FRPA Career Map

This is the highest level within an organization within the field.  At this level, one is setting the vision and strategy for the entire organization; responsible for overall performance, culture, image, and governance.  Individuals at this level are providing transformational leadership at the highest level.  Decision-Making and Impact include making transformational decisions; creating legacy facilities and initiatives; fully accountable for mission, sustainability, and stakeholder value.  This is the EXPERTISE stage of one’s journey – recognized authority with deep mastery, strategic leadership, and a commitment to mentoring and innovation.

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Communications, Public Relations & Marketing 
Critical Thinking & Decision Making
 Data Analysis & Research 
Financial Management
Interpersonal
Leadership
Natural & Cultural Resource Management
Organizational Design
 Planning (Operational)
Planning (Strategic, Master, Comprehensive & Asset Management)
Policy Compliance
Program/Event Management
Project Coordination/Management
Relationship Building
Resource Management 
Risk Management & Safety
 Supervision & Oversight
Technology
Audience – This is the usual group of people with which an individual at the specified responsibility level will interact. The interaction may take many forms; who you communicate with, who you influence, and who you serve.
Focus – What the interaction is about in the moment.  Think of it as what needs to occur if one is to achieve the goal.
Tools – These are resources that an individual at this responsibility level may access or deploy to interact with the specified audience. 
Goal – This is an indicator of what the intended outcome of the audience interaction is.
Development Guide - This section lists examples of where an individual can gain education, knowledge and experience in the skill areas that will aid in mastering a skill and preparing one to move to the next level of skill and/or responsibility level.

COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING 
Skills 

  • Inspirational communication to set tone and culture
  • Communicate long-term vision and purpose clearly and compellingly
  • Represent the organization to the public, investors, media
  • Manage high-stakes or politically sensitive conversations
  • Represent organization publicly and in legislative forums
  • Build coalitions and strategic partnerships
  • Advocacy for policy, funding, and community support
  • Innovate in communications and public engagement
  • Represent organization in public and media forums
  • Guide innovation in marketing approaches and technologies
  • Advocate for organizational priorities through campaigns

Development Guide

  • Develop and host public relations strategy sessions
  • Represent organization publicly and in political arenas
  • Lead advocacy campaigns and influence public policy
  • Executive keynote coaching
  • Attend vision communication trainings
  • Culture storytelling workshops
  • Drive innovation in public engagement and communications
  • Champion organizational vision through marketing and advocacy

Tools 

Commission Presentations and Public Speaking, Shareholder Communications, Strategic Announcements; Advocacy Platforms, Large-Scale Media Campaigns and Media Interviews

Audience:  Commission, Regional/State/National Stakeholders, Funders, Regulators, Legislative Bodies, Media, Entire Organization

Focus:  Visionary leadership; public messaging; organizational culture; shape strategic advocacy through public relations; champion organizational vision through strategic marketing and advocacy

Goal:  Shape the organization's identity and future through powerful, visible leadership, position parks and recreation as essential community assets, secure sustainable support and funding

 

SUPERVISION & OVERSIGHT  
Skills 

  • Visionary leadership
  • Systems thinking
  • Public representation and media engagement
  • Ethical leadership and governance
  • Crisis leadership and sustainability planning
  • Strategic foresight
  • Cultural awareness

Development Guide

  • Participate in executive roundtables and think tanks
  • Participate in global leadership programs
  • Attend stakeholder relations and media training
  • Conduct Long-term strategy training sessions

Tools

Organizational-wide Systems, Performance Metrics Reports, Stakeholder and Partner Materials

Audience: Commission, Entire Organization

Focus:  Vision; culture; and long-term sustainability

Goal: Set vision, build culture, steer the organization in an evolving environment, ensure legacy and resilience

 

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PROGRAM/EVENT MANAGEMENT 
Skills 

  • Utilize organizational program/project/event scorecards
  • Develop strategy to execute program/project/event alignment
  • Public program/project/event reports and stakeholder engagement

Development Guide

  • Utilize strategic alignment maps
  • Utilize public impact reports

Tools

Strategic Visioning and Public Branding Campaigns, Long-term Capital and Service Planning, National Accreditation Tools, State/Federal Legislative Tracking

Audience: Commission, Stakeholders and Partners, Government Officials, Public

Focus:  Visionary leadership for transformational programs/projects/events/initiatives and organizational impact

Goal: Position organization for long-term success, champion innovation and impact, cultivate public trust and support 

LEADERSHIP 
Skills 

  • Participate in inspirational vision casting
  • Build high-impact networks and partnerships
  • Advocate and represent the organization publicly
  • Ethical leadership and culture shaping
  • Lead major transformation initiatives

