Assistant Recreation Manager

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Announcement:

Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.

Resume

Cover Letter

Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on November 8th, 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Special Information:

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

Effective June 22, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/

The Assistant Recreation Manager position for the Flathead Lake District is based out of the Flathead Lake Ranger Station located within the Wayfarers Unit of Flathead Lake State Park just outside of Bigfork, Montana. Flathead Lake District includes one of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks premiere state parks: Flathead Lake State Park, which consists of six different and unique park units: Big Arm, Finley Point, Wayfarers, West Shore, Wild Horse Island, and Yellow Bay. The Flathead Lake District also encompasses five fishing access sites, and seven wildlife management areas, including 4 islands.

The Flathead Lake District has over 2,800 acres, 146 campsites, 3 yurts/2 cabin rentals, picnic shelter rentals, nine boat launches, a boat marina, over 9 miles of hiking trails, four entrance stations, and a ranger station.

Flathead Lake itself is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River with 188 miles of shoreline. It is host to an abundance of recreational opportunities year-round, with summer swimming, hiking, wildlife watching, boating and fishing being the most popular.

Job Duties:

The Assistant Recreation Manager is assigned to a geographic unit and assists with the management and coordination of all aspects of non-maintenance operations at the Flathead Lake Recreation District. This work primarily encompasses broad administrative, personal, operational, recreation, visitor use, natural, cultural, and historical resource management activities. Except for maintenance functions, this position oversees daily site and program operations, employees, visitor use and behavior, and facilities at assigned sites. This position provides essential services, including but not limited to addressing public safety concerns, fee collection and remittance, interpretation and education, visitor use data collection, and special recreation permit and commercial use permit compliance. The position is supervised by the Flathead Lake District Recreation Manager and will supervise the majority of the Flathead Lake District’s seasonal and volunteer staff. This position will also provide guidance and direction to other park staff that is not directly supervised by this position. In the absence of the Recreation Manager, the Assistant Recreation Manager may be assigned acting duties.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Plan, organize and manage recreational use to meet visitor needs and to help prevent or resolve user conflicts and resource degradation.

• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises and evaluates staff, up to 10 seasonal, and 24 volunteers.

• Ensures site staff are trained in reservation programs, safety protocols and site operations.

• Monitor impacts to site infrastructure and resources and develop solutions with relevant staff and regional leadership to correct or mitigate problematic impacts.

• Helps patrol assigned units via motor vehicle, foot, motorboat or snowmobile as necessary to monitor visitor activities and resource conditions.

• Checks compliance with fee payment, special recreation, and commercial use permits.

• Review, issue, and manage concession and special use permits, balancing this with public use of recreation sites.

• Oversee the districts enterprise program, including inventorying, purchasing, budgeting and pricing of the parks gift shop items.

• Collaborate with maintenance staff to ensure recreation sites are safe and well maintained.

• Assist with collection and reporting of visitation data and visitor surveys.

• Address and resolve visitor conflicts and complaints.

• Collaborate with local FWP wardens and local law enforcement agencies in enforcement of laws, rules and regulations.

• Ensure the safety of staff and visitors through training, use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence of safety training in accordance with FWP Policy.

• Prepare, implement and train staff on emergency response plans.

• Oversee the district-wide interpretive program and participate in day-to-day and special events programs.

• Assist with the operation, maintaining, and training staff on the safe operation of the motorboat used to access the islands within the district.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through a bachelor’s degree in Park Management, Resource Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, or a related field and at least 2 years of job-related experience. Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.