Recreation Manager

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Announcement:

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

Resume

Cover Letter

References

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 June 24, 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Special Information:

This position may be eligible for a statutory base pay increase of $1.00 an hour effective July 1, 2026.

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.

This position is for the Recreation Manager of Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park in southwest Montana. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park were Montana's first state park and continues to be one of the most popular parks in the state park system. The park offers guided tours through the caverns, camping, hiking, biking, and many other activities and amenities. This position will be based in Whitehall or Three Forks, Montana. Southwest Montana is a rapidly growing area with extensive recreational opportunities and within easy reach of several larger cities (Bozeman, Butte, and Helena) and Montana's busiest airport (Bozeman/Yellowstone International Airport).

The position is full-time permanent within the FWP Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division and comes with a competitive benefits package. Work shifts will vary according to operational demands, special events, and visitation patterns, but typically require working at least one weekend day per week, and part or all of busy summer holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day and as assigned the rest of the year. The job will require frequent travel within the region and may require travel to other parts of Montana. Travel out of state would be infrequent. The position requires a current Driver's License, ability to walk/hike on uneven terrain for up to 2 miles, and to be comfortable working in a cave environment. The Recreation Manager will perform fieldwork at all times of the year and in all weather conditions, ranging from -30 degrees F in the winter to over 100 degrees F in the summer. Office can be extensive and will occur in proximity to a busy and sometimes noisy office with high public visitation.

Job Duties:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, through its employees and citizen commission and board, provides for the stewardship of the fish, wildlife, parks, and recreational resources of Montana, while contributing to the quality of life for present and future generations. In support of this mission, the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division is responsible for: visitor use, recreation management, and maintenance at state parks, fishing access sites, and wildlife management areas; river recreation management; access for hunting, fishing, and other types of recreation on public and private lands; shooting range development; and administration of trail and shooting range grant programs. In conjunction with the rest of the agency and its external partners, the Division provides valued services to the public and manages human use to ensure the long-term sustainability of Montana's scenic, historic, cultural, archaeological, and fish and wildlife resources.

This position oversees recreation management at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park and several Fishing Access Sites (FASs) along the Jefferson River in southwest Montana. The position manages and coordinates all aspects of non-maintenance operations at those sites, including broad administrative, operational, recreation, visitor use, natural, cultural, and historical resource activities. Except for maintenance functions, this position oversees daily site and program operations, employees, visitor use and behavior, and facilities at assigned sites. The Recreation Manager may also be tasked with conducting public use rule compliance duties within the scope of their training. Where applicable, this position provides essential services and tasks as they arise, 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 Regional Recreation Manager based in Bozeman and directly supervises other staff and volunteers. In the absence of the Regional Recreation Manager, a Recreation Manager may be assigned acting duties. A Recreation Manager may be assigned to multiple geographic units or be called upon to assist with, collaborate on, or share management of another geographic unit as circumstances require.

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.