Park Manager

Working Schedule

• Park Managers work at least full-time, with overtime possible when problems arise such as damage or safety concerns. The job entails lots of standing, walking, or kneeling. Expect exposure to various climate conditions, including heat, humidity, dampness, rain, and storms. Park Managers face the risk of encounters with wildlife. Travel may be necessary if assigned to manage multiple parks. 

Typical Duties

• Oversee maintenance and operations of parks, campgrounds, and facilities for recreational, educational, and professional use
• Ensure visitor safety, comfort, and enjoyment to include suitable recreational activities and access to walking paths
• Monitor proper fencing off of restricted areas such as hazardous cliffs or places where animals may dwell
• Safeguard and preserve natural habitats, landmarks, or archaeological sites in accordance with local, state, or federal mandates. Posts proper signage and warnings
• Protect wildlife and conservation areas from undue disturbance by visitors. Engage with conservation agencies, wildlife biologists, foresters, and other experts 
  • Give special attention to areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places and to Threatened and Endangered animals and plants
  • Protect natural bodies of water from visitor pollution
• Manage budgets, establish short and long-term goals, and generate action plans to boost revenue
• Stay in communication with employees reporting conditions and status updates from other stations
• Review receipts and vouchers, proposed purchases, inventory lists, and plans for renovations, upgrades, or other construction
• Collaborate with stakeholders, designers, and engineers on construction planning. Ensure suitable equipment is used and environmental impacts are minimized 
• Maintain community relations with volunteers groups; serve as the public representative of the park
• Liaison as needed with appropriate governmental agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service
• Negotiate and review agreements and contracts with contractors, vendors, concessionaires, and farmers
• Schedule inspections of campgrounds, boat ramps, picnic areas, and other sites
• Maintain oversight of equipment and vehicle fleets
• Ensure adequate utilities such as water, heating, cooling, power, trash collection, and Internet service
• Review educational and cultural programs and activities offered 

Additional Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison to law enforcement agencies and emergency first responders. Guide response efforts, as necessary
• Manage, train, and supervise assigned staff members, seasonal workers, and volunteers. Oversee processes for allowing incarcerated individuals assigned to work details
• Organize or help with events, tours, and activities
• Share information with the public via website updates, social media posts, open houses, flyers, and public announcements 
• Reply to requests from the public via email, phone, or in writing
• Aid with Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) results
• Enforce park policies and issue citations for violations 

Soft Skills

• Analytical
• Budget-conscious 
• Coordinating and instructing skills 
• Detail-oriented
• Initiative
• Integrity
• Leadership and management skills
• Organizational skills
• Patience
• Practicality 
• Public relations
• Quality assurance mindset
• Reliable 
• Resourcefulness
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Strong communication skills, including active listening and negotiation

Technical Skills

• Basic knowledge of budgeting, accounting, bookkeeping, records management, and office applications such as Microsoft Suite 
• Familiarity with common heavy machinery and equipment used in parks and nature preserves 
• Familiarity with contracts and agreements
• First aid, CPR, and emergency management and response
• Knowledge of animal and plant diseases and pest management
• Knowledge of human resources, payroll, worker rights, applicable safety standards and regulations, and facilities management
• Knowledge of irrigation systems, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides (and their safe application), and general horticulture
• Knowledge of natural science and applicable conservation practices
• Project management skills 
• Stamina

• Local, state, and national parks

Park Managers are entrusted with both public safety and the preservation of natural habitats. They must ensure visitors have safe, pleasant experiences while minimizing a human impact on local plant and animal species. Many parks feature play areas for children, with structures such as swings, slides, jungle gyms, and other equipment that must be vigilantly maintained to protect users from injury. 

Meanwhile, parks with camping sites bear an inherent risk of wildfires, as many campers are negligent and leave fires unattended or discard burning cigarettes. The National Park Service notes that 85% of wildland fires are caused by humans. These devastating incidents wipe out millions of acres as well as millions of animals every year. From 2021-2022, “wildfires accounted for over $11.2 billion in damage across the United States,” per Bankrate. Park Managers often have limited control over such occurrences, but they must do everything in their power to prevent them. 

You might not realize it, but there’s a lot going on in the world of parks and parks management! In urban areas, rising heat levels are being combated by incorporating parks and other green spaces. Meanwhile, the industry has been impacted by the loss of many part-time staff and other workers leaving crucial positions unfilled. 

More and more, technology is finding its way into parks (as it does with every aspect of our lives!). From wheeled robots delivering food to commercial drones scouting out hard-to-access areas, there’s apparently no escaping tech! 

Two major acts of government are behind many changes in the field—the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, which “permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Act at $900 million annually” and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, providing billions of dollars for “land acquisition, park and recreation planning, and infrastructure maintenance, repair, and development.” 

Park Managers come from all sorts of backgrounds! Many spent their childhoods playing outdoors, often visiting parks and campgrounds with their families. However, some rarely set foot in parks yet has a keen interest in public safety, recreation, environmentalism, plants, and wildlife. 

It takes a broad range of skills to effectively manage a park, especially a very large one or one that features facilities, water access, camping spots, or inherent risks such as dangerous animals living within the vicinity where the public has access. Park Managers must be extremely reliable and responsible individuals, which are traits they likely developed early on at school or at home.