Development Guide

  • Lead public forums and advocacy campaigns
  • Participate in executive leadership and governance retreats
  • Build and nurture funding partnerships 
  • Manage organizational crisis and reputation

Tools

Strategic Communication Tools, Public Relations Platforms

Audience: Commission, Partners, Partners and Stakeholders, Community, Public

Focus: Set organizational vision and legacy

Goal: Ensure long-term sustainability, amplify organizational impact, leave lasting legacy

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RELATIONSHIP BUILDING 
Skills 

  • Inspirational relationship building
  • Coalition and partnership development at scale
  • Public advocacy and diplomacy
  • Lead community trust and organizational reputation
  • Crisis leadership and communication

Development Guide

  • Lead public forums and advocacy campaigns
  • Engage with media and public officials regularly
  • Lead department leadership retreats and executive development sessions
  • Build fundraising and partnership coalitions

Tools

Public Relations Platforms, Stakeholder/Partner Management Systems

Audience: Commission, Public Officials, Media, Broader Community, Elected Leaders at State and National Level

Focus: Build visionary and advocacy driven relationships

Goal: Enhance organizational impact, mobilize community support, building organizational legacy

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 
Skills 

  • Champion strategic financial communications and public trust through transparent reporting and accountability.
  • Promote a culture of accountability and prevent financial misuse or fraud
  • Oversee strategic sourcing, resource stewardship, and innovation in procurement practices
  • Lead organization-wide cost recovery and pricing strategy development
  • Champion agency-wide financial resilience through strategic crisis planning and recovery leadership

Development Guide

  • Engage in leadership and advocacy programs for agency budget priorities
  • Build relationships with funders and financial partners
  • Lead strategic planning for sustainable funding and financial legacy
  • Oversee crisis financial management and recovery planning
  • Engage with public, government, and private sector financial stakeholders
  • Benchmark long-term financial strategies with peer agencies

Tools

Strategic Budgeting & Frameworks, Fundraising Platforms/CRM, Public Financial Reporting Systems

Audience: Commission, Investors, Partners, Elected Officials, Government Regulators, Public

Focus: Visionary financial leadership and resource stewardship aligned with mission, growth and budget

Goal: Secure long-term financial sustainability and viability; lead innovation and legacy-building initiatives that enhance public trust

 

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TECHNOLOGY  
Skills 

  • Advocate for technology-driven transformation and digital equity
  • Engage with policy makers and community on technology-related initiatives
  • Foster culture embracing innovation and continuous learning
  • Guide large-scale technology partnerships and collaborations

Development Guide

  • Drive technology vision and digital equity initiatives
  • Engage with policy makers and community on tech issues
  • Foster innovation and a continuous tech learning culture
  • Lead large-scale technology partnerships and initiatives

Tools

Strategic Foresight, Digital Innovation Labs, Public-Private Partnership Frameworks

Audience: Commission, Government Leaders and Regulators, Public-Private Partners

Focus: Shape technology vision to drive leadership and innovation

Goal: Position parks and recreation as a leader in technology-enables services and community engagement

 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT  
Skills 

  • Advocate for funding and legislative support
  • Lead public-private partnerships for shared resources
  • Influence regional or national resource management standards
  • Guide system-wide reinvestment strategies

Development Guide

  • Engage with legislative and public finance policy forums
  • Lead/attend cross-jurisdictional collaborations
  • Lead interagency collaborations

Tools

Legislative Analysis Tools, Community Equity Indices, National Benchmarking Data

Audience: Public, Policy Makers, National Partners, Funders

Focus: Champion visionary, sustainable, and equitable resource use at the highest level

Goal: Embed sustainability and equity in systems, secure funding, lead industry innovation

 

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NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 
Skills 

  • Shape legislative and land-use policy
  • Lead multiple partner coalitions for conservation
  • Represent the organization in state/national environmental planning
  • Foster climate adaptation and green equity initiatives
  • Set organization-wide policy for cultural resource protection and interpretation
  • Champion cultural inclusion and heritage in organizational values
  • Secure legislative and public support for preservation initiatives
  • Build long-term partnerships with cultural communities and leaders

Development Guide

  • Lead cross-sector collaboratives in health, housing and the environment
  • Shape organizational culture around inclusive heritage stewardship
  • Foster relationships with indigenous governments and underrepresented communities
  • Present organization's natural resource management best practices at workshops and conferences
  • Join boards for climate resilience or land conservation
  • Speak publicly about the organization's cultural resource management legacy and future
  • Advance innovative policy or funding models that center cultural sustainability

