Recreation Specialist - Nature Program Specialist

City of Pearland, TX

Title: Recreation Specialist (Nature Program Specialist)

Class Code: 142

This Class Description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and an employee and the statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, knowledge, skills and abilities required of personnel so classified in this position. The position description is subject to change by the City as the needs of the city and requirements of the position change.

General Description

The purpose of this class within the organization is to implement nature-based educational and recreational programs, classes, activities, and events to connect the community to our natural environment.

This class works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences.

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

 

Essential Functions:

 

Develops, implements, and delivers nature-based programs and activities.

Conducts educational programming to include community outreach, leading field trips, workshops, presentations, and classes, primarily at the Delores Fenwick Nature Center.

Leads outdoor nature-based recreation activities (ex: kayaking).

Plan, organize, schedule, and evaluate programs and activities.

Assist in planning and operating nature-based summer camp at the Delores Fenwick Nature Center.

Research new nature programs and outdoor recreation activities.

Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professional volunteer agencies to coordinate events, training, and opportunities.

Creates and maintains working relationships with local businesses, vendors and other organizations throughout the year.

Additional Duties:

Ensures safety of participants during events by inspecting site before/during and maintaining active CPR/First Aid/AED certifications.

Ensures that staff and contract instructors and participants know and follow safety and educational procedures during programs, classes and general facility use.

Oversee programs progression to determine success.

Monitors facilities, parks and all equipment periodically to ensure all parts are accounted for and in working order; manages inventory of natural resources through spreadsheets and Pearland's GIS collection software.

Creates marketing pieces to promote and advertise programs and events.

Recruits, hires and evaluates contract instructors and determine class schedules and fees.

Assist in educational animal care and maintenance.

Performs related work as assigned.

Responsibilities, Requirements and Impacts

 

Data Responsibility:

 

Data Responsibility refers to information, knowledge, and conceptions obtained by observation, investigation, interpretation, visualization, and mental creation. Data are intangible and include numbers, words, symbols, ideas, concepts, and oral verbalizations.

 

Gathers, organizes, analyzes, examines or evaluates data or information and may prescribe action based on these data or information.

 

 

People Responsibility:

 

People include co-workers, workers in other areas or agencies and the general public.

 

Provides information, guidance or assistance to people that directly facilitates task accomplishment; may give instructions or assignments to helpers or assistants.

 

Asset Responsibility:

 

Assets responsibility refers to the responsibility for achieving economies or preventing loss within the organization.

 

Requires some responsibility for achieving minor economies and/or preventing minor losses through the handling of or accounting for materials, supplies or small amounts of money.

 

Mathematical Requirements:

 

Mathematics requires the use of symbols, numbers and formulas to solve mathematical problems.

 

Uses addition and subtraction, multiplication and division and/or calculates ratios, rates and percents.

 

Communications Requirements:

 

Communications involve the ability to read, write, and speak.

 

Reads technical instructions, procedures manuals and charts to solve practical problems, such as routine office equipment operating instructions; composes routine reports and specialized reports, forms, and business letters, with proper format; speaks compound sentences using normal grammar and word form.

 

Judgment Requirements:

 

Judgment requirements refer to the frequency and complexity of judgments and decisions given the stability of the work environments, the nature and type of guidance, and the breadth of impact of the judgments and decisions.

 

Responsible for the actions of others, requiring almost constant decisions affecting co-workers, customers, clients or others in the general public; works in a moderately fluid environment with guidelines and rules, but frequent variations from the routine.

 

 

 

Complexity of Work:

 

Complexity addresses the analysis, initiative, ingenuity, concentration and creativity, required by the job and the presence of any unusual pressures present in the job.

 

Performs skilled work involving rules/systems with almost constant problem solving; requires normal attention with short periods of concentration for accurate results and occasional exposure to unusual pressure.

 

Impact of Errors:

 

Impact of errors refers to consequences such as damage to equipment and property, loss of data, exposure of the organization to legal liability, and injury or death for individuals.

 

The impact of errors is moderately serious – affects work unit and may affect other units or citizens.

 

Physical Demands:

 

Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

 

Performs light to medium work that involves walking or standing virtually all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of the fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving close tolerances or limits of accuracy.

 

Equipment Usage:

 

Equipment usage involves responsibility for materials, machines, tools, equipment, work aids, and products.

 

Handles or uses work aids involving some latitude for judgment regarding attainment of a standard or in selecting appropriate items.

 

Unavoidable Hazards:

 

Unavoidable hazards refer to the job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though precautions have been taken.

 

Involves routine and frequent exposure to wet or humid conditions.

 

 

 

Safety of Others:

 

Safety of others refers to the level of responsibility for the safety of others, either inherent in the job or to ensure the safety of the general public. (Does not include safety of subordinates).

 

Requires some responsibility for safety and health of others and/or for occasional enforcement of the standards of public safety or health.

The preferred way to obtain the minimum knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position are listed below. The City reserves the right to allow substitutions in the event that a candidate or incumbent exceeds requirements in one area but may be deficient in another.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

 

Requires an associate's degree or specialized courses/training equivalent to satisfactory completion of two years of college in recreation or closely related field.

Requires one year recreation management or closely related experience.

Special Certifications and Licenses:

First Aid and CPR

 

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

 

The City of Pearland, TX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The ADA requires the City of Pearland, TX to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

 

Emergency Management Responsibilities

 

During emergency conditions, all City employees are subject to being called to work in the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane, or other emergency situation and are expected to perform emergency service duties, as assigned.

 

Organization-wide Employee Responsibilities

 

All City of Pearland employees must serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity in full accord with the letter and spirit of the City of Pearland's Ethics and Conflict of Interest policies.

All employees must establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, elected and appointed officials and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity and expression.

 

To optimize performance of the organization City of Pearland employees are expected to use multi-directional communication (top to bottom, bottom to top, and across peer groups), use cross-functional teams to promote a greater understanding of the organization by employees at all levels, create to a culture of continuous learning that encourages and supports employee development and growth, embrace technology with a focus on improving service delivery, productivity and connectivity, and create an environment where innovation is supported and encouraged.