Park Manager

About the role

The Iowa DNR is seeking a motivated individual to join our Parks, Forestry and Preserves Bureau as a Park Manager for Pine Lake and Union Grove State Parks. This position offers a unique opportunity to work in one of Iowa’s premier outdoor recreation destinations.

Responsibilities

• Assist the District Supervisor in the daily administration and operation of the park, including supervising park staff;
• Recruit, hire, and train seasonal and temporary employees;
• Manage contracts and procurement activities;
• Oversee budgets;
• Prepare monthly financial reports;
• Maintain accurate inventories of park property, supplies, tools, equipment, and other assets;
• Plan, coordinate, and perform park maintenance, preventive maintenance, and construction projects;
• Conduct regular inspections of park facilities and amenities;
• Participate in public outreach activities, respond to media inquiries, and promote the state park system, recreational safety, and natural resource stewardship;
• Develop and deliver interpretive, educational, and volunteer programs;
• Ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for park visitors by providing information, maintaining order within public use areas, and enforcing applicable Iowa DNR Administrative Rules related to parks, boating, and fishing;
• Participate in ongoing enforcement training to maintain proficiency in enforcement procedures and equipment, complete incident reports and citations accurately, and ensure law enforcement equipment is properly maintained and operational.

Requirements

• 914 Park and Recreation Management 6 months’ experience, twelve semester hours, or a combination of both in the operation and/or maintenance of parks or park recreational services.
• May have commonly been served at a national, state, or county park level.
• OR 450 Natural Resources 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in one or in a combination of more than one of the following: Ecology Environmental planning Soil conservation Biological sciences Waste water treatment Forestry Engineering related to natural resource areas (dams, sanitary engineers, etc.) Outdoor recreation planning Physical sciences River basin planning Geography Wildlife management.
• A total of five years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in park and outdoor recreation, natural resource management, biological sciences, hospitality management, or public administration field equals one year of full-time experience.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes three years of full time work as a Natural Resource Technician 1 or 2, Park Ranger, or Conservation Officer.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in park and outdoor recreation, natural resource management, biological sciences, hospitality management, or public administration, and experience equal to one year of full-time work in park operations (may include experience as a park laborer, planner, manager, or ranger).
• Five years of full-time work experience in park operations (may include experience as a park laborer, planner, manager, or ranger).

Skills

• Accountability
• Integrity
• High Productivity
• Communication Skills
• Project Management
• Team Player
• Interpersonal Skills
• Computer Skills
• Self-Management
• Customer Focus
• Project Management
• Technical Skills (park management, mechanical)

Benefits

Competitive pay plan and rewarding work. Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment. (Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage). Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually. Nine paid holidays/year. Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match. Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match. Professional training opportunities. Family friendly and professional work environment. Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling). The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.

Pay

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable).

Schedule

Details on the schedule will be provided during the interview process.