Recreation Specialist (Youth Development), Grade 21

Posting number: 2026-00418

Department: Department of Recreation

Division: REC 72 Youth Development

Job classification: Recreation Specialist

Posting type: Internal/External Applicants

Categories: Recreation, Parks and Recreation

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Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $72,567 - $101,901, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.  

WHO WE ARE
Montgomery County Department of Recreation is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with a mission to provide high quality, diverse, and accessible community-based programs, activities, and services that serve the recreation and leisure needs of the Montgomery County community. The department manages 39 facilities including recreation centers, senior centers, and indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities and provides thousands of programs such as out-of-school activities, aquatics, classes, youth and adult sports programs and leagues, senior programs, and therapeutic recreation.

The Department is seeking dynamic & experienced, full-time Recreation Specialists whose creativity and knowledge can be demonstrated in a wide range of services for the Youth Development team. The goal of the Youth Development team is to keep young people healthy, productive and connected during out of school time through a full range of out of school time recreational, leisure and youth development activities. Examples of duties

Recreation Specialists are responsible for programs that make a positive difference in the lives of youth!

• Out of School Time Program Oversight–You will develop, schedule, promote, implement, supervise and evaluate programs with a focus on positive youth development. Activities include (but are not limited to) after-school programs, special events, summer camps, workforce and professional development programs and activities, sports leagues and related learning opportunities for youth, school-aged children through late adolescence.
• Leading & Coaching Teams of Seasonal Staff - You will recruit, train, provide direction and guidance to, supervise, support timekeeping of and retain a diverse seasonal workforce. You will also maintain stability of seasonal employees by modeling desired behaviors through consistent and positive work ethic, and by advocating on behalf of the management team.
• Developing Creative & Engaging Programming for Youth, including Special Events- You will identify trends and prepare program plans in recreation and youth development based on data to meet community needs. This includes budgeting, collaborating with contractors, completing assessments and procuring/inventorying of program equipment and supplies.
• Building Supportive Relationships with Communities, Schools & Families– You will establish and maintain effective working relationships with program stakeholders, provide excellent customer service and demonstrate professional courtesy to those encountered through work

Recreation professionals are responsible for demonstrating effective and thorough communication skills, both orally and in writing; possess a consistent and positive work ethic; and have experience working cross-culturally and/or commitment to work towards improving one’s own cultural competence and the cultural competence of staff (i.e., valuing differences/ diversity, recognizing personal limitations in one’s expertise and having the desire to learn in these areas.)

Scheduling for this position will vary but requires the availability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and non-traditional work hours to support program. It may require work that involves physical demands, occasionally working outdoors in varying weather and extreme temperatures, and the ability to occasionally attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the assigned facility.

Important things to Know:

• This position will require work beyond a standard 40-hour week, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and on occasion, in outdoor or extreme weather conditions.
• The selected candidate will be required to complete a background investigation and Limited Core Medical Exam with Drug Screen prior to appointment.
• This position may require on-site facility management responsibilities and will involve travel to various program locations throughout the County.
• To ensure compliance with laws and to support a positive work culture, all required mandatory trainings must be completed within 3 to 6 months of hire, or as specified.

Qualifications

• Experience: Two (2) years of progressively responsible recreational specialist work involving planning, organizing, supervising, and implementing an area-wide, countywide, or special interest recreation program.
• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education, experience and training may be substituted.

Supplemental information

• Experience planning, organizing, promoting, and directing a variety of recreation and leisure programs.
• Experience recruiting, hiring, training, evaluating, and supervising staff/volunteers.
• Experience developing and maintaining a budget. Specific examples of the size and the complexity of the budget are preferred.
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with individuals, groups, and agencies interested in or involved in youth-related programming and recreation activities.
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite, Oracle, and/or other database management systems. Providing specific examples of when and how these systems were used is preferable.
• Knowledgeable of and experience in applying theories, principles, and practices common in the field of recreation and positive youth development.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating program results and presenting outcomes, both qualitative and quantitative, especially in programming for vulnerable populations.