CPRS Job Listing

The Community Services Director position is well suited for a visionary and innovative leader.  The position provides leadership and works with managers to develop, maintain, implement, and monitor long term plans, goals, and objectives focused on achieving the City's mission and Council priorities. The Director will be responsible for the supervision of five managers from the aforementioned divisions with an annual operating budget of approximately $26 million, a capital budget of approximately $6.6 million, and a staff of 249.

The Community Services Director is a Department Head, executive position charged with administrative, managerial, supervisory, and professional duties in directing the City's Departmental functions which include: Cultural and Recreation activities and programs; operation and maintenance of Parks and Recreational facilities; operation of the Rangers, Animal Control, and Coyote Management programs; and the operation of the Municipal Library System.

For a full a job description, click here.

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is public service oriented, able to work with all groups and interests in the City and the community, and has a strong background demonstrating superior supervisory and management skills.

As a vibrant community committed to excellence, Torrance needs a strategic and self-motivated leader committed to creating a shared vision and strategy, executing their vision and strategy all the way through completion, and developing the leadership potential in others for operational efficiency by improving performance through consistent feedback and coaching. The City also seeks to hire someone who understands and is responsive to the community's needs. The successful candidate will have experience with municipal management, employee relations in a unionized environment, political sensitivity, operating in a fiscally constrained environment, as well as seeking, obtaining and managing grants; they will have knowledge of current public services trends and forecasts, be active in professional growth, and have steadfast integrity.

This candidate will have a proven track record of building and maintaining effective working relationships with coworkers (peers and subordinates), elected officials, citizens, and contractors. As a member of the Executive Management Team, the Community Services Director will collaborate with team members to achieve the City's short and long-term goals.

Education and Experience
Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of obtaining the necessary knowledge and abilities would be:

Bachelor’s Degree in Public or Business Administration, or relevant to operations specific to the Community Services Department; and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience managing or administering cultural, recreational or library programs, services and projects; or managing or administering the maintenance and/or construction of City parks landscaped areas, park equipment and facilities; or managing or administering a major library division.
 
Master’s degree in Public or Business Administration or relevant to operations specific to the Community Services Department is desirable.

License and Certificates
Must possess and maintain a valid California Class C Drivers’ License.

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire at www.TorranceCA.Gov/Jobs. Application submission will be accepted on a continuous basis until the position is filled. First review of applications will be those received by October 28, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.  If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the recruitment may close at that time.

Only those candidates who best meet the City and Department's needs will be invited to participate in the examination process, which will consist of the following component:

Panel Interview: Weighted 100% (Tentatively scheduled on November 6, 2025.)
Department Interview: (Tentatively scheduled for the week of November 10, 2025.)

The tentative test dates will be based on a sufficient number of qualified applications received by the first review date. If a sufficient number of applications are not received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the test date may change to a later date.