CPRS Job Listing

Bring your events expertise to some of Santa Barbara’s most beautiful venues. 

 

The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is seeking an experienced, customer-focused professional to serve as its Venues and Events Supervisor.  This position plays a key role in the operation and success of the City’s celebrated portfolio of iconic public buildings and outdoor spaces, including the historic Cabrillo Pavilion as well as many others. 

 

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, enjoy helping people celebrate life’s milestone moments or host professional gatherings in unforgettable locations, we invite you to apply. 

 

Read more about the Parks and Recreation Department here.

 

THE POSITION

The Venues and Events Supervisor is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of private event rentals in City-owned parks, facilities and picnic sites, with an emphasis on weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, and other private or corporate functions and gatherings. This position ensures a high-quality experience for clients and guests while protecting the integrity of Santa Barbara’s historic and natural assets. 

 

Working closely with internal departments, external vendors, and the public, the Supervisor oversees venue scheduling, permitting, staffing, and on-site logistics at venues such as the Cabrillo Pavilion, Carrillo Recreation Center, and Carousel House. The role requires excellent judgment, strong interpersonal skills, and a proactive approach to solving problems while upholding the character and purpose of public spaces. 

 

Key Responsibilities 

• Serve as the team supervisor for a small group of staff in the program assisting clients renting City venues for private events, from initial inquiry through post-event follow-up.
• Coordinate and oversee the logistics of multiple events per week, including weddings, business meetings, retreats, and celebrations, ensuring compliance with City regulations and site-specific rules.
• Recruit, hire and supervise full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff, including scheduling, training, and oversight of performance.
• Maintain the Department’s event calendar, develop and approve event permits, and ensure accurate use of reservation and facility management software.
• Conduct site visits and pre-event meetings; develop site-specific event plans including setup diagrams and contingency planning.
• Serve as the facility supervisor over venues, conducting inspections, coordinating maintenance tasks, and ensuring preventative efforts are met for maintaining facility quality.
• Collaborate with Parks and Public Works Maintenance, Waterfront, Police, Fire, and other City departments to support safe and successful events.
• Oversee events at key facilities such as the Cabrillo Pavilion and Carrillo Recreation Center, as well as outdoor park and picnic spaces.
• Assist with marketing and promotion of venue rentals, including updates to web and print materials and outreach to local event professionals and business organizations.
• Manage budgets related to the venues and events program; project and track revenues and expenses as well as contribute to fee-setting and policy development.
• Respond to client and community feedback with professionalism and accountability. 

 

Ideal Candidate 

• Extensive experience in event coordination or venue oversight, preferably in a public, historic, or outdoor setting.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
• A high level of customer service and the diplomacy needed to work with clients, vendors, business representatives, and City personnel.
• Knowledge of event logistics, public safety, and facility operations.
• Experience supervising staff or contractors in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with permitting, budgeting, and administrative processes in a public agency.
• An understanding of how to balance commercial and private event needs with public access to community spaces.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus. 

 

WORK SCHEDULE: This position may be required to work occasional evening and weekends depending on event scale and schedules. Some holidays may also be required. Flexibility to support early-morning and daytime business functions is also essential. 

 

PAYROLL TITLE: Senior Recreation Supervisor

 

BENEFITS: 

To view our benefits page click here.

 

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

 

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of parks and recreation programs.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of parks and recreation program development and administration.
• Principles of budget preparation and control.
• Principles and practices of facilities management.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles of business letter writing and professional report preparation.
• Recent developments, current literature and sources of information related to recreation planning and administration.
• Procurement practices related to equipment and supplies.
• Marketing theories, principles and practices and their application to a wide variety of venue rentals and event services.
• Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.

 

Ability to:

• Supervise, organize and review the work of professional, technical and clerical personnel.
• Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff.
• Interpret and explain city policies and procedures related to parks and recreation programs.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer.
• Research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives and practices for providing effective and efficient recreation programs.
• Elicit community and organizational support for parks and recreation programs; present material to the general public.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception

 

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

 

Experience:

Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience event coordination, facility rentals, or related fields, including three (3) years of lead or supervisory responsibility.

 

Education and/or Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in recreation administration, communications, public administration, or a related field.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

 

It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed, and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.  

 

The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Parks and Recreation Department.

 

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application.  Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

 

CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025.

 

 

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

The City of Santa Barbara is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, or other factors. We believe in fostering an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected and empowered. 

Applications must be submitted through the City's job page: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/santabarbara/jobs/4971872/venues-and-events-supervisor?page=2&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs