Recreation Specialist I

Job Posting End Date:

November 12, 2026

Department:

PARKS AND RECREATION

Compensation Grade:

G20

Compensation Range & Starting Salary:

Pay Range: $44,907.20 - $69,971.20
Starting salary - Minimum of the Pay Range

Job Exempt (If No, Position is eligible for overtime):

No

About Us:

At Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation, our success is because of our dedicated employees.  We are intentional about creating an employee experience where you are empowered to reach your full potential, are supported through strength-based initiatives, and are confident in your abilities. We champion a workplace culture built on our cultural foundations: Professionalism, Respect, Accountability, Integrity, and Citizenship.  These guiding principles of behavior cultivate a positive and high performing work environment.  Success is recognized and celebrated, and legendary experiences are the core of who we are.

Job Duties and Preferred Qualifications:

Our Commitment

Work with the best – work for Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation! Join our team and contribute to our 60+ year track record of providing legendary experiences! We are dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and protecting our environment. We ensure all residents – regardless of their physical, social, and economic circumstances – can access our programs. By providing enriching and memorable lifelong experiences, we strive to enhance the quality of life for our community by improving the physical and mental well-being of our residents.

 

Day to Day Job Duties

 

Duties will include but not be limited to:

• Plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate the programs, operations, and facilities of Sports Management while providing excellent customer service to internal and external customers. 
•  Assist with the planning and execution of outdoor athletic field and facility maintenance. 
•  Assist in planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the programs, operations, and facilities of the Sports  Management Unit. 
• Facilitate appropriate staffing levels, set-up and breakdown for rentals and recreation sponsored events.
• Enforce City and department policies, procedures, and practices.
• Assume duties of supervisors in their absence.
• Operate City vehicles.
• Execute athletic field maintenance and equipment set up/break down such as goals, benches and temporary fences in  various weather conditions. 
• Serve as a point of contact for renters and work team to coordinate events, leagues, rentals, and the day-to-day functions of  Sports Management athletic facilities. 
• Utilize facility booking and league management software daily to create and amend use contracts, monitor payments,  administer leagues, and schedule field lighting. 
• Part-time staff supervision, to include hiring, training, scheduling, coaching/counseling, evaluating and discipline, across  multiple facilities while considering all program and facility needs. 
• Assist work team to develop, draft and enforce standardized operating policies and procedures that provide equitable  service to our patrons while ensuring programs and facilities provide enriching and memorable lifelong experiences. 
• Coordinate facility use (parks, athletic complexes, schools, and recreation centers) in collaboration with other divisions,  departments and organizations within the City of Virginia Beach. 
• Conduct site visits to provide team members support and ensure Unit expectations are being met. 
• Respond to inquiries/complaints via phone, email or in-person in a timely, professional manner and effectively resolve  issues. 
• Investigate accident, incident, and vandalism issues, follow proper reporting procedures, and ensure corrective action is  initiated and documented. 
• Provide information for annual budget preparation and monitor revenue and expenditures. Oversee the collection of  revenue from program registration, field rentals, and lighting fees, while providing accurate accountability. 
• Maintain appropriate inventory of supplies and equipment for athletic leagues. 
• Prepare, analyze, and interpret various statistical reports to aid in decision making.

 Perform other job duties requiring skills, knowledge and physical requirements as demanded by those duties described or less. Individual assignments will be determined by the supervisor based on the current workloads and department needs. 

Requires a current and valid Driver’s license 

Ideal Candidate In addition to the minimum requirements, the ideal candidate for this position will have experience listed below. Candidates should ensure the information is provided in the application. 

Experience mentoring and coaching part-time staff or volunteers.

Experience in facility maintenance and operations related to athletic programs/complexes

Experience with rules and regulations of youth and adult athletic leagues

Experience using Microsoft Computer programs (Word, Access, Outlook, Excel) and Active Net Ability to manage challenging interpersonal working relationships with employees and the public

Schedule

This position is a mixture of an office setting and field setting.

Must be available to work varied hours (mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays) to meet operational and event needs.

Schedules will be adjusted seasonally and will vary weekly based on events, facility coverage, and weather.

Will work extended shifts greater than 8 hours but not more than 16 hours in one shift.

Will work event hours as early as 6 AM and late as midnight or into the following day.

