Recreation Technician

State of Montana•Missoula, MT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Recreation Technician is a front-line position that provides general operational support of a variety of recreational offerings at state parks, fishing access sites, wildlife management areas, and along river corridors. The Recreation Technician assists the unit’s Recreation Manager and Ranger with operations at sites for recreation, visitor use, and natural, cultural, and historical resources. This position provides essential services and addresses tasks as they arise, such as visitor contacts, rule compliance, fee collection and remittance, interpretation and education, and other duties as assigned. Additionally, the Recreation Technician will perform light maintenance duties such as maintaining comfort stations and visitor centers as well as refuse collection. Recreation Technicians are a front-line position focused on providing good customer service. Applicants should have a background in natural resources, recreation, or recreation management. They will need to be knowledgeable of, or willing to learn, the laws, policies, and regulations under which the agency operates and site rules. Technicians are expected to negotiate, explain, and diffuse conflicts among parties with differing views and visitors frustrated with department/site rules and policy. They must behave ethically and appropriately when serving visitors.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or equivalent education.
One year of college or vocational training experience in park and recreation management, interpretive visitor center, or closely related setting is preferred; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
General knowledge of basic customer service and safe work habits.
Ability to educate and inform visitors on compliance with rules and regulations and State laws.
Ability to collect fees and make change.
Ability to sell merchandise and account for monies collected.
Ability to read, maintain, and prepare records and reports.
Ability to assist visitors in emergency situations.
Effective communication and public relations skills for daily interaction with site visitors.
Familiarity with natural and cultural resource management including historical and current issues.
Ability to develop a working knowledge, including site location and available recreational opportunities for public recreational sites in the region’s jurisdiction.
Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to establish positive working relationships with co-workers and the public.
Ability to be comfortable communicating with dissatisfied visitors and helping to resolve the situation.
Ability to behave ethically and appropriately when serving visitors.
Ability to understand and effectively explain Department policies and regulations to the public.
Ability to use tact, courtesy, poise, alertness, and good judgment in public contacts.
Basic computer skills: email, word processing, internet use, spreadsheet development.

Nice To Haves

Background in natural resources, recreation, or recreation management.
Knowledgeable of, or willing to learn, the laws, policies, and regulations under which the agency operates and site rules.

Responsibilities

Provides general operational support of a variety of recreational offerings at state parks, fishing access sites, wildlife management areas, and along river corridors.
Assists the unit’s Recreation Manager and Ranger with operations at sites for recreation, visitor use, and natural, cultural, and historical resources.
Provides essential services and addresses tasks as they arise, such as visitor contacts, rule compliance, fee collection and remittance, interpretation and education, and other duties as assigned.
Performs light maintenance duties such as maintaining comfort stations and visitor centers as well as refuse collection.
Negotiates, explains, and diffuses conflicts among parties with differing views and visitors frustrated with department/site rules and policy.
Educates and informs visitors on compliance with rules and regulations and State laws.
Collects fees and makes change.
Sells merchandise and accounts for monies collected.
Reads, maintains, and prepares records and reports.
Assists visitors in emergency situations.