Park Manager Trainee Park Region 2

Commonwealth-of-Pennsylvania; Prospect (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources seeks a Park Manager Trainee to gain hands-on experience in the daily operations, maintenance, and planning that keep state parks running smoothly. You will learn under experienced managers and prepare for future leadership roles, with a clear career path ahead.

You will develop skills in park supervision, budget processes, public interaction, resource stewardship, and facility management while traveling across the

Qualifications

• Four years of paraprofessional or technical experience providing administrative, maintenance, visitor, safety, or environmental education services in a public park or recreation area; or
• Two years of paraprofessional or technical experience providing administrative, maintenance, visitor, safety, or environmental education services in a public park or recreation area; and an associate degree in parks and recreation, forestry, engineering, natural sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field; or
• A bachelor's degree in parks and recreation, forestry, engineering, natural sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Learn Park Supervision: Assist with guiding staff, reviewing performance, and supporting daily work activities
• Assist Budget Processes: Participate in budget preparation, monitor expenditures, and review purchasing needs
• Public Interaction: Respond to visitor questions, assist with special events, and coordination with agencies and partners and help coordinate park events
• Maintain Park Resources: Contribute to natural resource care and help apply park rules, policies, and regulations
• Resource Stewardship: Support efforts to maintain natural resources, uphold park rules, and ensure safe and respectful park use
• Support Operational Planning: Help organize schedules, manage workflow, and learn park operating standards
• Facility Management: Support maintenance, repairs, and construction projects across park grounds and buildings

Skills

Park supervision

Budget awareness

Public interaction

Resource stewardship

Operations planning

Facility maintenance

Education

Bachelor's degree in parks and recreation or related field

Associate degree in parks and recreation or related field

Equivalent combination of experience and training

Job description

Become a Park Manager Trainee with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and start a career that makes a real impact! This role gives you hands-on experience in the daily operations, maintenance, and planning that keep state parks running smoothly. You will learn from experienced managers while building skills that prepare you for future advancement. This role sets you on the path to meaningful leadership in Pennsylvania's state parks!

This trainee role provides hands-on experience in supervising staff, managing facilities, and supporting park operations under the guidance from park management. As a Park Manager Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Learn Park Supervision: Assist with guiding staff, reviewing performance, and supporting daily work activities
• Assist Budget Processes: Participate in budget preparation, monitor expenditures, and review purchasing needs
• Public Interaction: Respond to visitor questions, assist with special events, and coordination with agencies and partners and help coordinate park events
• Maintain Park Resources: Contribute to natural resource care and help apply park rules, policies, and regulations
• Resource Stewardship: Support efforts to maintain natural resources, uphold park rules, and ensure safe and respectful park use
• Support Operational Planning: Help organize schedules, manage workflow, and learn park operating standards
• Facility Management: Support maintenance, repairs, and construction projects across park grounds and buildings

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Park Management is a 24 hour operation that may require overtime during emergency situations. Employee will work 37.5 hours/5 days per week to include holidays and weekends. Days and shifts will vary.
• Requires travel throughout Commonwealth for training and work assignments.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Four years of paraprofessional or technical experience providing administrative, maintenance, visitor, safety, or environmental education services in a public park or recreation area; or
• Two years of paraprofessional or technical experience providing administrative, maintenance, visitor, safety, or environmental education services in a public park or recreation area; and an associate degree in parks and recreation, forestry, engineering, natural sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field; or
• A bachelor's degree in parks and recreation, forestry, engineering, natural sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirements:

• This position requires possession of an active motor vehicle license.
• All employees must pass psychological testing (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)). Failure to pass this test is a basis for removal from the position.
• All employees must pass Pennsylvania State Police and FBI criminal background checks. A record of conviction of a criminal offense for which more than one year in prison can be imposed as punishment is a basis for removal from the position.
• This position requires the selected candidate to obtain and maintain commission as a State Park Officer.
• This position requires the selected candidate to obtain valid certification in standard first aid and adult, child, and infant CPR approved by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or equivalent. Training will be provided by the Department.

Other Requirements:

• You must be willing to wear the prescribed uniform.
• You must be willing to reside on state park grounds when housing is available
• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.
• In accordance with Act 153 of 2014 this position is required to complete Child Abuse, Criminal and Federal Criminal History Checks around the time of hire and thereafter every 5 years.

This position is not subject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.

You must be eligible for selection in accordance with merit system employment regulations.

Recruitment Methods:

• Applicants must meet one of the following methods to be considered for this vacancy:
  • Reassignment(Only current civil service employees in the same agency who hold the same or similar job title, with the same maximum salary, within the same occupational group or where there is a logical career movement, will qualify for reassignment.)
  • Voluntary Demotion
  • Reinstatement(Former civil service employees may only be reinstated to the job title from which they resigned. Current civil service employees are not eligible through reinstatement.)

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.