Recreation Specialist Jobs
Recreation Specialist jobs are open across parks and recreation departments, municipal agencies, healthcare systems, and nonprofits, from entry-level to senior program coordinator, with specializations in therapeutic recreation, youth programming, and outdoor education. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description
Isle of Wight County is currently recruiting for a full-time Recreation Specialist. Under general direction, the Recreation Specialist performs supervisory work involving the coordination and planning of a youth and adult sports leagues, recreation programs, special events, and programs provided to County residents through the Parks and Recreation department. Additional work involves processing program registrations, recording and depositing revenues, administering budget, preparing statistical reports, and supervising division personnel. Reports to the Recreation Manager.
Examples of Duties
- Plans and implements new and existing athletic programs, develops schedules for leagues, tournaments or other activities, schedules and reserves use of facilities, communicates with maintenance staff, coaches and officials and moves equipment as needed.
- Performs logistical operation of program sites to include: coordination of all components, and supervision of staff and program participants required to operate a youth or adult sports program;
- Provides assistance with program administration including the preparation and distribution of program information as requested;
- Attends organizational meetings for programs, provides input, and program information to departmental and site staff;
- Helps formulate, update, enforce and secure any rules and regulations that apply to a youth and adult sports;
- Enters program activities into the program registration database;
- Coordinates information pertaining to a particular program including: cancellations to program participants, contractual staff or others as required;
- Coordinates departmental procedures as they relate to incidents and / or accidents that may occur with a particular program;
- Accepts, receives, and/or collects payments;
- Prepares and/or processes purchase orders;
- Performs inventory/property management;
- Makes recommendations that impact the budget;
- Manages the budget within assigned unit/division;
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
- Observe all approved safety and health policies and procedures pertaining to his/her work activities and perform all work tasks in a safe and healthy manner in accordance with County policy.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work is medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Requires the use of fingers, balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, grasping, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, stooping, talking, visual acuity, and walking.
Required Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Leisure Services, Sports Management or closely related field and one (1) year of experience or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience involving athletic program development and management. Work experience as a supervisory role is preferred.
Licenses or Certifications:
NAYS Certified Youth Sports Administrator, First Aid and CPR certifications preferred but not required.
Driver's License valid in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Supplemental Information
Please Note: All County employees may be required to report to serve our customers during emergency conditions. While some will perform their regular duties, others may be assigned to report at a different time and location and to perform different duties from their regular jobs. Employees will either be deemed essential personnel and provide services that must continue regardless of or pursuant to a state of emergency or will be deemed nonessential personnel that will be required to report to work in an emergency if they receive an assignment to shelter duty or other duty.
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Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in recreation specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in recreation management, kinesiology, or a related field
- Current CPR and First Aid certification from an accredited organization
- Experience planning, coordinating, and evaluating community recreation programs
- Proficiency with scheduling and registration software used in parks and recreation
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel between program sites
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential for clinical or healthcare settings
Tips for Your Recreation Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume for program types
Recreation specialist roles vary widely between therapeutic recreation, youth sports, and senior programming. Customize your resume for each cluster, highlighting the population you served and the specific programs you designed, not just facility operations or administrative tasks.
List certifications in a prominent section
Certifications like CTRS, CPR, First Aid, and Lifeguard Training are screened early by hiring managers. Put them in a dedicated section near the top of your resume so they're visible before a reviewer reaches your work history.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists recreation specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target agencies by their program funding cycles
Municipal parks departments and nonprofit recreation programs often hire on seasonal or grant-funded cycles. Search for openings in late winter and early fall, when budgets reset and new programming seasons are staffed, to catch the highest volume of postings.
Bring documentation of participation outcomes
Interviewers for recreation specialist roles frequently ask how you measure program success. Prepare one or two concrete examples of attendance growth, participant feedback, or community impact from programs you ran, stated in plain language without internal jargon.
Negotiate schedule flexibility, not just pay
Recreation specialist roles often include evening and weekend hours. When an offer comes, ask directly about comp time, shift rotation policies, and holiday coverage expectations. These affect daily quality of life far more than a small pay difference.
Recreation Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most recreation specialists?
The most active employers for recreation specialists right now are City of Akron, OH, Henry Ford Health, and Town of Brookline, and the most openings are in Virginia, Michigan, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Municipal parks departments and large healthcare systems tend to post the highest volume throughout the year.
How many recreation specialist jobs are remote?
About 0% of recreation specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most of the role involves in-person programming and facility coordination. Administrative functions like grant writing, program planning, and scheduling coordination are the sub-areas most likely to allow some remote flexibility.
How do you become a recreation specialist?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in recreation management, therapeutic recreation, kinesiology, or a closely related field. Gain hands-on experience through internships or seasonal positions at parks departments, community centers, or nonprofits. Obtain CPR and First Aid certification, and if you plan to work in healthcare settings, pursue the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Can you get hired as a recreation specialist with little experience?
Entry-level recreation specialist roles are realistic to land if you've worked in seasonal parks jobs, summer camps, youth sports leagues, or volunteer recreation programs. Hiring managers weight direct experience with specific populations over degree prestige. Apply to part-time or seasonal positions first to build a portfolio of programs you've planned and run, then move to full-time roles.
What does the recreation specialist interview process look like?
Most recreation specialist interviews involve an initial phone screen with HR, followed by a panel interview with a recreation supervisor and sometimes a program coordinator. Expect scenario-based questions about handling participant conflicts, adapting activities for different ability levels, and managing program logistics under budget constraints. Some employers ask candidates to outline a sample program as a practical exercise before or during the final interview.
Where can I find and apply to recreation specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to recreation specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your specialization and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and location preferences.
See All 62 Recreation Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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