ASSISTANT PARK MANAGER

Arizona Department of Administration • Patagonia, AZ

2d • $22 - $25 • Onsite

About The Position

This Assistant Manager position serves as the on-site supervisor and operational lead for San Rafael State Natural Area and Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, with Patagonia Lake State Park as the home base and reporting location. Operating under the general supervision of the Patagonia Lake State Park Manger III, this position is responsible for the day-to-day operations, resource stewardship, interpretive programming, and partner relations across two ecologically significant natural areas in the Santa Cruz River watershed. This position also provides supervision and operational support at Patagonia Lake as needed, contributing to the broader success of the cluster. Travel between sites is a regular and expected component of this role.

Requirements

• Knowledge of: Principles and practices of park operations and resource management; natural area stewardship including riparian and grassland ecosystems; Arizona State Parks policies, procedures, and operational standards; budget monitoring and reporting; partner and community relations management; interpretive program development and delivery; staff supervision, training, and performance management; law enforcement principles and public safety practices; facility maintenance planning; and applicable Arizona administrative rules and statutes.
• Skill in: Verbal and written communication; active listening and relationship-building with diverse partner and community groups; public speaking and interpretive presentation; volunteer recruitment, coordination, and recognition; Friends group cultivation and community outreach; staff supervision and team leadership; project planning and multi-site coordination; budget tracking and reporting; and problem-solving in dynamic, field-based environments.
• Ability to: Manage operations across geographically separate sites with independent judgment and minimal supervision; build and sustain effective working relationships with sensitive and long-established partner groups; navigate community dynamics with cultural awareness and professionalism; lead and develop staff and volunteers; respond to emergencies and visitor incidents per established protocols; and represent Arizona State Parks effectively across a wide range of stakeholder and public interactions.
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid Arizona driver's license appropriate to the assignment at time of appointment.
• Regular travel between San Rafael, Sonoita Creek, and Patagonia Lake is required.
• CPR/First Aid/AED.

Nice To Haves

• EMT and or Law Enforcement Officer preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations at San Rafael State Natural Area, including facility oversight, visitor safety, rule enforcement, maintenance coordination, and resource protection across the native grassland prairie and riparian corridor.
• Serve as the agency's primary relationship manager for the Friends of San Rafael Valley, approaching that partnership with consistency, cultural awareness, and genuine respect for the community's long history with the land.
• Coordinate with the Friends group on events, access, shared planning, and stewardship priorities.
• Represent Arizona State Parks professionally in all community interactions connected to the San Rafael Valley.
• Manage daily operations at Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, a nearly 10,000-acre riparian and upland preserve supporting exceptional biodiversity, including 106 identified bird species, federally listed Gila Top-minnow, and one of the state's highest concentrations of butterfly species.
• Coordinate patrol, visitor access, primitive camping administration, trail system oversight, and resource monitoring.
• Ensure the natural area's ecological integrity is protected through operational decisions, visitor education, and ongoing coordination with Patagonia Lake staff on shared infrastructure and entrance fee processing.
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver interpretive programs across San Rafael and Sonoita Creek that connect visitors to the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of each site.
• Programs may include birding walks and events, grassland and riparian ecology programming, ranch heritage interpretation at San Rafael, and school or community outreach.
• Evaluate program quality regularly and adapt content to seasonal conditions, audience needs, and partner priorities.
• Serve as the primary agency contact for existing partner organizations, including the Friends of San Rafael Valley, while actively building community relationships around Sonoita Creek, including outreach to the Rio Rico area and support for the development of a future Friends of Sonoita Creek.
• Recruit, coordinate, and recognize volunteers and work crews for trail maintenance, habitat projects, and stewardship programs across both natural areas.
• Provide managerial and operational support at Patagonia Lake State Park as directed by the Park Manager III.
• This may include supervising staff, assisting with visitor operations during high-use periods, contributing to event planning, and ensuring continuity of service during staffing gaps.
• This position is stationed at Patagonia Lake and should be a reliable and integrated member of that park's operational team.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Parental Leave - Up to 12 weeks per year pid leave for newborns or newly placed foster/adopted child.
• Eligible for Arizona State Retirement System pension.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level