State of Maryland

A Recreation Specialist II is the advanced level of professional and administrative work of a consultation nature in the field of recreation.  Employees in this classification are responsible for encouraging and assisting in the development and promotion of recreational facilities and programs within the State.  Employees in this classification conduct and analyze studies that reveal State and local conditions and recommend desirable courses of action for proper utilization and development of recreational resources.  Employees in this classification work toward the formulation and adoption of appropriate standards for recreation programs and services.   Employees in this classification direct the activities of lower-level Recreation Specialists and interested groups in the planning and development of recreational programs within the context of needs, facilities and availability of funds.  Employees in this classification provide general supervision to lower-level Recreation Specialists in regard to outlining projects assigned, time allowed and departmental policy for the work.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an administrative superior in regard to program effectiveness and conformance with policies.  The work is performed with considerable independence within the framework of established departmental policies.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Recreation Specialist I and the Recreation Specialist II are differentiated in that the Recreation Specialist I performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the Recreation Specialist II has general supervisory responsibility for lower-level Recreation Specialists.

Plans, organizes and directs a State-wide program designed to promote recreational opportunities and leisure time activities;

Gives appropriate assignments and instructions to lower-level Recreation Specialists and other employees of the agency and supervises the performance of their work;

Cooperates in the organization and promotion of local recreation programs and systems for counties, municipalities, and other political sub-divisions of the State;

Assists counties, municipalities, and other political sub-divisions of the State in designing and laying out recreational areas and facilities and provides advice in the planning and financing of recreational programs;

Appears before local governing bodies, recreation, and civic and other organizations and gives talks on recreation, discusses local situations and problems;

Assists local governing bodies, recreation, and civic and other organizations in formulating comprehensive policies for the development of broad recreation programs;

Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial and other reports on recreation matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations;

Plans and conducts clinics and workshops dealing with group recreation;

Supervises the establishment and maintenance of extensive recreation records and files;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge, at the expert level of proficiency, of the organizational factors related to developing and administering recreational units and programs;

Knowledge of the principles, practices and methods involved in public recreation programs;

Knowledge of the equipment and literature in the field of recreation;

Knowledge of the economic and cultural problems involved in the planning and organizing of local recreation programs;

Knowledge of the recreation services of State agencies, political subdivisions, and voluntary organizations;

Knowledge of the elementary rules and regulations applicable to various organized sports and recreational activities;

Ability to organize assigned supervisory and technical work in the field of group recreation and develop effective work methods;

Ability to analyze, comprehend, interpret and apply basic law and regulations pertaining to recreation and recreation programs and facilities;

Ability to contact local community governing bodies, and representatives of welfare, civic, health, conservation and other groups interested in or concerned with recreation and provide advice and assistance as needed;

Ability to make the required field inspections, survey local community recreation needs, programs, facilities and prepare reports on their activities;

Ability to give appropriate assignments, instructions, and supervision to field staff and supporting clerical employees;

Ability to communicate to groups of people to gain and retain the confidence and cooperation of associates and the general public.

Education:    A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with specialization in recreation, physical education, park management, forestry or the social sciences.

Experience:  Five years of experience in planning or directing a diversified recreational program for a public agency or a private organization.

                                               OR

Two years of experience performing professional work of a consultative nature in the field of recreation in State government.

Note: Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours of graduate study in community recreational education, social planning or forestry for one year of the required experience.  

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit C- Regulatory, Inspection and Licensure classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classifications series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.