Manager of Program and Events

ABOUT US

The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.

The “Values, We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.

We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Program and Event Manager is a key member of the Recreation and Culture leadership team, responsible for strategically planning, guiding, and evaluating programs and events that enrich community life. These initiatives and services may take place in City-owned facilities, open spaces, or with partners and in other venues.

Providing leadership and oversight to program and event staff through clear standards and priorities, the Manager ensures high-quality recreation, sport, arts, culture, and community events that align with community needs and corporate priorities. Acting as the City’s liaison with internal teams and external partners, this role provides strategic direction in program development to address service gaps and emerging opportunities. This position also provides leadership and oversight to community-initiated special events, related processes and permitting.

Active engagement in regional networks and industry trends is essential to guide innovation and maintain excellence in program delivery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership
- Interpret and contribute to corporate, divisional, and departmental business plans, providing strategic direction to staff, community organizations, and contracted partners.
- Provide information, referral, and advocacy services related to sport, recreation, arts, culture, and other community needs and initiatives.
- Determine priorities with staff and leadership, delegating work activities and tasks to ensure effective delivery.
- Oversee and coordinate larger program and event projects.
- Leverage and align resources to address areas of greatest community and organizational need.
- Assess the applicability of proposed initiatives and services within the corporate service delivery model.
- Recommend policy changes related to service levels and program direction.
- Actively participate as a member of the Recreation and Culture Leadership Team informing department priorities and planning.
- Serve as a conduit of corporate directions, priorities, and processes to staff working directly with the community.
- Direct the development and implementation of plans, policies, procedures, projects, and initiatives to address corporate, community, facility, and public safety needs.
- Participate in interdepartmental planning to maintain, operate, and develop neighbourhood facilities that align with community needs.
- Build and sustain strong relationships with stakeholders and delivery partners, including sport, recreation, arts, culture, businesses, not-for-profits, and school boards.
- Advocate for the benefits and outcomes of programming and events across areas such as performing and visual arts, diversity, inclusion, equity, recreation, sport, wellness, and community events.
- Lead and provide oversight for the corporate Program Policy and related tools that guide program development and delivery.
- Provide leadership and oversight to community-initiated special events, related processes and permitting.
- Establish effective working relationships with City staff across departments.
- Contribute to long-term planning and development of community spaces, programs, services, and events with a recreation and culture perspective.
- Provide strategic advice to supervisors, leadership teams, and senior management on emerging issues, opportunities, and needs in recreation and culture.
- Identify major departmental issues or opportunities and recommend studies or reviews to address them.
- Analyze and improve operational work processes to enhance workflow and service delivery.
- Review and draft policies and procedures related to program delivery.

Supervision
- Hire, supervise, coach, and mentor program and event staff, and where appropriate, volunteers, in alignment with corporate and departmental standards.
- Manage daily operations of the Program and Events Section, setting goals, making staffing decisions, and fostering a culture of teamwork and accountability.
- Provide ongoing coaching, training, and professional development opportunities to staff through performance management, individual development plans, and access to seminars, courses, and conferences.
- Conduct regular team meetings to strengthen communication, share best practices, resolve issues, and enhance collaboration.