Recreation Specialist
Montgomery County Department of Recreation is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency who is seeking highly motivated career employees as Recreation Specialists to support the department’s mission to provide high quality, diverse, and accessible community-based programs, activities and services that serve the recreation and leisure needs of the Montgomery County community. The department manages 39 facilities including recreation centers, senior centers, and indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities and provides thousands of programs such as out-of-school activities, aquatics, classes, youth and adult sports programs and leagues, senior programs, and therapeutic recreation.
The Department is seeking dynamic and experienced full-time Recreation Specialists, whose creativity and knowledge can be demonstrated in a wide range of services. Recreation Specialists serve as program, activities and/or facilities leaders, providing direct services in the areas listed below. Candidates will be asked to select which program area(s) they would like to be considered for when submitting their application.
Aquatic Centers and Programs: facility operations for an assigned indoor/outdoor pool, including staffing, maintenance, water treatment; ordering chemicals and supplies; scheduling swim lessons, team trainings, organizing swim meets and other special events; registrations, and financial activities. Aquatics staff must have required certifications (including – but not limited to – Valid Montgomery County Pool Operator’s License, Lifeguard Training, Lifeguard Training Instructor, CPR, First Aid, and Automated External Defibrillation (AED)).
Sports and other Countywide Programs: sports leagues, programs, initiatives, and/or large-scale special events held on evenings and weekends, as well as classes and enrichment activities designed to attract and engage diverse groups of youth and adults; staffing, registrations, and financial activities.
Community, Neighborhood, and Senior Centers and Programs: facility operations for community, neighborhood, or senior centers, maintenance, and scheduled improvements; developing, planning, and scheduling activities; staffing, registrations, and financial activities.
Public Engagement, Outreach and Events: direct outreach and liaison with residents and organizations to identify areas of interest, plan, coordinate and deliver neighborhood-based programs and services.
Out-of-School Time and Youth Development Activities and Programs: school-based and/or community-based afterschool programs and special events; academic and cultural enrichment programs and services; and social-emotional and other developmental activities; staffing, registrations, and financial activities.
Successful candidates will have experience and demonstrated abilities in:
-developing, promoting, publicizing, scheduling, coordinating, evaluating and implementing programs with a focus on positive youth development;
-identifying trends in recreation and youth development and initiate or modify programs based on data and other analyses to meet community needs; -establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, including the flexibility and adaptability to work in a variety of situations that are changing and/or have competing priorities;
-preparing detailed reports and data to justify and support program design and decision-making; preparing and tracking complex program budgets accurately and assure programs operate within the approved budget.
Selections will be made based on the breadth of candidates’ skills and experience in:
-preparing program plans based on priorities established for serving the needs of a demographically diverse community;
-recruiting, developing, supervising, and retaining a diverse seasonal workforce;
-demonstrating professional courtesy to community members, recreation staff and others who may be encountered through work;
-providing program and organizational support needed to adapt to changing needs of participants in the youth development services.
As a leader/organizer of unionized employees, these positions have responsibility for:
-fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation;
-maintaining stability of seasonal employees by modeling desired behaviors through consistent and positive work ethic, and by advocating on behalf of the management team; and
-motivating and providing direction and guidance to employees through clear articulation of work projects, goals and related services.
Important Things to Know:
-The selected candidates will be required to complete a background investigation and a medical exam with drug/alcohol screen prior to appointment.
-These positions WILL require work during non- traditional hours to include early mornings, evenings/nights, weekends, and holidays; MAY require work that involves physical demands, occasionally working outdoors in varying weather and extreme temperatures; and the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside of an assigned facility.
-To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, incumbents are responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.
To apply for this job please visit ex12.montgomerycountymd.gov.