Assistant Recreation Manager

State of Montana • Kalispell, MT

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Recreation Manager is assigned to a geographic unit and assists with the management and coordination of non-maintenance operations for the Flathead Lake Recreation District. The work includes administrative, personnel, operational, recreation, visitor-use, and natural, cultural, and historical resource management activities. The position oversees daily site and program operations, employees, visitor use and behavior, and facilities at assigned sites, excluding maintenance functions. Essential services include addressing public safety concerns, collecting and remitting fees, interpretation and education, visitor-use data collection, and ensuring compliance with special recreation and commercial-use permits.

The position is based at the Flathead Lake Ranger Station in the Wayfarers Unit of Flathead Lake State Park, near Bigfork, Montana. The district includes six state park units, five fishing access sites, and seven wildlife management areas. The Assistant Recreation Manager reports to the Flathead Lake District Recreation Manager and supervises most of the district’s seasonal and volunteer staff, while also providing direction to other park staff. The Assistant Recreation Manager may serve in acting duties when the Recreation Manager is absent.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Park Management, Resource Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, or a related field, or another combination of education and experience considered case by case.
• At least 2 years of job-related experience, or another combination of education and experience considered case by case.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and manage recreational use to meet visitor needs and help prevent or resolve user conflicts and resource degradation.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate up to 10 seasonal employees and 24 volunteers.
• Ensure site staff are trained in reservation programs, safety protocols, and site operations.
• Monitor impacts to site infrastructure and resources and develop solutions with staff and regional leadership to correct or mitigate problems.
• Patrol assigned units by motor vehicle, on foot, by motorboat, or by snowmobile as needed to monitor visitor activities and resource conditions.
• Check compliance with fee payment and special recreation and commercial-use permits.
• Review, issue, and manage concession and special-use permits while balancing them with public use of recreation sites.
• Oversee the district enterprise program, including gift-shop inventory, purchasing, budgeting, and pricing.
• Collaborate with maintenance staff to help ensure recreation sites are safe and well maintained.
• Assist with collecting and reporting visitation data and visitor surveys.
• Address and resolve visitor conflicts and complaints.
• Collaborate with local FWP wardens and law enforcement agencies to enforce laws, rules, and regulations.
• Promote staff and visitor safety through training, proper personal protective equipment, and compliance with FWP safety policy.
• Prepare emergency response plans, implement them, and train staff on them.
• Oversee the district-wide interpretive program and participate in daily and special-event programs.
• Assist with operating and maintaining the district motorboat used to access islands, and train staff in its safe operation.
• May perform acting duties in the absence of the Recreation Manager.

Benefits

• Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are provided health, dental, and life insurance.
• Retirement benefits.
• Paid vacation.
• Sick leave.
• Paid holidays.
• The position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

What This Job Offers

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