Parks Program Services Leader

Commonwealth of Kentucky; Olive Hill (KY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Overtime pay

Health insurance

Life insurance

Retirement

Wellness incentives

Park familiarization visits

Training and career development

Deferred Compensation (401K)

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Tourism, Arts, & Heritage Cabinet, Kentucky Department of Parks, seeks a Parks Program Services Leader at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill to develop, organize, conduct, and promote recreational and interpretive programs for park visitors.

This full-time role offers outdoor work, hands-on event planning, and guidance to seasonal staff, with a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for career development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in recreation or related field required.
• Experience, training, or skills: NONE.
• Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE.
• Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: Related experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Develop, organize, conduct, and promote recreational and interpretive programs for park visitors.
• Assist with recreational programs and special events.
• Develop new activities and experiences for park guests.
• Conduct programs highlighting the park’s natural, cultural, and recreational features.
• Inspect recreational facilities and equipment for cleanliness and safety.
• Assist with hiking trail inspections and maintenance.
• Create promotional materials, including flyers, brochures, and press releases.
• Maintain program, entertainment, and incident reports.
• Assist with interpretive displays and exhibits.
• Provide guidance to seasonal recreation employees.
• Interact regularly with visitors and program participants.

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation or related field

Job description

Advertisement Closes: 9/14/2026 (11:59 PM ET)

Job ID: 2604671

Parks Program Services Leader

Pay Grade 12

Salary $18.31 - $27.47 Hourly

Employment Type: EXECUTIVE BRANCH | FULL TIME | ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY | 18A | 37.5 HR/WK

Hiring Agency: Tourism, Arts, & Heritage Cabinet | Kentucky Department of Parks

Location: 344 Caveland Drive
Olive Hill, KY 41164 USA

Do you enjoy the outdoors, working with the public, and sharing Kentucky’s natural and cultural history? Carter Caves State Resort Park is seeking an enthusiastic and creative individual to join our recreation team as a full-time Parks Program Services Leader.

This position helps develop, organize, conduct, and promote recreational and interpretive programs for park visitors.

• Assisting with recreational programs and special events
• Developing new activities and experiences for park guests
• Conducting programs highlighting the park’s natural, cultural, and recreational features
• Inspecting recreational facilities and equipment for cleanliness and safety
• Assisting with hiking trail inspections and maintenance
• Creating promotional materials, including flyers, brochures, and press releases
• Maintaining program, entertainment, and incident reports
• Assisting with interpretive displays and exhibits
• Providing guidance to seasonal recreation employees
• Interacting regularly with visitors and program participants

We offer a great package of EMPLOYEE and FAMILY-FRIENDLY BENEFITS, including:

• Paid time off (sick and vacation) plus paid holidays
• Overtime or compensatory time
• Affordable health, dental and vision insurance with optional Health Reimbursement Account
• Life insurance
• Retirement
• Wellness Incentives Program
• Complimentary Park familiarization visits for you and family
• Training and career development opportunities
• Optional Deferred Compensation program (401K)

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in recreation, outdoor recreation, park resource interpretation, physical education, history, environmental education, biology, forestry, botany, zoology, anthropology, archaeology, area studies, cultural studies, art history, geography, parks and recreation management or administration, sociology, paleoanthropology or a closely related field.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: NONE

Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE

Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: Related experience as a park naturalist, park interpreter, environmental educator, conservation educator, or in planned outdoor recreation or physical education, recreation, park resource interpretation, history, environmental education, biology, forestry, botany, zoology, anthropology, archaeology, area studies, cultural studies, art history, geography, parks and recreation management or administration, sociology, paleoanthropology or a closely related field will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (AGE, LICENSE, REGULATION, ETC.): NONE

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed outdoors at an assigned state park. Extensive contact with the public is required. May have to traverse steep slopes when inspecting, building, and repairing trails.

Probationary Period

This job has an initial and promotional probationary period of 6 months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

If you have questions about this advertisement, please contact Paul Tierney at [e-mail] or 606-286-4411.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D