PARKS, HERITAGE, & TOURISM PROGRAM SUPER

State of Arkansas; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 63,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

The Parks, Heritage and Tourism Program Supervisor/Expert role for the State of Arkansas oversees statewide hospitality and visitor experience efforts. You will develop and implement guest service training for Welcome Center teams, State Parks staff, and tourism partners, and create a standardized curriculum focused on service excellence.

Responsibilities include delivering training, evaluating outcomes, and driving continuous improvement across parks, heritage sites, and tourism initiatives

Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in park management, heritage conservation, tourism development, or a related field.
• Leadership experience and ability to manage teams.
• Knowledge of budgeting, grant writing, and financial management for state-funded programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and oversee statewide parks, heritage, or tourism programs to promote conservation, recreation, and cultural preservation.
• Collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to enhance program effectiveness.
• Evaluate program performance and recommend improvements based on visitor feedback, industry trends, and state policies.
• Oversee the implementation of historic preservation, environmental conservation, or recreational projects within state parks and tourism sites.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations governing cultural and natural resource management.
• Facilitate educational outreach efforts, including workshops, exhibits, and interpretive programs.
• Supervise and mentor a team of program coordinators, park staff, and tourism specialists.
• Monitor and enforce compliance with state and federal laws related to historic preservation, environmental conservation, and tourism promotion.
• Develop program policies and procedures to align with best practices in park management and heritage conservation.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports on program activities, visitor statistics, and financial expenditures.

Skills

Leadership experience

Team management

Budgeting knowledge

Grant writing

Policy compliance

Project coordination

Job description

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Date: Sep 15, 2026

Location:

Little Rock, AR, US, 72201

Category: DEPT OF PARKS AND TOURISM

Anticipated Starting Salary: $63,086

Position Number: 22185644

Location: Central Office -PT08

County:Pulaski

Anticipated Starting Salary:$63,086

The Parks, Heritage and Tourism Supervisor/Expert position serves as the Guest Services Manager and will lead statewide hospitality and visitor experience efforts for Arkansas Tourism. This role is responsible for developing and implementing guest service training programs for Welcome Center teams, State Parks personnel, and tourism partners. The manager will create and maintain a standardized training curriculum focused on hospitality, visitor engagement, and service excellence, while overseeing training delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement.

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: Parks, Heritage, and Tourism Program Supervisor/Expert

Class Code: RPA25P

Salary Range: $63,086- $93,367

Job Summary

The Parks, Heritage, and Tourism Program Supervisor/Expert is responsible for overseeing and coordinating specialized programs that support state parks, cultural heritage, and tourism initiatives across Arkansas. This role ensures that programs align with state policies, enhance visitor experiences, and promote environmental conservation, historical preservation, and recreational development.

Primary Responsibilities

The assignment of supervisory duties is determined by the hiring agency's operational needs. Non-supervisory roles will serve as senior technical experts.Develop, implement, and oversee statewide parks, heritage, or tourism programs to promote conservation, recreation, and cultural preservation.Collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to enhance program effectiveness.Evaluate program performance and recommend improvements based on visitor feedback, industry trends, and state policies.Oversee the implementation of historic preservation, environmental conservation, or recreational projects within state parks and tourism sites.Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations governing cultural and natural resource management.Facilitate educational outreach efforts, including workshops, exhibits, and interpretive programs.Supervise and mentor a team of program coordinators, park staff, and tourism specialists.Monitor and enforce compliance with state and federal laws related to historic preservation, environmental conservation, and tourism promotion.Develop program policies and procedures to align with best practices in park management and heritage conservation.Maintain accurate records and prepare reports on program activities, visitor statistics, and financial expenditures.

Knowledge and Skills

Ability to develop, implement, and oversee complex programs related to parks, heritage, and tourism.Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills to ensure effective program execution.Experience in managing teams, delegating tasks, and fostering professional growth.Knowledge of budgeting, grant writing, and financial management for state-funded programs.Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.Strong analytical skills for evaluating program effectiveness and making data-driven improvements.Excellent written and verbal communication skills for public speaking, report writing, and media interactions.Strong interpersonal skills to build partnerships with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders.Ability to develop educational materials, training programs, and tourism promotions.Understanding of historic preservation principles, cultural resource management, and tourism development strategies.Knowledge of natural resource conservation, park planning, and recreation management.Familiarity with Arkansas heritage sites, state parks, and tourism industry trends.

Minimum Qualifications

At least three years of experience in park management, heritage conservation, tourism development, or a related field, including one year in a leadership capacity.

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.