Elevate Lives as a Recreation Manager

Do you have a passion for enriching lives through recreation and community engagement? Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA) is searching for a dedicated Recreation Manager to lead our vibrant recreational programs and make a meaningful impact on our community. This role is more than just a job; it's a chance to transform lives and champion inclusivity.

Position: Recreation Manager
Department: Recreation
Reports To: Superintendent
FLSA Status: Exempt Employee
Salary: $55,000 - $60,000 DOQ

Summary

As a Recreation Manager, you are directly responsible for the administrative planning, organization and supervision of a broad continuum of programs and services for youth and adults with various abilities residing within NEDSRA communities. The Recreation Manager supervises and manages a team of recreation coordinators, specialists, aides, and volunteers. Additionally, they will work closely with other staff members to ensure that our programs align with our organization's mission and goals. This position is full time and salaried, and hours may exceed 40 hours/week including evenings/weekends.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Program Coordination: Coordinate programs and services tailored for youth and adults with intellectual and developmental impairments.
• Oversight and Coordination: Manage and oversee the adult day and school (including ESY) programs, ensuring seamless coordination.
• Leadership and Supervision: Provide coaching, mentoring, and supervision to full-time employees, foste ring a positive and growth-oriented work environment.
• Direct Program Leadership: Take charge of various NEDSRA programs, leading teams with diverse ability groups to ensure inclusive and engaging experiences.
• Documentation: Generate detailed written work, including comprehensive lesson plans, program/staff evaluations, and reports for the Board.
• Documentation Development: Create essential documentation for program planning, program evaluations, safety inspections, and incident reports.
• Vehicle Operations: Drive agency vehicles with the primary purpose of transporting participants or conducting other necessary agency business.
• Marketing Collaboration: Collaborate with staff, volunteers, and members of member partner districts to enhance program offerings and community awareness through effective marketing efforts.
• Liaison Role: Act as an ambassador and liaison to member partner districts, fostering strong relationships and effective communication.
• Budget Management: Prepare and manage budgets for designated areas of responsibility, ensuring financial efficiency.
• Collaboration: Effectively collaborate with member partner staff, participants, and all other stakeholders to ensure the success of programs.
• Public Presentations: Conduct public presentations to promote services, increase participation, and expand community awareness.
• Fundraising Support: Assist with agency fundraising efforts, including events, grants, and community support, contributing to the financial sustainability of programs.
• Safety Advocacy: Actively support and promote a safe work environment and safe programs by adhering to all safety policies, including program leadership, driver policies, emergency procedures, crisis management, accident/incident reporting, drug-free workplace policies, and communicable disease policies.
• First Aid: Provide first aid for patrons who may experience seizures or other medical conditions, ensuring the well-being of participants.
• Physical Restraint: Occasionally perform physical restraint techniques as required, maintaining a safe environment for all.
• Other Assignments: Undertake additional assignments as required or assigned, reasonably within the scope of the responsibilities.

Safety and Risk Management

• Knowledge Maintenance: Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of all general agency and department-specific safety rules.
• Injury Reporting: Promptly report any work-related injuries to the supervisor, ensuring timely intervention and support.
• Safety Program Participation: Attend required safety programs and in-service education meetings, staying updated on industry best practices.
• Safety Procedure Review: Regularly review safety procedures and identify opportunities for improvement as needed, contributing to a safer environment.
• Unsafe Condition Correction: Take immediate action to correct unsafe conditions within the agency premises and promptly report them to the supervisor.
• Behavioral Addressal: Address unsafe employee and patron behaviors by adopting an approach of correction and coaching, fostering a culture of safety.
• Enforcement of Policies: Enforce safety disciplinary policies and procedures to maintain a secure environment for all stakeholders.
• Incident Reporting: Complete incident/accident report forms meticulously and promptly forward them to the agency claims contact, ensuring appropriate follow-up actions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervision of full-time employees.
• Annual Evaluations of full-time employees.
• Supervise patrons participating in agency programs and activities.
• Provide guidance, direction and feedback to support staff.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Attendance/Punctuality: Demonstrate consistent attendance and on-time arrival.
• Dependability: Follow instructions and respond to management direction, take responsibility for own actions, keep commitments, and complete tasks on time or notify appropriate person.
• Planning/Organizing: Prioritize and plan work activities and use time efficiently. Excellent organizational/time management skills and attention to detail.
• Judgment: Exhibit sound and appropriate judgment, support and explain reasoning for decisions, include appropriate people in decision-making process, and make timely decisions. Ability to analyze database process, systems and reports, and recommend new methods for improved effectiveness and efficiency.
• Professionalism: Approach others in a tactful manner, react well under pressure, treat others with respect and consideration, accept responsibility for own actions, and follow through on commitments.
• Problem Solving: Identify and resolve problems in a timely manner, gather and analyze information skillfully, develop alternative solutions, work well in group problem-solving situations, and use reason even when dealing with emotional topics. Demonstrate ability to multi-task, prioritize and work independently, as well as part of a team, in a fast-paced and deadline based environment.
• Customer Service : Manage difficult or emotional customer situations, respond promptly to customer needs, respond to requests for service and assistance, and meet commitments.
• Interpersonal Skills: Focus on solving conflict, not blaming. Listen to others without interrupting, keep emotions under control, and remain open to others' ideas and try new things. Must have ability to deal with people and patrons under stressful situations.
• Teamwork: Promote and support work teams, put success of team above own interests, and support everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Oral Communication: Listen and get clarification; and respond well to questions.
• Organizational Support: Follow policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

To excel in this role, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• Performance Capability: The ability to perform each essential duty satisfactorily is crucial for success in this position.
• Knowledge, Skill, and Ability: The requirements outlined are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to fulfill the responsibilities of the role.
• Reasonable Accommodations: The organization recognizes the importance of inclusivity and is committed to making reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Education and/or Experience

Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in therapeutic recreation, recreation administration/management, education, or a related field, and at least two years of experience coordinating recreation programs for individuals with disabilities. 

Candidate should have strong leadership and organizational skills, and the ability to plan, budget and implement recreation programs for youth with special needs.  Strong oral and written communication skills are required, as well as interpersonal skills to create good working relationships with participants, family members, teachers, allied professionals and community contacts. 

The position requires proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and use of a recreation data base.

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) highly desired.

Language Skills

Exceptional proofreading, punctuation and grammar skills, as well as good recall. Proficiency in composing clear, professional business correspondence/reports for a variety of audiences. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and to speak effectively. Ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.  Ability to solve problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite applications and Google applications.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Obtain and maintain a valid Illinois state driver’s license and ability to pass the defensive driving course.
• Obtain and maintain CPR and first-aid certification within the first 6 months.
• Obtain and maintain CTRS certification as required.
• Obtain and maintain CPRP certification as required.
• Obtain CPI or related training.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee will assist patrons in moving, transferring and vehicle loading. The employee may occasionally need to perform physical patron-restraint techniques. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to various outside weather conditions including hot temperatures, humidity and cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Benefits:

• Medical Coverage (PPO or HMO)
• Prescription Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Reimbursement Program
• Life Insurance (basic & voluntary)
• Short- and Long-Term Disability (IMRF)
• Pension / Defined Benefit Plan (IMRF)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Generous Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick Time, and Personal Days