Description

Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $165,766.10 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.

The City of Long Beach, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine, is seeking a Manager - Business Operations, to lead the Business Operations Bureau.

THE COMMUNITY

Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and I've golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best–value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.

CITY GOVERNMENT

Long Beach operates as a charter city governed by an elected Mayor and nine City Council members elected by district. The City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, oversees the daily operations of 15 departments and a proposed FY26 citywide annual budget of $3.7B. The City employs over 6,000 full-time and part-time staff; dedicated to providing exceptional public services with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations.

City Departments
Proposed FY26 Budget
2030 Strategic Vision
Elevate '28 Infrastructure Investment Plan

The City of Long Beach fosters an environment where every employee is celebrated for their individuality and unique talents they bring to their role. Reflecting the diversity of the community within the workforce is a key priority embraced at every level of the organization—from management to policy creation. City Leadership actively promotes equity and inclusion by partnering with staff and community stakeholders to advance fairness in all initiatives. Transparency remains a cornerstone of these efforts with demographic data, including workforce diversity and pay equity by race and gender, shared publicly to ensure accountability and progress.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine is a nationally recognized and award-winning organization with 850 full-time/part-time staff and a budget of $85 million that makes our parks and beaches safe, welcoming spaces for all residents and visitors, putting people at the center of all that we do - including our park users, partners, and team members - to create inclusive, enriching, healthy communities for all to thrive. The Department provides stewardship of 3,200 acres of land, and offers extensive recreational, social, and cultural programs at 166 parks in nearly every one of Long Beach’s diverse neighborhoods for all ages. Long Beach’s parks system and services are unique including 27 community centers, 3 public pools, 2 historic ranchos, 5 municipal golf courses, 11 dog parks, 9 lakes and wetlands, 6 miles of beach, and the largest municipally operated marina with 3 marinas and 3,300 boat slips.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

The Business Operations Manager is responsible for managing five divisions, ultimately administering the budget, accounting, purchasing, grants, personnel, training, park planning, partnerships, contracts, community information, graphics, and safety operations for PRM. Duties include the direct supervision of five (5) management-level Officers and two (2) administrative support staff. This position also has indirect supervision of 16 full-time staff and four (4) part-time staff.

Under the general direction of the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Marine, the Business Operations Bureau Manager is accountable for planning, organizing, and directing the Bureau's work activities.

Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

Supervises five Division Superintendents across various divisions, including Finance, Personnel & Training, Community Information & Graphics, Park Planning, and Partnerships.
Prepares and monitors an annual budget totaling $85 million.
Responsible for staff development, training, team building, supervision, and evaluation for 27 full-time and part-time employees.
Responsible for implementation and meeting the vision and goals of the Department’s Strategic Plan.
Manages recruitment and selection efforts for classified and unclassified hiring, labor and employee relations, leave management, and payroll functions for the Department, which consists of over 250 full-time and over 600 part-time/seasonal staff.
Manages the distribution of information to the community about Parks, Recreation & Marine (and Animal Care Services) programs, services, and events via various public information avenues, graphic design, photography services, media relations, press releases, marketing and advertising, website maintenance, social media, and reprographics.
Manages the finance and accounting function for the Department, including accounts payable/receivable, purchase orders, etc.
Facilitates the Department-wide budget process.
Manages the Department’s efforts to develop strategic partnerships with local organizations and advance the Department’s mission and community impact while generating revenue.
Manages park development initiatives, including development and implementation of master plans, capital budget plans, and cost estimates; grant applications and grant compliance; and new, rehabilitated, and expanded parks, open space, facilities, and habitat.
Ensures efficient and effective implementation of high-priority and high-profile endeavors like the Park Ambassador Program, implementation of Compassion Saves, and other efforts to ensure successful service delivery to the Long Beach community.
Overseeing the Department’s safety program administration in collaboration with the City's Safety Office.
Interprets, implements, and enforces policies, procedures, and regulations consistently and effectively.
Represents PRM on behalf of the Director both internally and externally, as needed.

Requirements To File

EDUCATION:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field (experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis) (Proof required).

Experience

Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in management and administration of recreation services, personnel services, budget/financial services, maintenance operations, marina operations, park planning, contract management, and/or community relations management, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory role.

Additional Requirements

A valid driver’s license, or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel, may be required for some assignments.

Desirable Qualifications

Experience in a municipal setting is preferred.
An advanced degree in business or public administration is highly desirable.

Ideal Candidate

Strong leadership background with experience as a management professional in a complex, similarly, situated organization with comparable challenges and structure.
Experience managing and successfully working with people from diverse backgrounds.
Experience demonstrating effective partnering and problem-solving.
Experience preparing and monitoring a division or bureau budget of a similar size.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Thursday, January 29, 2026. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and proof of education (if applicable) in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact 562-570-7008

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call 562-570-7008.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.

City of Long Beach Jobs

MANAGER - BUSINESS OPERATIONS