Park Operations Specialist

Travis County; Spicewood (TX); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Travis County Parks in Spicewood, TX is seeking an entry-level Park Operations Associate to inform visitors about parks and rules, patrol for safety, and support daily operations including POS cash handling and fee collection.

You will lead the training of seasonal staff, assist with maintenance, open/close parks, and help with emergencies, data entry, and revenue reconciliation, ensuring customer service and policy compliance.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years of parks experience with cash handling and customer service preferred.
• Bi-lingual in Spanish and English preferred.
• First Aid, CPR, or EMT certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide information to visitors about parks and park rules and act as liaison with customers.
• Patrol and monitor park activity and enforce park rules and regulations.
• Handle park revenues: POS data entry, cash handling, change calculation, and reconciliation.
• Open/close parks, staff fee booths, collect gate receipts, and reconcile deposits.
• Lead and train seasonal staff and assist with administrative tasks and annual work plans.
• Assist with light park maintenance and participate in tours and interpretive programs.
• Respond to medical emergencies and rescues when needed.

Job description

Job Summary

Provide Parks visitors and other customers with accurate information regarding parks and parks rules. Act as a liaison with County parks customers, ensuring a smooth and efficient operation. Patrol and monitor visitor activity within parks, assisting in enforcing park rules and regulations. Provide customer service functions and foster positive public relations. Positions may staff a fee booth, collect gate receipts, enter data into a Point of Sale (POS) system, account for the collection of gate receipts, calculate change, control and distribute parks permits and reconcile and prepare bank deposits within assigned parks. Ensures revenues are collected, reconciled and deposited efficiently in accordance with rules, procedures and practices. Assist with light park maintenance duties. Participate in park interpretive tours and programs. Open, or assist with, opening and closing the parks. Lead and train subordinates. May assist with medical emergencies and rescues. Functions as a lead worker – trains, schedules and leads subordinates. Assist supervisor with administrative tasks, annual work plans, and other projects as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is an entry level position in the Park operations classification. The position is distinguished from the Park Tech I and II position by requiring additional duties, including may function as a lead worker. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department. This position requires the candidate to have familiarity with and understanding of Parks policies and procedures so that they can facilitate direct training of new employees. Ensures consistency in park operations and customer service by monitoring and implementing established standard operating procedures and guidelines

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists Park Supervisor(s) with administrative tasks such as Purchase Requests, organizing work orders, permit and asset inventory, event planning and coordination, Annual Work plans projects, etc.
• Ensures that visitors and other customers are consistently provided with accurate information regarding parks and park rules. Provides customer service functions and fosters positive public relations.
• Patrols and monitors visitor activity within parks, assisting in enforcing park rules and regulations. Reports incidents, hazards, and violations of park rules.
• Performs traffic control within assigned park as needed.
• Assists with light maintenance duties as required, including restroom checks, spot cleans as necessary, litter control within the parks and facility clean up and preparation. Some positions may perform additional maintenance duties as needed.
• Closes the park.
• Serves as a team member or independent worker on a variety of park projects or assignments.
• Collects, safeguards, and accurately records parks fees.
• Assists with medical emergency calls and rescues.
• Leads and trains seasonal Park Technician I and II subordinates.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Education and experience: equivalent to a high school diploma or G.E.D. AND two (2) years of parks experience, including two (2) years of cash handling and customer service experience.
OR,
Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Preferred:
Bi-lingual in Spanish and English.
First Aid or CPR or Texas Department of State Health Services Emergency Medical Technician

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, local and county applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Applicable safety practices and regulations.
• Computer equipment including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation and report preparation.
• Customer service.
• Understanding of fundamental leadership techniques.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Point of Sale system, cash handling, calculating change, and procedures of recordkeeping and reconciliation

Skill in:

• Supervising and training staff.
• Supervising parks revenue collection.
• Enforcing rules in a tactful and authoritative manner.
• Bookkeeping and math.
• Both verbal and written communication, including conveying and following instructions and providing information to the public.
• Providing excellent customer service in a courteous and professional manner.
• Resolving conflicts, complaints and concerns.
• Dealing with a wide variety of situations using sound judgement in a calm, courteous manner.
• Problem solving and decision making.
• Time management.
• Strong interpersonal communication.
• Training others and overseeing the work of others.
• Requires skill in operating a Point of Sale (POS) system, handling cash, calculating change, reconciling, and recordkeeping.
• Effective verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Lead, motivate, train, and oversee subordinate staff.
• Read and interpret documents.
• Develop educational programs and make presentations.
• Manage time well and meet timelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.
• Organize, plan and prioritize.
• Perform multiple tasks.
• Resolve disputes between user groups, visitors, and employees.
• Work in a team environment.
• Coordinate the work of others.
• Be self-directed, self-motivated and work independently and as a team member to accomplish parks objectives.
• Perform multitasking with frequent interruptions.
• Requires the ability to accurately complete and record cash transactions. Understand and carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Learn and accurately disseminate park information, rules and regulations.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the general public, departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, and other County employees and officials.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, reaching, twisting, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to extreme temperatures, outside elements, noise, vibration, contact with dust, fumes and hazardous chemicals, foul odors, animal and human fecal matter, insects and rodents. Some positions require driving. Hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity to operate a computer and office equipment.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
Work Hours: Sunday - Wednesday closing shift. Closing shifts can vary depending on reservation schedule.
Works some holidays, some nights, and some weekends
Location: Bee Creek Sports Complex, 4440 Bee Creek Road Spicewood, TX 78669
Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)
Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.
For updates or questions on this position, contact: [e-mail]
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.