General Manager
General Manager Recruitment
Greater Vallejo Recreation District
The Greater Vallejo Recreation District (GVRD) was established over 81 years ago, on July 14, 1944, and is an independent special district located in the City of Vallejo (City). GVRD is a separate government agency from the City that provides parks and recreation programs for children, families, and seniors in Vallejo.
GVRD organizes and manages sports programs for both youth and adults, before- and after-school programming, leisure classes, and a variety of special interest events like The Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame, Breakfast with Santa, Arts and Concerts in the Park, and Fishing in the City. These programs and many, many more benefit over 120,000 Vallejo residents of all ages each year.
With abundant recreational opportunities, there are 407 acres of public park space, including 23 neighborhood parks, 4 community parks, 5 special-purpose parks, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and 4 community centers, which are managed by GVRD. In addition, they maintain over 1,000 acres of public land. Many of the parks & facilities managed by GVRD are owned by the City of Vallejo and leased to the district through a Master Lease Agreement.
The City of Vallejo is approximately 48.78 square miles and is centrally located, offering easy access to the entire Bay Area. Its unique location makes it an ideal place to reside. Distance to San Francisco is 31 miles, Sacramento 58 miles, San Rafael 38 miles, Oakland 26 miles, and Napa is 16 miles from Vallejo.
Administration, Staff, and Budget
The District is managed by a General Manager and overseen by a 5-member Board of Directors, three of whom are appointed by the Vallejo City Council, and two are appointed to serve by the Solano County Board of Supervisors. Board members serve 4-year terms. GVRD operations are governed by California's Public Resources Code Section 5780 et seq.
The District’s General Fund total operating Budget for FY 2025/26 is $10,885,774, and are finalizing the 2026/2027 Fiscal Year Budget. GVRD operates primarily by means of locally controlled funding and receives revenue from fees for services, park entrances, programs, and facility rentals. Grants and park dedication permit fees assist in the provision of new park development projects and ongoing maintenance.
An awarded $7.5 million grant from “Proposition 68” has funded an exciting project that is underway for upgrades at the Franklin Middle School; construction on the project began in 2025. GVRD is pleased to have Measure K funds as they continue to maintain and improve parks and community centers and pay for programs for Vallejo youth, adults, and seniors.
GVRD has a total of 35 Full Time Equivalent Staff and annually they employ approximately 150 Seasonal Employees. The Executive Team is made up of the General Manager, who has 5 Direct Reports: Parks and Facilities Director, Recreation Services Director, Board Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager, Human Resources Director, and Finance Director.
The Position
The General Manager plans, directs, and manages all operations of the Greater Vallejo Recreation District, overseeing administrative functions, finance, human resources, park operations, and recreation services. The role serves as an ex officio member of the Greater Vallejo Recreation District Park, Open Space and Recreation Foundation, and as the District's Chief Financial Officer and Risk Manager. The General Manager coordinates activities, builds collaborations and partnerships with other agencies, organizations, and the public, and provides complex administrative support to the Board of Directors.
The Ideal Candidate
The Board of Directors is seeking a forward-thinking and collaborative General Manager. The ideal candidate will support the Greater Vallejo Recreation District’s Mission, Vision, and Hallmark:
Mission: The Greater Vallejo Recreation District promotes wellness and healthy lifestyles by providing safe parks and innovative and fun recreation programs for all residents.
Vision: The Greater Vallejo Recreation District aspires to provide safe and world-class parks and facilities and creative, innovative, and affordable recreation opportunities.
Hallmark: The Greater Vallejo Recreation District strives to be a leader in these areas:
- Safety
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Playful Creativity
- Professionalism
Attributes and Core Competencies
In addition, the General Manager will be an effective leader with experience in Special Districts, cities, counties, or equivalent public sectors, and strong Fiscal Management skills, including municipal budgeting and government fiscal operations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a coaching and participative leadership style, be hands-on when necessary, maintain personal accountability, and communicate clear direction and expectations. Important competencies include public administration acumen; an outgoing and collaborative nature; the ability to partner with diverse stakeholders such as the City of Vallejo, Community Organizations, Educational Institutions, and local Businesses; adaptability in setting priorities while ensuring organizational effectiveness; having an enterprise mindset, resourcefulness in pursuing grants and fiscal opportunities; and proactive communication with the Board and the public.
Qualifications: Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
- Seven years of progressively responsible management experience with a Special District, City, County, or an equivalent public sector jurisdiction, including five years of administrative and supervisory responsibility.
- Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, business administration, or a related field.
- Desired: Master’s Degree desired in public administration, business administration, or a related field.
Compensation and Benefits
Annual Salary for this position is currently $229,338.30 (salary under review).
The City offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- CalPERS Retirement Plan: CalPERS 2.5% @ 55 formula for Classic Members and 2% @ 62 formula for PEPRA members.
- Health Plan - The District covers the premium for the employee plus a portion of family coverage.
- Dental/Vision Insurance - The District pays premiums for the employee and dependents.
- Term Life Insurance - $100,000.
- Optional Deferred Compensation 457 Plan.
- 14.5 holidays per year: 13.5 holidays per year and one floating holiday.
- Sick Leave - 12 days annually, with unlimited accrual.
- Annual Leave - 15 days. Prorated from the first day of employment, 20 days after five years of employment.
- Executive Leave – 112 hours. Allocated July 1, prorated from the first day of employment.
- Educational Reimbursement: $2,500 with a passing grade in any calendar year.
- Auto Allowance - $400/month.
- GVRD does not participate in Social Security.
Application and Selection Process
The closing date for this recruitment is midnight Friday, July 24, 2026.
To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line “GVRD General Manager.”
For questions, contact Liz Brown at [email protected].
Tentatively Scheduled Timeline:
- 1st Round Video Interviews scheduled: Friday, August 28, 2026.
- 2nd In-Person Interviews tentatively scheduled: Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Prepared for the Greater Vallejo Recreation District, California, by Municipal Resource Group, LLC.
