Recreation Program Specialist

General Description

The Recreation Program Specialist is a key member of the Citrus County Parks and Recreation team, responsible for the development, coordination, and management of high-quality recreation programs, including youth and adult sports, outdoor programming, community events, camps, and facility rentals. This role involves supervising seasonal staff and volunteers, maintaining equipment and facilities, managing budgets, and promoting programming through digital and community channels. This position requires strong planning, communication, and analytical skills, along with a proactive and resourceful approach to improving program offerings and ensuring excellent customer service.

The primary schedule for this full-time position varies. This position is located at Central Citrus Community Center, Lecanto, Florida.

Essential Functions

• Design, plan, and lead recreational programs including nature and conservation, sports, arts and crafts, fitness, camps, and special events.
• Assist in developing program schedules, activity guides, and promotional materials.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness; recommend improvements based on participant feedback and performance data.
• Maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all participants.
• Assist with program registration, facility bookings, and equipment inventory.
• Maintain equipment and facilities.
• Coordinate and supervise volunteers, part-time staff, and program assistants as needed.
• Enforce rules and policies to ensure safety and program integrity.
• Collaborate with community organizations, schools, and vendors to enhance programming.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports on attendance, incidents, and supplies.
• Assists with reservations, contracts and permits for facility use
• Assists in budget planning process.
• Assists with marketing for all programs and events, and camps utilizing social media platforms and Content Management Systems (CMS).
• Administers first-aid for accidents or injuries, reports to supervisors and timely documents all accidents and injuries.
• Attend all necessary training and meetings.
• Drives and/or operates a county vehicle and equipment complying with safety policies, rules and laws.
• Performs related duties as required.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

Education, Training, and Experience

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Leisure Studies, Education, or a related field, (education may be substituted with experience).
• One to three years of experience in recreational programming or a similar role preferred.
• Six (6) months experience in event programming or coordinating preferred.
  
  

Skills And Abilities

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Excellent customer service skills, strong interpersonal and communication skills and strong attention to detail required.
• Requires ability to maintain courteous and effective relations with County staff, elected officials, community interest groups and the public.
• Proficiency in recreation software systems (e.g., RecTrac, ActiveNet), preferred.
• Must have strong working knowledge of computers and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite of Products (i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.).
  
  

Certificates, Licenses, and Registration

• Valid Florida Driver License or must obtain within 30 days of establishing residency in Florida.
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/First Aid certification or willingness to obtain upon hire.
• Must have or be able to obtain within 90 days certification in FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses:
• IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS); and
• IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
  

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Requires a combination of sitting, standing, and walking.
• The job involves frequent lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds.
• The job requires frequent bending, squatting, kneeling, and balancing, and on occasion jumping, throwing, twisting, and reaching above shoulders.
• The job requires the completion of tasks that involves frequent simple grasping, pushing, and pulling, and occasional fine manual manipulation, typing, operating foot controls/levers, and driving automotive equipment.
• The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, depth perception and color vision, hearing, and speaking.
• The job may risk exposure to adverse weather.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  
  

Emergency Response/Recovery Activities

• All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location, and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens. Emergency response duties may also include driving and/or operating a county vehicle or equipment and employees must obey all safety policies, and roadway rules and laws.
  
  

Supplemental Information

Employee Benefits at a Glance: Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, Employee Health & Wellness Center, Florida Retirement System (FRS), Basic Term Life and AD&D Insurance $20,000, Long Term Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 11 Paid Holidays, Vacation and Sick Leave. Please visit the Benefits tab of this posting for additional information and a link to the Employee Benefits Highlights booklet.

Basis of Rating: Some positions may require a written and/or skills test. Applications will be carefully reviewed to assess each individuals’ qualifications. Selected persons will be interviewed to determine who will be hired for the job. The kind and length of related work experience, training and education shown on the application will be an important consideration in the screening process.

Must successfully pass an employment reference check, criminal background check, physical examination, and drug screen. Drug screens will be in accordance with the Drug Free Workplace Act and/or the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991.

Citrus County, Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Citrus County, Florida Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), marital status, citizenship, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected trait.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the Citrus County, Florida Board of County Commissioners in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.

Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.

Pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes or the “Public Records Law,” applications, resumes and personnel records are subject to public inspections. Details regarding the “Public Records Law”/ “The Sunshine Law” / Florida Statutes and the statutory exemptions are available on websites such as the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Florida Senate and Florida Legislature. Additionally, Citrus County Board of County Commissioners Public Information section is located on our website.

The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners provides a comprehensive benefits package.

Medical Insurance - (Carrier: Florida Blue): Employee Premium is $50.00 monthly. Dependent coverage is available with bi-weekly premiums (please review detailed premiums using the link below).

• Wellness Incentive: New Hires will have the option of submitting to a nicotine test during the pre-employment physical. Those that are nicotine free will receive a $50 wellness incentive monthly applied towards their health premium costs. New hires that are not nicotine free are eligible to receive the wellness incentive once a tobacco cessation course has been completed and the Employee Health & Wellness Center is provided with a copy of their completion certificate.
  
  

Employee Health & Wellness Center: Employee Premium is $0.00 when covered under Medical Insurance. Dependent coverage is $0.00 when covered under Medical Insurance.

Dental Insurance: Employee Premium is $0.00. Dependent coverage is available with bi-weekly premiums (please review detailed premiums using the link below).

Vision Insurance: Employee and Dependent coverage is available with low monthly premiums.

Florida Retirement System: Employee contributes 3% of gross salary per pay-period. Option to choose from Pension Plan or Investment Plan. Detailed employer contributions can be found in the link below. Visit myFRS.com for more details.

Other Benefits

• Basic Term Life and AD&D Insurance $20,000
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Dependent Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Health and Dependent Care FSA
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Assistance Program
• ComPsych Programs
• Voluntary AFLAC Supplemental Insurance
• Deferred Compensation
• Paid Holidays - no waiting period
• Vacation Leave - accrues each pay period
• Sick Leave - accrues each pay period
  
  

Please note that the benefits may not apply to all constitutional offices; please refer to policies for specific information. The County's Personnel Policies, applicable Union Contracts and/or Certificate of Coverage provides detailed descriptions of all available employee benefit programs and stipulations.

For a more detailed overview of our benefit package, click here.

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Please check EACH of the 4 BOXES BELOW to confirm YOUR APPLICATION is ACCURATE AND COMPLETE. Please note: Applications with incomplete Education and/or Work History sections will not be considered. Submitting a resume without completing these sections on the application form will result in disqualification.

• Education Section
• Work History Section (Including your most RECENT employment). PLEASE BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE, but do not copy and paste job descriptions. STARTING and ENDING dates of ALL previous positions listed on this application. Current and Previous Employer information is provided in full.
• 3 Professional References
• Skills, Certifications, Additional Information Sections (Optional - but highly recommend completing)
• Required Question