Manager, Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex

Job title:

Manager, Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex

Company

City of Kitchener

Job description

DescriptionManager, Kitchener Indoor Recreation ComplexJob Status: Permanent Full-TimePay & Grade: $124,418 to $155,522 Annually Grade/Band: 12 (under review)Hours of Work:35 Hours per weekInitial location: Kitchener City HallPosting period:August 26, 2025, to September 12, 2025 (at 6:00pm)OverviewWe’re building something extraordinary for our community and beyond – the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex, a state-of-the-art destination for sport, fitness, and community connection.Opening summer 2026, this $174-million, all-season, multi-use recreation complex is being designed to meet the diverse needs of the community with a premier lineup of amenities: a large aquatics centre with two stainless steel pools, a FIFA-sized indoor turf field (divisible into four), a versatile quad gymnasium, an indoor walking track, two dedicated cricket practice nets, and four multi-purpose rooms for community programs and events.Committed to responding to the community’s rapidly growing needs for diverse recreation options, the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex is expected to attract over 500,000 people in the first year. Through hosting provincial and national tournaments, welcoming high-performance athletes from our community and from across Ontario, and generating significant tourism dollars, Kitchener will be positioned as a premier destination for sport and recreation.Designed to be one of Canada’s greenest and most energy-efficient recreation centres, it will feature advanced geothermal heating and cooling and the largest solar array ever installed by the City, taking our environmental commitment to the next level. It will also be the first net-zero carbon and most accessible sports facility the City has ever built.We’re looking for a passionate, caring and innovative leader to bring this incredible community gathering space to life!As Manager, Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex, you will lead a dynamic team of municipal staff in shaping and activating an inclusive, vibrant environment where community and competitive sport thrive side by side – while also playing a pivotal role in attracting major events, building strong partnerships, and ensuring local and visiting athletes and spectators have an unforgettable experience.Reporting to the Director of Sport, you’ll lead with strategy, compassion, and a commitment to positive customer experience. Through demonstrated experience using the power of sport to build community connection, your top priority will be ensuring every visitor feels welcome and every facility amenity space and event reaches its full potential. You’ll collaborate with residents, community groups, sports organizations, event rights-holders, and tourism partners to maximize the facility’s profile, position it as a top-tier competition venue, and deliver programming that’s both accessible and exceptional.If you’re ready to lead one of Ontario’s most ambitious recreational facilities – where the community comes together to Connect, where athletes from across Kitchener, Ontario, and Canada come to Compete, and where we all truly Belong – we want to hear from you.ResponsibilitiesOverall Facility Operations

• Provides oversight of the operations of the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex (7 days a week, 7AM-12:AM) through leadership, innovation, collaboration, and an ability to problem-solve in a fast-paced environment
• Directly supervises three facility supervisors; Supervisor of Aquatics, Supervisor, Customer Experience, and Supervisor, Programs and Events
• Provides leadership in the commitment to customer service excellence through the prioritization of providing a positive user experience for all customers and user groups of the facility
• Serves as the primary contact and spokesperson for the facility
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with key community partners
• Takes immediate and decisive action, or supports team members in taking swift action, to address customer concerns, complaints, or incidents, ensuring resolution with a high level of empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to customer satisfaction
• Creates and fosters a positive, inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture grounded in respect, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Provides inclusive leadership to staff through emotional intelligence, curiosity, openness, collaboration, adaptability, and courage, building trust across all staff teams

Community Engagement/Stakeholder Relations

• Establishes and maintains relationships with a variety of sport user groups and organizations to enhance facility use and support the diversity of community-based priorities
• Works closely with major sport event and tournament organizers
• Serves as the facility’s ambassador, building relationships with community organizations, sports user groups, and community members

Tournament and Event Strategy/Planning

• Oversees the attraction, planning and implementation of local, provincial and national tournaments and community events
• Serves as the facility’s primary negotiator when attracting and securing bookings for potential tournaments and sports events
• Develops, in collaboration with Facility Supervisors, annual strategic plans for tournament and event planning
• Establishes and monitors partnerships with sports user groups and associations who use the facility
• Oversees the logistics and coordination of staffing, vendor management, and on-site operations for events and tournaments taking place at the facility

Finance and Administration

• Provides oversight of all capital and operating budgets and financial requirements for the facility
• Responsible for developing and monitoring the annual operating budget for the facility by forecasting expenditures, revenues, and future community needs
• Provides oversight, in collaboration with the Supervisor, Programs and Events, for all contract agreements with user groups and vendors for programs, events and tournaments taking place at the facility
• Prepares and presents reports to City Council and the City’s Corporate Leadership Team as required

RequirementsEducation

• Minimum 4-year bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management, Recreation/Sport Administration, Venue Management, Event Management, or related discipline

Experience

• 7-10 years’ experience in sport, recreation or venue management in a community facility
• 4+ years’ experience in a sport/recreation management or venue management role, Municipal or broader public sector experience preferred

Work Environment

• Will be expected to work flexible hours (outside of Mon-Fri, 9 to 5), including evenings, weekends, and holidays through a rotating schedule with the facility management team.
• Will be scheduled on rotation with facility management team to respond to emergencies outside of working hours

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience managing teams in a unionized environment, including mentoring, performance management, and ensuring exceptional customer service
• Proven experience creating and implementing a customer-focused vision and culture within a multi-sport venue and aligning staff performance to support that vision
• Experience in successful coordination and collaboration with other departments, divisions, and units to support integrated service delivery in a multi-sport venue
• Proven experience attracting, planning and managing large sporting events/tournaments
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to handle difficult situations with diplomacy and professionalism

Note: All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. In the event there is no successful applicant with the stated level of education and experience, other applicants will be considered if a combination of their education and experience meets the following pre-determined equivalency:

• 3-Year Degree/Diploma with minimum 10 years related and relevant experience, or
• 3-Year Degree, Diploma/4-Year Honours Degree and a master’s degree with minimum 4 years of related and relevant experience

Department/Division:Community Services, SportGroup: Non-Union/ManagementCompetition Number: 2025-309Job Code: 1547Number of positions: 1

Expected salary

$124418 – 155522 per year

Location

Kitchener, ON

Job date

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:29:34 GMT

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