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Park Recreation Specialist Series

Park Recreation Specialist Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established May 19, 1971

Scope

The classes in this series are used in the Department of Parks and Recre ation to perform program development and evaluation, and analytical and administrative work to identify and prove methods for meeting the outdoor recreational needs of the citizens of California. Incumbents in this series are, typically, subject matter generalists with analytical ability, good verbal and written communication skills, an awareness of current social and environmental problems and principles; with a background in environmental or urban planning, public administration, natural resources, recreation, or an outdoor resource-related field. Assignments include the collection, evalua tion, summarization, and analysis of outdoor recreation data from a variety of sources to identify recreational trends, existing outdoor recreational facilities, needs and deficiencies; preparation of a variety of written plans and reports, including recommendations to establish priorities for action by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and others; negotiation and close cooperation with private individuals and local, State and Federal agencies to solve outdoor conservation and recreation problems, and to achieve the goals of the Department; administration of a number of financial grant and technical assistance programs involving State, Federal, and local agencies and private organizations and individuals, including the prepara tion, review, and evaluation of applications for State Federal financial grants; review and evaluation of plans and reports of other governmental agencies for their effect upon, and contribution to, outdoor recreation in California.

Entry Level

Entry into this series, typically, at the Park and Recreation Specialist level, Range A.

 

Park Recreation Specialist Series Specification - Class Titles and Codes
Schem Code Class Code Class
BV55 1068 Park and Recreation Specialist
BV40 1089 Associate Park and Recreation Specialist
BV30 1088 Staff Park and Recreation Specialist
BV15 1087 Senior Park and Recreation Specialist

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Supervision exercised or received, the scope and complexity of responsibil ities assigned, the importance and difficulty of negotiations or relations with other agencies, the scope and complexity of regulations and laws being interpreted or worked with, analytical and explanatory skills required, and the relative importance of the assignment to the Department's programs.

Definition of Levels

Park and Recreation Specialist

This is the training and first journey level class in this series. Incum bents assigned to Range A will be college graduates with no prior experience in this type of work and will learn the work of the occupation under close supervision. Incumbents will advance to Range B when they are capable of performing more independently the routine assignments and when prepared to assist on more complex work. In addition, Range B can be an entry level for those with a master's degree or with prior experience in the field. Range C is the first journey level in this series. Incumbents perform professional recreation planning and administrative work of average difficulty and assist in the completion of major projects and programs.

Associate Park and Recreation Specialist

This is the full journey level class. Incumbents perform the more responsi ble, varied and complex work, and continually provide consultative services to departmental management, governmental agencies and others. They may be assigned as a lead worker on a team with other Park and Recreation Special ists of equivalent or lower classifications to work on specific major projects.

Staff Park and Recreation Specialist

This level plans, organizes and reviews the work of a small group of Park and Recreation Specialists and other staff working as a unit, usually with responsibility for a major program or segment of the Department's activi ties; personally performs the most difficult and highly sensitive work assigned to the unit.

Senior Park and Recreation Specialist

This is the full supervisory level. Incumbents supervise a section or unit with a staff of Park and Recreation Specialists and other classes engaged in planning, developing and implementing park and recreation programs and projects, and performs major administrative duties as a Staff Specialist.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Education: The following educational requirement is part of the "Minimum Qualifications" for all levels in the series:

 

Equivalent to graduation from college with any major, but preferably in environmental or urban planning, public administration, recreation, park management, or a natural resource-related field.

All Levels Above Park and Recreation Specialist

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Park and Recreation Specialist

Experience: The educational requirement listed above.

Associate Park and Recreation Specialist

Either I

 

One year of experience performing the duties of a Park and Recreation Specialist, Range C.

Or II

 

Three years of increasingly responsible professional experience in planning, administrative or technical work in connection with the analysis, develop ment and implementation of outdoor recreation plans and programs.

Staff Park and Recreation Specialist

Either I

 

One year of experience performing the duties of an Associate Park and Recreation Specialist.