The individual selected for this position will be housed at a primary site but may be scheduled between other park sites/facilities. Schedules will be adjusted seasonally and will vary weekly based on events, facility coverage, and weather.  All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours, overtime, splits shifts or maybe be relocated to another location or job assignment in response to short- term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies including weekends, evenings and holidays.

Training

As a condition of employment, all employees must attend P&R Connection (Department Orientation). If selected for the position, you will be provided an approximate training date at the time of hire. Training is held from 8:30am-5:00pm, every other Friday, at the Parks & Recreation Administration Building. When an exemption is permittable, a hybrid version of the training is available, but will require training attendance on a weekend.

Alpha I

The position you are applying for is designated as Alpha I, requiring the selected candidate to work, regardless of the City’s operational status. All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.

The Perks

Employees who are new to the Virginia Retirement System are eligible for:

Annual Leave and Sick Leave

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Coverage

Legal and Identity Theft Protection

Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Hybrid Retirement Plan & Basic Life Insurance

Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (COV457)

Basic Life Insurance

Optional Life Insurance

Wellness Programs

Employee Assistance Program / Work-Life Services

Paid Maternity/Paternity/Parental Care Leave

Additional requirements:
• DMV Transcript: Yes
• CDL: No
• Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse: No
• CPS Check: Yes/No
• Physical: Yes/No
• Respirator: No
• Psychological Screening: No
• Polygraph: No
• At Will: No

This position is being advertised as a pool, and applications could be used to fill current vacancies and any other similar Recreation Specialist I –that become available within six months from the closing date of this posting.

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications: Requires a Bachelor’s degree in recreation management, therapeutic recreation, exercise science, or a related field; OR any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to four (4) years in fields utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities and associated with such positions as recreation leader or recreation program supervisor. May be required to have a current and valid driver’s license. May require a Commercial driver’s license.

Special Requirements: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies. Must be available to work varied hours, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays and overtime when required to meet operational needs. This position may require incumbents to wear and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, steel-toed shoes, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, or other safety attire and equipment in designated areas of risk. Specific requirements will be determined and communicated by the employee’s supervisor based on position assigned. Alpha I Status: Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the City’s operational status.

Special Requirements: for Aquatics Only: Requires a valid lifeguarding certification through a nationally recognized course with standards equivalent to or exceeding those set by the American Red Cross, such as, but not limited to valid American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, National Lifeguard Certification, or YMCA Lifeguard Training Certification. Requires a current swim instructor certification from a nationally, industry, or locally recognized organization, such as, but not limited to, American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, YMCA, National Safety Council, or Starfish Aquatic Institute. Candidates holding certifications other than American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED and American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certifications must successfully complete the required crossover certifications within 90 days of hire. Occasionally to frequently required to lifeguard during times of staff shortage. Lifeguarding duties include providing a safe swimming environment, enforcing rules, rescuing anyone in danger of drowning, administering first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, oxygen and use of AED.

Special Requirements: for Early Childhood Programs Only: Must be at least 21 years of age and meet the current minimum program director staff qualifications as listed in the Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers document published by the Department of Education, Commonwealth of Virginia.

Special Requirements: for Therapeutic Recreation Only: Must possess a national certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist - Professional level.

Special Requirements: for Group Fitness Only: Must possess a current national level Group Fitness certification from ACE, NASM, or comparable. Certification must be recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Special Requirements: for Personal Training Only: Must possess a current national level Personal Training certification from ACSM, ACE, NASM, or comparable. Certification must be recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Skills:

Working Conditions:

Per HR Policy 6.19, Americans with Disabilities, the City follows the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all hiring and employment decisions. The City shall not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring and employment practices. The City shall make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability upon request unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the City’s business. 

The Working Conditions Summary is intended to provide a general overview of the environmental conditions inherent in the job setting, as well as the physical, mental, and sensory requirements necessary to perform the essential functions of the position in the noted job profile.  Please copy and paste the URL below into your web browser to view the Working Conditions Summary for this position.

https://workingcondition-summary-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/P9760.pdf

Official Job Descriptions:

To browse official job descriptions, please access this link - https://virginiabeach.gov/careers/job-descriptions-pay-plans?search=&group=E

VRS Contribution: All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

Drug Free Workplace: The City of Virginia Beach maintains a drug free workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: The City of Virginia Beach is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status as defined by applicable law.