Tools

National Metrics and Benchmarking, Strategic Communications and Advocacy Tools, Climate and Equity Indices, Policy Frameworks and Legislative Agendas, Cultural Equity Audits and Reports, Strategic Investment Tools

Audience: Jurisdictional Leaders, Legislators, National and International Cultural Leaders, Philanthropic Investors, Public, Cultural Policy Makers and Advocacy Groups

Focus: Influence national and regional environmental policy and innovation; vision setting, policy leadership, and institutional culture change

Goal:  Lead at the intersection of parks, climate, and community; embed nature-based solutions in urban development; elevate the role of parks in environmental resilience, champion cultural stewardship and justice as core to the organization's identify, build national or international leadership in cultural preservation, secure long-term investments and legislative protections, ensure inclusion of historically marginalized narratives

 RISK MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY 
Skills 

  • Advocate ethical risk management and accountability by setting and communicating safety vision and expectations
  • Approve large-scale policies tied to compliance and risk, including industry standards and regulatory policy
  • Represent organization in public risk and safety forums, and engage with cross-jurisdictional officials and the public during crises
  • Lead transformational risk initiatives
  • Advocate for funding to support safety infrastructure
  • Foster innovation in risk mitigation

Development Guide

  • Lead public advocacy and policy engagement
  • Engage with industry coalitions and leadership networks
  • Promote innovation is risk mitigation practices
  • Strategic communication management for emergency events
  • Policy setting workshops with legal counsel and risk management
  • Community-wide briefing simulations
  • Legislative briefing simulations

Tools

Strategic Communication Tools, Safety Performance Scorecards, Cross-Jurisdictional Public Safety Briefings, Legislative Compliance Reports, Emergency Public Communication Plans, Public Safety Briefings

Audience:  Commission, Executive Leadership, Jurisdictional Management, Industry Peers, Unions, Legislative Bodies, Media, Public, Regulators

Focus: Champion safety of personnel and public; foster a risk aware culture and visionary risk leadership; champion transparency and ethical application of policies

Goal: Embed risk management in organizational DNA; build public trust through accountability and transparency; ensure organizational readiness for crises, audits and litigation; protect long-term reputational and organizational integrity; shape industry best practices 

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POLICY COMPLIANCE  
Skills 

  • Shape and approve policy aligned with organizational mission and the law
  • Navigate political, legal, and public accountability
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
  • Lead organizational ethics and culture

Development Guide

  • Attend executive policy governance training
  • Attend policy leadership roundtables
  • Attend legislative engagement workshops
  • Strategic compliance score cards

Tools

Strategic Policy Frameworks, Public reporting Tools, Legislative Briefings

Audience:  Government Bodies, Public/Media, Commission, Executive Peers

Focus:  Policy leadership, advocacy, and accountability to the public

Goal:  Uphold public trust and legal standing, lead equitable and transparent governance, align organizational conduct with public expectations

PLANNING (OPERATIONAL) 
Skills 

  • Set vision and policy for future services and infrastructure
  • Represent the department in regional/state planning forums
  • Lead cross-jurisdictional wide or regional planning initiatives 
  • Advocate for legislative and capital support

Development Guide

  • Participate in national planning and policy conferences
  • Lead interagency and public-private partnership initiatives
  • Oversee the development of plans and equity frameworks

Tools

Planning Documents, Equity Frameworks and Policy Guides

Audience: Institutionalize Inclusive Planning

Focus: Shape the vision, policy, and operational planning direction at the organizational level

Goal:  Public Officials, Advocacy Groups, Community Coalitions, National Partners, Jurisdictional Leadership

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PLANNING (STRATEGIC, MASTER, COMPREHENSIVE AND ASSET MANAGEMENT)  
Skills 

  • Shape and champion visionary strategic and master plans
  • Lead cross-jurisdictional and cross-industry partnerships
  • Drive innovation in asset management and sustainability
  • Advocate for funding and legislative support

Development Guide

  • Ensure compliance with comprehensive plan components of a legal nature
  • Set vision and policy for organizational plans and asset stewardship
  • Lead plans for multi-jurisdictional partnerships and plans
  • Lead public/private partnership initiatives
  • Advocate for integrating funding and innovation into organizational plans

Tools

Regional Planning Platforms, Policy Advocacy Tools, National Benchmarking and Accreditation Resources 

Audience: Commission, Elected Officials, Community Leaders, Regional Agencies, Funders

Focus:  Set vision and policy for comprehensive, master, and asset management planning at the organizational and regional level; build coalitions to support long-term investments; lead industry contributions to community building, health, environmental protection and resilience, economic impact, and equity outcomes

