Job Summary

Administers, provides leadership, plans, directs, and evaluates the activities and functions of the Natural Areas, Parks and Events Department. Responsible for the 24/7 operation and the overall management and direction of the Benton County parks, natural areas, fairgrounds, Benton Oaks RV Park, Salmonberry Campground, Crystal Lake Cemetery, Adair Clubhouse, and Alsea Guard Station. This position develops long term goals and strategies; implements operational policies and procedures; develops community partnerships; and manages and directs the department budget and financial transactions. Acts as primary advisor and liaison to the Natural Areas & Parks Board and Fair Board on matters related to the department.

Click here (Download PDF reader) for a complete list of the duties, responsibilities and physical requirements of this position.
Click here (Download PDF reader) to view that position brochure.

Your Total Compensation/Benefits

• Spend more time with your family, friends and get back to doing what you love!
  • 10 Paid Holidays + 64 Personal Leave Hours + 2 Floating Holidays + 8 hours of vacation accrual every month + sick leave! Vacation accrual increases with years of service.
• $0 Health Insurance Premium!
  • Medical, Dental and Vision - cover your whole family without paying a dime.
  • The county currently pays up to $10.28 per hour to cover your health benefits ($1,781 a month for a family plan, $21,372 a year).
  • In addition, the county contributes up to $1,400 per year to your Health Savings or Retirement account!
    • Apart from your deductible you can use this money for things that aren’t traditionally paid by insurance – i.e. Ibuprofen, Tylenol and other preventative type medications.
    • You never lose your Health Savings Account funds as it rolls over from year to year.
  • Dependents up to age 26 are covered!
• Get ready for retirement. Save money without putting in money!
  • After 6 months of employment:
  • The county makes a retirement contribution of 6% of your salary towards Oregon PERS!
  • The county makes a deferred compensation 457b plan contribution of 3% of your salary! You can add more if you wish.
• A free wellness and assistance program that pays YOU!
  • We want to help you be your best self. Join county groups and competitions and get money added to your paycheck for taking care of yourself! Earn up to $240 a year in quarterly and yearly health incentives!
  • Participate in drawings for fun prizes like exercise equipment, smart watches, and more!
  • Get free legal and financial counseling sessions through our Employee Assistance Program, Canopy.
• 100% employer-paid coverage for AD&D ($100,000), Life ($10,000), and Long Term Disability coverage.
  • Supplemental plans are available at reasonable rates!
• Annual salary range of:
  • $103,074 - $164,919.
  • This position is eligible for up to two salary raises within your first year. Increases may be given at the end of the 6 month probationary period, depending on starting salary and at the 1 year anniversary, as long as your performance is in good standing! Increases are given until the maximum of the salary range is reached.
• Have benefits questions?
  • Reach out to us anytime: recruiting@co.benton.or.us

Minimum Qualifications
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Parks, Recreation, Resource Management or a related field; AND
• 10 years of related management experience, including at least 5 years of experience supervising professional level staff.

Special Requirements

• A cover letter is required to be submitted with your application. It should be no more than two pages in length and describe your experience related to the minimum qualifications listed above, and experience establishing and maintaining positive, professional, collaborative relationships with a variety of internal and external partners, stakeholders and community members.
• Valid Driver’s license and acceptable driving record. This position requires driving and may require use of a personal vehicle.
• Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required, especially during the Benton County Fair & Rodeo.

Ideal Candidate
Benton County’s next NAPE Director will be an adaptable, strategic, service-oriented, unconditional team player, and an open communicator. The ideal candidate must be collaborative and inclusive, consistent, fair, and thoughtful but decisive in decision-making and problem resolution and committed to stewardship of County resources. As a member of the County’s leadership team, the NAPE Director must be engaging, relatable, and have great sense of humor.

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess:

• Successful experience in managing county/regional fairs (or similar scale entertainment events) and parks and natural areas.
• Thorough knowledge of effective principles and practices of public administration, including leadership, strategic planning, communications, and performance coaching and evaluation.
• Experience that includes effective press/media/public relations, community awareness/education campaigns, and social media advertising.
• A successful history of recreational and special event business development.
• Experience that demonstrates collaboration with local and regional businesses to create mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Experience working with the county extension services including agricultural resources and 4-H youth development programs.
• Experience managing natural resources and implementing conservation practices.

Questions regarding this position can be directed to
Joseph Kerby, County Administrator
Benton County Board of Commissioners
Telephone: (541) 766-6370
joseph.kerby@co.benton.or.us

Working & Living in Benton County
Benton County (pop. 93,053; 679 sq. mi.) is in the middle of the Willamette Valley, with Corvallis (pop. 61,027) as the county seat. Established in 1847, nearly 12 years before Oregon became a state in 1859, the county is the state’s fourth smallest in terms of area and medium-sized with respect to population. Corvallis is home to Oregon State University (OSU), the city’s largest employer. Most of the rest of the county is farm and forest land, reflecting a much treasured rural heritage.

The quality of life here is very high, a perfect blend of rural, urban, and small town living, with unlimited access to Oregon’s coveted outdoor lifestyle. Corvallis is dynamic, safe, and friendly, a thriving college town with many cultural offerings. Portland’s world-class urban amenities, major sports venues, and Portland International Airport are 90 minutes to the north, and Eugene and its airport are less than an hour south.

The area offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities year-round, with easy access to the mountains, ocean, rivers, streams, and wilderness. The Oregon Coast is an hour away. Corvallis is a gold-level Bike Friendly Community with bike lanes on 98 percent of the collector and arterial roadways and eighteen miles of multi-use paths. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks Benton County as one of the top three healthiest counties in Oregon.

In addition to OSU, the Linn Benton Community College offers higher education. The highly regarded Corvallis, Philomath, Alsea, and Monroe School Districts serve the county.

Benton County is a home-rule county with five elected officials: three county commissioners, a district attorney, and the County Sheriff.

To learn more about Benton County, please visit https://www.co.benton.or.us .

How to Apply

• To apply for this position, click on the "Apply" button to fill out all information in the online application and complete the questionnaire. Failure to do so may result in your application being removed from consideration.
• Only complete applications received by the posted application deadline date, or the first review date will be considered.
• Answer all supplemental questions.

After you Apply

• You will get an email stating your application has been submitted. Log in to your Neo Gov account before the job announcement closes to see if you have any pending tasks or notifications, and make sure to complete these tasks before the job announcement closes. These can be found under the “My Applications” section.
• Be sure to check both your email and NeoGov account for updates regarding this recruitment.

Additional information

• This is a FLSA exempt position.
• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.
• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources. NOTE: If claiming veterans’ preference please be sure to attach your DD214 or Disability letter from the VA.
• Benton County does not offer VISA sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. Benton County will review these documents to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
• If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, please contact the Benton County Human Resources Department by calling 541-766-6081.

Helpful links and contact information
Learn more about Benton County
Understanding the County Application Process
Job Interest Cards webpage

For more information you may contact us by e-mail at recruiting@co.benton.or.us or by phone at 541-766-6081.