CARMEL >> Starting the year without a full-time, permanent general manager, the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Board has been busy conducting a search and is close to naming a new leader to helm the organization formed to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the Monterey Peninsula.

“We are in the final stages of the process and hope to be conducting interviews by the end of the month,” said Kevin Raskoff, president of the board of directors.

Nearly six months ago, former General Manager Dr. Rafael Payan resigned effective Dec. 31, 2024, after being put on administrative leave by the Board two weeks prior. The move came after the Board voted to give notice of intent to terminate the contract of Payan for performance reasons.

The Board named administrative services manager Shuran Parker as the interim general manager.

At the time, Payan told The Herald that “MPRPD’s General Counsel and Board of Directors upheld my contract as well as other articulated agreements to provide me the opportunity to ‘cure’ any concerns the Board might have.”

But on Dec. 18, Payan said he tendered his resignation with the offer to retain his employment through the end of 2024, to help facilitate with the transition.

A hiring subcommittee was formed and has been working for many months since Payan’s departure on securing a new GM. The public advertising for the general manager’s position went out in early April with the help of Bob Murray and Associates, an executive recruitment firm. The filing deadline was May 4, 2025.

According to the advertisement for the position, the general manager serves as the chief executive officer of the District, accountable to the Board of Directors and responsible for the enforcement of all District ordinances, policies and procedures, the conduct of all financial activities and the efficient and economical performance of the District’s operations and programs.

The MPRPD is seeking a collaborative and composed team builder who is committed to developing and mentoring staff as their new General Manager, reads the description of the “ideal candidate” in the ad. The ideal candidate is an experienced parks and recreation professional with strong interpersonal skills who is an excellent written and verbal communicator, instills customer service values in the organization and fosters a system of accountability and teamwork. Candidates should be knowledgeable generalists with superior leadership and management skills and possess the highest level of personal integrity. They will be collaborative, innovative, energetic, accessible and financially and politically astute.

The annual salary range for the general manager is $166,000 to $201,774, said the ad. Placement within this range is dependent on experience and qualifications. The MPRPD also offers a benefits package including CalPERS retirement, health, dental and vision insurance, short term, long term, life, AD&D disability insurance, medical flexible spending account, dependent care flexible spending account, other voluntary supplemental coverage, deferred compensation, floater holidays, vacation, paid holidays, management leave and sick leave.

After the closing date, resumes were to be screened according to the qualifications outlined in the advertisement. The most qualified candidates will be invited to personal interviews with Bob Murray & Associates. A select group of candidates will be asked to provide references once it is anticipated that they may be recommended as finalists. References will be contacted only following candidate approval. Finalist interviews will be held with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Board of Directors.

Candidates will be advised of the status of the recruitment following the selection of the general manager.

The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District was created in November 1972. The District was entrusted to acquire lands for the express purpose of preserving open space and providing recreational opportunity, according to its website. Since then, the District has successfully protected approximately 14,000 acres of open space while maintaining balanced budgets and minimal overhead.

The District has acquired or helped to acquire a total of 24 parks and open spaces, most recently the acquisition of Palo Corona Ranch, the gateway to Big Sur.

Other parks and preserves under the MPRPD include Cachagua Community Park, Eolian Dunes Preserve, Frog Pond Wetland Preserve, Garland Ranch Regional Park/Kahn Ranch, Joyce Stevens Monterey Pine Preserve, Locke-Paddon Wetland Community Park, Marina Dunes Preserve, Mill Creek Redwood Preserve and Palo Corona Regional Park.

The District’s current boundaries cover over 500 square miles and include the seven incorporated cities on the Monterey Peninsula (Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Marina, Pacific Grove, Sand City and Seaside), Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach and the Big Sur Coast.

The District is governed by an elected Board of Directors, representing the citizens in each of five wards.