Goal: Position parks as leaders in sustainable, equitable, and innovative planning and asset stewardship; Ensure fiscal sustainability

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH 
Skills 

  • Advocate for data ethics and transparency
  • Lead transformational data initiatives
  • Represent the organization in data policy forums
  • Foster innovation in data use and analytics
  • Influence industry research standards

Development Guide

  • Use data to guide major investments and partnerships, as well as advocacy efforts
  • Advocate for data literacy across the organization
  • Engage with academic partners on longitudinal studies
  • Promote ethical and strategic use of data
  • Convene leadership panels on equity, sustainability and smart data

Tools

Strategic Communication Platforms, Industry Research Consortia, Public Advocacy Tools

Audience: Commission, Industry Peers, Public, Regulatory Bodies

Focus: Champion data-driven culture and strategic research leadership

Goal: Embed data-driven decision-making, shape industry best practices, and build public trust

 

 

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PROJECT COORDINATION / MANAGEMENT (Projects/Grants/Contracts) 
Skills 

  • Recognize types and purposes of projects/grants/contracts

  • Follow project/grant/contract deadlines
  • Maintain accurate records of grants, contracts, MOUs, financial data
  • Communicate clearly with team and supervisors
  • Support reporting for projects/grants/contracts 

Development Guide

  • Participate in workshops on project tracking and documentation
  • Shadow experience coordinators during grant and contract processes
  • Practice clear communication and following protocols
  • Learn to use basic project management tools (calendars, document systems)
  • Attend introductory training on grant types and processes, and general project coordination
  • Assist in organizing and filing project/grant/project documentation
  • Shadow grant coordinators and/or project coordinators during application cycles
  • Attend training on  contract terminology and components
  • Assist with contract filing and tracking deadlines
  • Learn organizational policies and procedures
  • Shadow experienced contract administrators

Tools

Project/Grant/Contract Management Templates, Calendars, Basic Document Management Systems, Grant Funder Databases, Calendars

Audience:  Supervisors, Project Teams, Vendors

Focus:  Understand basics of project/grant/contract coordination and documentation

Goal:  Build foundational knowledge, ensure timely and accurate coordination of assigned project/grant/contract elements

 

CRITICAL THINKING AND DECISION MAKING  
Skills 

  • Lead visionary and transformational decision-making
  • Navigate political, social, and economic complexities
  • Makes transformational decisions
  • Full accountability for mission, sustainability, and stakeholder value
  • Influence policy and public perception, and industry trends
  • Foster a culture of critical thinking and innovation

Development Guide

  • Plan and conduct visionary and transformational decision-making
  • Participate in local political and legislative forums
  • Align with appropriate industry and community organizations to achieve mutual success
  • Cultivate organizational culture; promoting critical thinking and innovation

Tools

Strategic Foresight Tools, Policy Analysis Platforms, Leadership Development Programs

Audience: Commission, Cross-Jurisdictional Leadership, Jurisdictional Management, Community, Media

Focus: Shape vision and make decisions guiding the entire organization

Goal: Secure long-term organizational success and community benefit, inspire industry leadership

 

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INTERPERSONAL 
Skills 

  • Inspirational storytelling and vision casting
  • Build broad coalitions and networks
  • Advocate for the organization publicly
  • Lead with empathy and authenticity
  • Crisis communication and reputation management

Development Guide

  • Lead public forums and media engagements
  • Build and maintain high-level partnerships
  • Manage crisis communication and reputation management
  • Participate in leadership retreats

Tools

Media and Public Relations Tools, Leadership Retreats, Stakeholder Engagement Platforms

Audience: Commission, Cross-Jurisdictional Leaders, Elected Officials, Media, Community

Focus: Visionary interpersonal leadership and advocacy

Goal: Build organizational legacy, enhance public trust, mobilize community support

 

  

ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
Skills 

  • Define long-term organizational design and culture vision
  • Lead innovation in structure to support future growth
  • Drive governance and policy for organizational health
  • Build resilient and inclusive organizational models 
  • Champion workforce development to meet future expectations and industry trends

Development Guide

  • Define and communicate long-term organizational vision and culture
  • Lead innovation in organizational architecture to support growth and inclusion
  • Engage commission and stakeholders in organizational design and planning
  • Develop governance policies for organizational health and resilience

Tools

Strategic Planning Software, Advanced Analytics, Leadership Forums, Workforce Planning Platforms, Employee Engagement Analysis, Benchmarking Tools

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Audience: Executive Leadership, Jurisdictional Management, HR Partners, All Employees

Focus: Shape vision and culture through organizational architecture

Goal: Sustain organizational health, drive innovation and inclusion

 

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