Or II

 

Four years of increasingly responsible professional experience in planning, administrative or technical work in connection with the analysis, develop ment and implementation of outdoor recreation plans and programs which has included at least two years in a project leadperson or supervisory capacity. State service experience used to satisfy the general experience requirement must be at a level of responsibility at least equivalent to that obtained in the class of an Associate Park and Recreation Specialist.

Senior Park and Recreation Specialist

Either I

 

One year of experience performing the duties of a Staff Park and Recreation Specialist. or

 

Two years of experience performing the duties of an Associate Park and Recreation Specialist.

Or II

 

Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience involving the supervision and administration of programs in planning, administrative or technical work in connection with the analysis, development and implementa tion of outdoor recreation plans and programs. Three years of this experi ence must have included supervisory or administrative responsibilities. State service experience used to satisfy the general experience requirement must be at a level of responsibility at least equivalent to that obtained in the class of a State Park and Recreation Specialist.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: General principles and techniques of research and statistical analysis; general concepts and principles of ecology, land use, conserva tion, and planning, particularly as they related to outdoor recreation and recreational and historical resources.

 

Ability to: Reason logically and analyze data; communicate orally and in writing, and prepare reports; establish and maintain cooperative relations, and deal tactfully with a variety of private and governmental individuals and groups.

Associate Park and Recreation Specialist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and structure, administrative, and fiscal procedures of the Federal, State, and local governments; trends in outdoor recreation usage, including social and economic factors; laws and regula tions of various levels of government relating to the funding, acquisition, development, and operation of recreational areas and outdoor recreational programs; group leadership.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and creatively solve complex outdoor recre ation and related problems; prepare finished reports with clear, concise recommendations and analyses; coordinate the work load of others, lead project groups; interpret and assist in the development of policy; understand and comply with State administrative procedures.

Staff Park and Recreation Specialist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles of personnel management and supervision; program development and evaluation techniques.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and appreciate and motivate the establishment of group and organizational goals and relationships, to supervise and train subordinate staff; perform the most difficult, sensitive staff work.

Senior Park and Recreation Specialist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and administrative principles; Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and supervise and coordinate the activities of a major program or project; effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives.

Class History

Park Recreation Specialist Series History - Dates Established, Revised, and Title Changed
Class Date Established Date Revised Title Changed
Park and Recreation Specialist 11/29/1978 -- --
Associate Park and Recreation Specialist 10/24/1958 05/08/1974 05/19/1971
Staff Park and Recreation Specialist 05/21/1964 08/17/1978 05/19/1972
Senior Park and Recreation Specialist 12/15/1966 08/17/1978 05/19/1971

Alternate Range Criteria

When an employee first enters the class of Park and Recreation Specialist he/she shall be appointed to the appropriate range in terms of the following criteria. When the requirements for an alternate range criteria are met and with the recommendation of the appointing power the employee shall move to the appropriate range as governed by Rule 98.3.

 

Range A. This Range shall apply to incumbents who do not meet the criteria for payment in Range B or Range C.

 

Range B. This Range shall apply to persons who have satisfactorily com pleted the equivalent of one year of Park and Recreation Specialist, Range A experience; or have one year of experience in planning, administrative, or technical work in connection with the analysis, development, or implementa tion of outdoor recreational plans and programs. (A Master's Degree in Recreation, Environmental or Urban Planning, Public Administration, Park Management, or a natural resource-related field may be substituted for one year of this experience.)

 

Range C. This Range shall apply to persons who have satisfactorily com pleted the equivalent of one year of Park and Recreation Specialist, Range�B; or may apply to persons who have the equivalent of two years of experience in planning, administrative, or technical work in connection with the analysis, development, or implementation of outdoor recreation plans and programs. (A Master's Degree in Recreation, Environmental or Urban Plan ning, Public Administration, Park Management, or a natural resource-related field may be substituted for one year of this experience.)

  Updated: 6/3/2012
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