Regional Parks Parks Development Liaison

Position Type: Full-time permanent or Contract 

Reports to: Executive Director, SaskatchewanRegional Parks Association (SRPA)Work Location: Remote, onsite at Regional Parks, and upon occasion: SRPA office.

Compensation Package: Compensation based off experience, includes benefits, pension, health spending account, vacation time, and holiday closure time. 

Job Objective and Overview: The goal of this position is to assist every park in becoming the best that they can be. Great parks come from having three elements: a great board, a great manager, and a great plan. This proposed new arm of our association will develop and enhance those three elements, thus 

making each of our parks into great parks. Park Development Liaison is a part of a team of park leaders who build and foster relationships with Regional Parks, staff, volunteers and stakeholders to support and enhance the industry and improve the quality of Saskatchewan's Regional Parks. As a champion for the parks industry, Park Development Liaison has a strong ability to assess local needs and connect relevant services and programs that enhance the development and sustainability of the parks.

Duties and Responsibilities:Communication: 

• Gathers and shares information and insight on park feedback, needs and opportunities.
• Share information about SRPA strategies, programs and services.
• Participates in collaborative dialogue (listening to understand, reaching collaborative results with staff, members, and stakeholders).
• Supports SRPA and its purpose, people, programs and services, at all times and through all mediums, in a positive manner.

Leadership:

• Inspire action towards achieving a common outcome.
• Provides consulting services and support to Regional Parks, staff, boards, and volunteers.
• Builds and fosters partnerships with provincial organizations, at all levels of government, Indigenous organizations, stakeholders and related Regional Parks.
• Embodies SPRA policies and procedures. 
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with staff members and stakeholders.

Innovation:

• Introducing and applying solutions to meet requirements or unfilled needs of Regional Parks. 
• Possesses knowledge of benefits, principles, practices, theories and trends that impact diverse populations and are relative to leadership development, Regional Parks and program development. 
• Collect and interpret issues and trends impacting Regional Parks.
• Coordinates and implements strategies to engage stakeholders and enhance the profile of Regional Parks.
• Contributes to solving problems, addressing issues, and improving efficiencies within SRPA.

Integrity: 

• Acting with integrity by following moral and ethical principles and keeping commitments.
• Represent interests held by SRPA in partnerships between Regional Parks, organizations and stakeholders.
• Delivers exceptional customer service.
• Leads the development and management of the annual portfolio budget.
• Prepares, administers, and evaluates all contracts and agreements as assigned.
• Organizes and prioritizes workload effectively.
• Contributes to an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.

Engagement:

• Models’ passion and loyalty to the vision and activities of SRPA. 
• Works collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve shared goals that benefit Regional Parks.
• Actively contributes to team projects, initiatives, and service areas.
• Actively contributes ideas and input during team meetings, brainstorming, and planning. 
• Provides input to strengthen SRPA’s activities and outcomes.
• Supports and contributes to SRPA team events and activities.
• Effectively prioritizes tasks to meet the needs of SRPA.
• Promotes a sustainable work–life balance.

Key responsibilities:

• Serve Membership.
• Ensures all decisions reflect the best interests of the membership.
• Collaborates with Regional Park managers, boards, and staff to develop policies as needed, including OH&S, personnel, hiring, safety, training, and standard operating procedures for equipment and mechanical rooms.
• Works with Regional Park managers, boards, and staff to create five-year strategic plans and annual budgets using SWOT analysis, and assists with accessing funding at local, provincial, and federal levels.
• Supports initiatives to grow and diversify parks across the association.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of financial statements, cash flow, and common expenses when advising parks on growth.
• Fosters growth by enhancing existing revenue streams and developing new ones.
• Collaborates with Regional Parks to address and reduce barriers at local, provincial, and federal government levels.
• Supports parks in identifying and leveraging their local strengths to achieve success.
• Ensures compliance with the Regional Parks Act, 2013 and the Regional Parks Handbook.

Skills and Qualifications:Education & Certifications:

• Relevant post-secondary education in parks management, recreation, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Professional certifications in leadership, governance, or project management considered an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive experience in parks management, non-profit leadership, community development, or a related field.
• Experience working with boards, volunteers, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, budgeting, and policy development.
• Proven track record in building partnerships with government, Indigenous organizations, and community stakeholders.

Knowledge & Competencies:

• Strong understanding of financial statements, cash flow, and budgeting.
• Knowledge of OH&S, personnel policies, training, and operational procedures.
• Familiarity with issues and trends impacting Regional Parks and the recreation sector.
• Skilled in survey design, needs assessment, and evaluation methods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to facilitate dialogue and collaboration.
• Strong consulting and advisory skills, with the ability to guide parks through challenges and growth.

Personal Attributes:

• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Passionate about advancing the mission and vision of SRPA.
• Innovative thinker with problem-solving ability and a collaborative approach.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload effectively.
• Commitment to promoting sustainable work–life balance for self and others.

First-Year Goals:

• Creates and distributes surveys to identify Regional Parks needs and determine priority areas, including management, governance, organizational structure, growth, and financial sustainability (e.g., cash flow).
• Develop a needs-tracking spreadsheet to identify common challenges across parks and determine whether a larger group virtual meeting can address multiple parks at once.
• Schedule an average of 20 park visits per year, meeting with the management team, volunteers, and board; this can be done either jointly or separately, depending on each park’s preference.
• Regional Parks should be ranked by level of need, with those experiencing the greatest challenges prioritized for visits.
• Creates and maintains job description templates for all positions across the parks, ensuring consistency in roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Creates, compiles, and distributes key information to all parks, including manager employment resources, grant opportunities, and other materials essential to park operations.

_To achieve its goals, the action plan will focus on the following priorities:_Regional Park Assessment: Develop and administer a survey to assess each Regional Park’s current status 

and identify areas of need. Creates and maintains a record of obstacles and challenges faced by Regional Parks.

Set Goals: Creates a document prioritizing obstacles in order of importance. Prepares guidance documents to address common obstacles faced by Regional Parks.

Research Regional Park Options:

• Research strategies for supporting Regional Parks in addressing their obstacles.
• Identifies best practices for helping Regional Parks overcome operational and organizational challenges.
• Explores effective approaches to collaborating with Regional Parks on resolving barriers.

Identify Knowledge and Skill Gaps:

• Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each Regional Park through assessment and analysis.
• Assesses Regional Parks to determine key strengths and areas for improvement.

Develop Strategies:

• Develops a strategic plan for each Regional Park tailored to its identified needs and priorities.
• Develops strategies to leverage strengths and address weaknesses of each Regional Park.
• Develops park-specific plans for each Regional Park that leverage unique locations and amenities to drive growth.

Monitor and Update: Maintains ongoing communication with Regional Parks as needed.

Apply by April 21st, 2026