PARK SPECIALIST

State of Arkansas; Kirby (AR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism is seeking a Park Specialist to assist in daily maintenance, visitor services, and conservation within state parks. You will help ensure facilities, landscapes, and public areas are well-maintained, safe, and accessible, while delivering excellent customer service and educating guests on park regulations.

You will support recreation programs, process transactions, and coordinate with staff to enhance the overall visitor experience at

Qualifications

• Six months of experience in customer service, bookkeeping, retail operations, or a related field.
• Ability to handle cash and transactions accurately.
• Experience with front desk operations and guest services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Receives and confirms room reservations via telephone, accepts advance credit card deposits, and manages front desk operations.
• Mails room confirmations, deposit receipts, and refund forms to guests.
• Greets and registers guests, assigns rooms, and ensures a smooth check-in process.
• Answers inquiries and provides information on hotel services, guest registration, travel directions, and local tourist attractions.
• Maintains accurate guest account records and posts charges accordingly.
• Totals and balances the cash register with recorded receipts, identifying and reconciling discrepancies.
• Compiles daily activity and transaction reports.
• May sell gift items, maintain office supply inventories, conduct security checks of the lodge and grounds, and assign tasks to custodial staff.
• Receives, transfers, displays, and promotes merchandise.
• Opens and closes facilities, prepares deposits, and assists with daily operational reporting.
• Processes merchandise orders and collaborates with vendors to obtain requested items.
• Monitors and coordinates inventory activities, prepares inventory orders, and maintains data in relevant databases.
• Verifies inventory records and ensures accurate tracking of supplies and equipment.
• Ensures the assigned facility is clean, organized, and meets housekeeping standards.
• Performs monetary transactions and operates a cash register as needed.
• May serve as a lead worker by training and guiding staff, setting work plans and deadlines, providing instructions, and reviewing completed tasks for accuracy and compliance.
• May be assigned accounting-related duties, including financial reporting and transaction processing.
• Provide friendly and informative customer service to park visitors, answering questions about park features, rules, and activities.
• Enforce park policies and regulations to ensure public safety and proper park usage.
• Report safety hazards and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Help enforce emergency protocols during severe weather conditions or incidents.
• Support special events and recreation programs by setting up and assisting as needed.

Skills

Bookkeeping

Customer service

Cash handling

Office software

Inventory control

Supervisory ability

Merchandise display

Front desk operations

Tools

POS system

MS Office

Job description

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The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism has three major divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism. Arkansas State Parks manages 52 state parks and promotes Arkansas as a tourist destination for people around the country. Arkansas Heritage preserves and promotes Arkansas’s natural and cultural history and heritage through four historic museums and four cultural preservation agencies. Arkansas Tourism improves the state’s economy by generating travel and enhancing the image of the state.

Position Information

Classification: Park Specialist

Class Code: RPA16P

Pay Grade: SGS02

Salary Range: $35,610- $52,703

Job Summary

The Park Specialist is responsible for assisting in the daily maintenance, visitor services, and conservation efforts within Arkansas state parks. This role ensures that park facilities, landscapes, and public areas are well-maintained, safe, and accessible for visitors. The Park Specialist also provides customer service, educates guests on park regulations, and supports recreation programs to enhance the overall visitor experience.

Primary Responsibilities

• Receives and confirms room reservations via telephone, accepts advance credit card deposits, and manages front desk operations.
• Mails room confirmations, deposit receipts, and refund forms to guests.
• Greets and registers guests, assigns rooms, and ensures a smooth check-in process.
• Answers inquiries and provides information on hotel services, guest registration, travel directions, and local tourist attractions.
• Maintains accurate guest account records and posts charges accordingly.
• Totals and balances the cash register with recorded receipts, identifying and reconciling discrepancies.
• Compiles daily activity and transaction reports.
• May sell gift items, maintain office supply inventories, conduct security checks of the lodge and grounds, and assign tasks to custodial staff.
• Receives, transfers, displays, and promotes merchandise.
• Opens and closes facilities, prepares deposits, and assists with daily operational reporting.
• Processes merchandise orders and collaborates with vendors to obtain requested items.
• Monitors and coordinates inventory activities, prepares inventory orders, and maintains data in relevant databases.
• Verifies inventory records and ensures accurate tracking of supplies and equipment.
• Ensures the assigned facility is clean, organized, and meets housekeeping standards.
• Performs monetary transactions and operates a cash register as needed.
• May serve as a lead worker by training and guiding staff, setting work plans and deadlines, providing instructions, and reviewing completed tasks for accuracy and compliance.
• May be assigned accounting-related duties, including financial reporting and transaction processing.
• Provide friendly and informative customer service to park visitors, answering questions about park features, rules, and activities.
• Enforce park policies and regulations to ensure public safety and proper park usage.
• Report safety hazards and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Help enforce emergency protocols during severe weather conditions or incidents.
• Support special events and recreation programs by setting up and assisting as needed.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of basic bookkeeping and accounting principles.
• Familiarity with general office practices and procedures.
• Ability to comprehend and prepare oral and written materials, including ledgers, journals, reports, and correspondence.
• Proficient in establishing and maintaining organized filing systems.
• Skilled in answering telephones, greeting visitors, and providing accurate information and assistance.
• Proficient in operating standard office equipment.
• Knowledge of computer systems and commonly used software applications.
• Understanding of database management, inventory control practices, and financial recordkeeping.
• Strong grasp of customer service principles and best practices.
• Ability to creatively arrange and display merchandise to enhance customer interest.
• Capable of coordinating, instructing, and reviewing the work of others in a lead or supervisory role.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks effectively.

Minimum Qualifications

At least six months of experience customer service, bookkeeping, retail operations, or a related field.

Satisfaction of the minimum qualifications, including years of experience and service, does not entitle employees to automatic progression within the job series. Promotion to the next classification level is at the discretion of the department and the Office of Personnel Management, taking into consideration the employee’s demonstrated skills, competencies, performance, workload responsibilities, and organizational needs.

Licensure/Certifications

N/AOTHER JOB RELATED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ALL OR PART OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT FOR CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, UPON APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.