Recreation Specialist

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

~Assists with the development and implementation of recreation programs by identifying community needs, aligning offerings with industry standards, and supporting cost-effective programs that meet departmental and organizational goals.
~Supports the coordination and delivery of public and private special events by assisting with scheduling, setup/takedown, on-site operations, and customer service to ensure successful and well-managed events.
~Assists with daily facility operations by ensuring frontline staff have the training, resources, and equipment needed to process registrations, reservations, payments, and refunds, and by helping resolve customer service issues.
~Assists with the daily operations of Tree Top Quest by ensuring staff understand and follow established guidelines and protocols in order to ensure a safe experience by guests.
~Supports the safe operation of recreation amenities or attractions by ensuring staff follow established guidelines, safety protocols, and operational procedures to provide a positive guest experience.
~Provides instruction, guidance, and supervision to participants during programs and activities, ensuring a safe, engaging, and enjoyable experience for all ages and abilities.
~Assists with evaluating program effectiveness and participant satisfaction, recommending improvements, and contributing to the development of marketing and promotional materials to support participation.
~Monitors, inventories, and maintains equipment, materials, and supplies needed for recreation programs, events, and facility operations.
~Stays informed about current recreation trends and best practices, incorporating new ideas, innovations, and opportunities into program offerings.
~In the absence of senior staff, supervises part-time and seasonal employees, assisting with recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance support to ensure safe and effective program and facility operations.
~Conducts routine facility, trail, or site inspections and performs light maintenance or reporting to ensure recreation areas remain safe, accessible, and well-maintained.
~Provides administrative support by completing required documentation such as financial records, attendance logs, incident/accident reports, maintenance requests, and payroll-related information.
~Collaborates with other recreation and parks staff to support department-wide programs, services, and initiatives.

REQUIREMENTS/PREFERENCES

Education:
Required: High School Degree or equivalent.
Preferred: Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in recreation or related field, or equivalent experience and education.

Experience:
Required: One (1) year experience in recreation programming and supervision.
Preferred: Three (3) or more years of recreation experience.

Certifications/Licenses:
Required: Valid Virginia driver’s license with good driving record.
Preferred: Current CPR, First Aid and AED certification or ability to obtain.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
General knowledge of the principles, practices and methods of community recreation program delivery. General knowledge of community recreational needs. General knowledge of marketing methods as applied to recreation services. Some knowledge of basic accounting practices. Ability to plan, schedule and coordinate recreation programs. Ability to plan and supervise the work of others. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees, customers and the general public. Effective communication skills both verbally and in writing to a wide variety of staff and customer. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Ability to develop and implement recreation programs for all ages. Skilled in the use of standard computer software. Ability to learn and effectively use new software programs. Awareness of risk management issues as related to the delivery of recreation services. Ability to analyze programs and evaluate performance against established objectives. Ability to work outdoors in a wide range of environments including rain, snow, wind, cold, and heat.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
Assists with the supervision of part time staff and volunteers.

Additional Requirements:
Subject to a complete criminal history and Child Protective Services background search with acceptable results. Must be able to perform the job as described in the Physical and Environmental Demands section of this job description. May be subject to DMV driving record review as required by amount of work related driving, specified by support responsibilities. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and some holidays.