.
• Maintain awareness of accessibility, inclusivity and access to recreation.
• Advance community wellness through increased programming opportunities.
• Optimize the use of parks space and recreation facility spaces through partnership opportunities and studies.
• Provide administrative support within the department to ensure seamless workflow.
• Assist with the preparation of agendas and meeting materials; prepare and edit correspondence, communications, presentations and other documents.
• Attend council meetings as required.
• Enhance and prepare updated and new agreements for the department.
• Handle day-to-day inquiries from the public.
• Assist with the development of standard operation procedures.
• Assist with annual budget initiatives.
• Manage a variety of full-time and seasonal recreation positions and provide a leadership role.

• Successful completion of an approved diploma course in recreation or a diversified background in strategic planning, finance, managing projects, community programming, recreation facilities or related fields
• Proven successful and progressive leadership experience in the field of recreation programming, special events, and/or marketing for a minimum of one year
• Possess effective leadership, interpersonal, communication, marketing, public relation and organizational skills.
• Capable of supervising projects as it relates to recreation and the department with a high sense of responsibility.
• Proficient in the use of computer applications including Microsoft Word, Excel Outlook and social media platforms.
• Successful grant writing skills would be an asset.

Closing: June 18, 2026 at 12:00pm

We offer:

• Extended health care, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability and accidental death insurance
• 15 days of vacation, increasing with years of service, plus 2 wellness days
• OMERS defined pension including 100% employer matching
• Professional development and skill-based training opportunities
• Employee and family assistance plan

We thank all candidates for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

The City of Pembroke is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. We are therefore happy to accommodate any individual needs in keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require an accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this competition. It is collected under the authority of The Municipal Act, RSO 2001, and will be used in accordance with The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for employment purposes.