Park Operations Specialist

Job Summary Provide Parks visitors and other customers with accurate information regarding parks and parks rules. Act as a liaison with County parks customers, ensuring a smooth and efficient operation. Patrol and monitor visitor activity within parks, assisting in enforcing park rules and regulations. Provide customer service functions and foster positive public relations. Positions may staff a fee booth, collect gate receipts, enter data into a Point of Sale (POS) system, account for the collection of gate receipts, calculate change, control and distribute parks permits and reconcile and prepare bank deposits within assigned parks. Ensures revenues are collected, reconciled and deposited efficiently in accordance with rules, procedures and practices. Assist with light park maintenance duties. Participate in park interpretive tours and programs. Open, or assist with, opening and closing the parks. Lead and train subordinates. May assist with medical emergencies and rescues. Functions as a lead worker – trains, schedules and leads subordinates. Assist supervisor with administrative tasks, annual work plans, and other projects as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is an entry level position in the Park operations classification. The position is distinguished from the Park Tech I and II position by requiring additional duties, including may function as a lead worker. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department. This position requires the candidate to have familiarity with and understanding of Parks policies and procedures so that they can facilitate direct training of new employees. Ensures consistency in park operations and customer service by monitoring and implementing established standard operating procedures and guidelines Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists Park Supervisor(s) with administrative tasks such as Purchase Requests, organizing work orders, permit and asset inventory, event planning and coordination, Annual Work plans projects, etc.
• Ensures that visitors and other customers are consistently provided with accurate information regarding parks and park rules. Provides customer service functions and fosters positive public relations.
• Patrols and monitors visitor activity within parks, assisting in enforcing park rules and regulations. Reports incidents, hazards, and violations of park rules.
• Performs traffic control within assigned park as needed.
• Assists with light maintenance duties as required, including restroom checks, spot cleans as necessary, litter control within the parks and facility clean up and preparation. Some positions may perform additional maintenance duties as needed.
• Closes the park.
• Serves as a team member or independent worker on a variety of park projects or assignments.
• Collects, safeguards, and accurately records parks fees.
• Assists with medical emergency calls and rescues.
• Leads and trains seasonal Park Technician I and II subordinates.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Education and experience: equivalent to a high school diploma or G.E.D. AND two (2) years of parks experience, including two (2) years of cash handling and customer service experience. OR, Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred:

Bi-lingual in Spanish and English. First Aid or CPR or Texas Department of State Health Services Emergency Medical Technician

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, local and county applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Applicable safety practices and regulations.
• Computer equipment including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation and report preparation.
• Customer service.
• Understanding of fundamental leadership techniques.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Point of Sale system, cash handling, calculating change, and procedures of recordkeeping and reconciliation

Skill in:

• Supervising and training staff.
• Supervising parks revenue collection.
• Enforcing rules in a tactful and authoritative manner.
• Bookkeeping and math.
• Both verbal and written communication, including conveying and following instructions and providing information to the public.
• Providing excellent customer service in a courteous and professional manner.
• Resolving conflicts, complaints and concerns.
• Dealing with a wide variety of situations using sound judgement in a calm, courteous manner.
• Problem solving and decision making.
• Time management.
• Strong interpersonal communication.
• Training others and overseeing the work of others.
• Requires skill in operating a Point of Sale (POS) system, handling cash, calculating change, reconciling, and recordkeeping.
• Effective verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Lead, motivate, train, and oversee subordinate staff.
• Read and interpret documents.
• Develop educational programs and make presentations.
• Manage time well and meet timelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.
• Organize, plan and prioritize.
• Perform multiple tasks.
• Resolve disputes between user groups, visitors, and employees.
• Work in a team environment.
• Coordinate the work of others.
• Be self-directed, self-motivated and work independently and as a team member to accomplish parks objectives.
• Perform multitasking with frequent interruptions.
• Requires the ability to accurately complete and record cash transactions. Understand and carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Learn and accurately disseminate park information, rules and regulations.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the general public, departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, and other County employees and officials.

Work Environment & Other Information Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, reaching, twisting, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to extreme temperatures, outside elements, noise, vibration, contact with dust, fumes and hazardous chemicals, foul odors, animal and human fecal matter, insects and rodents. Some positions require driving. Hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity to operate a computer and office equipment.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: Sunday - Wednesday closing shift. Closing shifts can vary depending on reservation schedule. Works some holidays, some nights, and some weekends Location: Bee Creek Sports Complex, 4440 Bee Creek Road Spicewood, TX 78669

Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Sylvia.Villanueva@traviscountytx.gov

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Benefits

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.FY2027 Travis County Benefit Guide In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees. Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits. Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction. Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit. Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family. Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction. Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs. Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County’s current policy is to pay 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment. Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year. Parking A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex. Personal Holidays Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins: January – March 3 personal holidays April - June 2 personal holidays

July - September 1 personal holiday

October - December None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.Retirement Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees. Sick Leave Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work. Tuition Refund Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily. Vacation Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates: 0 to 5 years 4.0 hours per pay period 6 to 10 years 4.5 hours per pay period 11 to 15 years 5.0 hours per pay period 16 to 20 years 5.5 hours per pay period 21 plus years 6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.Workers' Compensation The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.