Park Programs Specialist - Volunteer and Community Development Coordinator

SALARY RANGE

WORK ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

The Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator supports the mission of the park system by fostering relationships with community members, recruiting and managing volunteers, coordinating outreach efforts, and collaborating with municipal partners and organizations to promote environmental stewardship, park programming, and community involvement. This role also focuses on the management of the SAYOR (Swim at Your Own Risk) program, the development of strategic partnerships and sponsorships to support park initiatives, ensuring safety protocols and training are in place for all volunteers and staff involved in park programs, and coordinating special events to engage the community.

Volunteer Program Management

Volunteer Recruitment, Training, and Coordination

• Develop and implement strategies to recruit individuals and groups for park system volunteer programs, including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, park clean-ups, and special events.
• Conduct orientation and training sessions to ensure volunteers understand safety protocols, park policies, and their role in supporting park operations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for volunteers, answering inquiries, assigning tasks, and addressing concerns promptly.
• Manage a volunteer database to track hours, projects, and contributions, generating reports for internal use and grant reporting.
• Develop and maintain Volunteer Position Descriptions for all opportunities and update as needed.

Volunteer Event Planning and Logistics

• In cooperation with NRPC. plan and execute volunteer workdays, ensuring all tools, materials, and safety supplies are prepared and available.
• Oversee logistics for annual park events, including Arbor Day, Earth Week, and other large-scale gatherings, coordinating volunteer participation and community involvement.
• Manage the Adopt-A-Trail and Adopt-A-Park programs, facilitating applications, updating signage, and maintaining communication with participants.
• Organize volunteer appreciation initiatives to retain and motivate volunteers.

Community Engagement and Outreach

• Represent the park system at community events to promote volunteer opportunities and engage with the public.
• Develop partnerships with schools, businesses, civic organizations, and nonprofits to support community-focused programs and volunteer initiatives.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to create promotional materials, social media campaigns, and newsletters highlighting volunteer opportunities and success stories.
• Organize and execute educational workshops, field trips, and public engagement events to connect the community and team members with park conservation goals.
• Coordinate and lead presentations on park programs, environmental stewardship, and volunteer opportunities for diverse audiences.

Special Event Coordination

• Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of special park events, including seasonal celebrations, fundraisers, and public outreach events (e.g., Earth Week, JanBoree, Candlelight Hikes, Apple Harvest Festival, and Science Fest).

• Collaborate with internal staff, external partners, and vendors to ensure all logistics are in place for successful events, including permits, supplies, and volunteer staffing.
• Coordinate the scheduling, registration, and volunteer staffing for events, ensuring that volunteers are adequately trained and prepared for their roles.
• Oversee the event day operations, ensuring activities run smoothly, troubleshoot issues, and provide guidance to volunteers and participants.
• Track attendance, revenue, and expenses related to events, and provide post-event reports with recommendations for future improvements.

SAYOR Program Management

• Manage the Swim at Your Own Risk (SAYOR) program at designated park beach locations, including Fox Brook, Menomonee, Naga-Waukee, Muskego, Minooka, and Mukwonago parks.
• Oversee SAYOR policies, procedures, signage, and supplies to ensure compliance with safety standards and park regulations.
• Monitor beach usage, respond to user concerns, and adjust staffing as needed to accommodate group reservations and beach traffic.
• Coordinate with Parks Guest Services for group beach reservations and monitor the reservation system to ensure smooth operations.
• Collaborate with staff to review and update the SAYOR policy annually, making improvements where necessary to enhance safety and user experience.
• Monitor water samples to ensure good water quality, communicate any alternate results out to staff to check for retesting.
  • Ensure online sample results are timely and accurately updated by Environmental Health.

Safety Training & Operations

• Develop and implement safety protocols for all volunteer and community engagement activities, ensuring compliance with park system safety standards.
• Provide regular safety training to volunteers, ensuring they understand park-specific hazards and know how to respond to emergencies.
• Organize and coordinate CPR, First Aid, AED, and Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) training for volunteers and staff who engage directly with park visitors and programs.
• Ensure all volunteers receive proper orientation on park safety practices, including the use of tools, environmental hazards, and proper emergency response procedures.
• Work with park staff to conduct periodic safety drills and assessments for volunteer workdays and community events to ensure preparedness in case of emergencies.
• Maintain up-to-date safety documentation, incident reports, and training records, ensuring compliance with state and local regulations.

Municipal, Partner and Grant Program Management

• Collaborate with municipal partners, community organizations, and local businesses to strengthen park programs and engagement efforts.
• Coordinate with municipal partners on shared initiatives such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and community events.
• Manage partnerships for programs like kayak kiosks, beer gardens, and other collaborative ventures, ensuring alignment with park system goals.
• Oversee grant applications, compliance, and reporting processes for programs like snowmobile trail maintenance, Muskie stocking, or conservation efforts.
  • Submit grant applications, track expenditures, and compile reimbursement requests for funding agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
  • Maintain communication with stakeholders, ensuring all agreements are current and program requirements are met.
• Facilitate agreements with external groups, such as snowmobile clubs or conservation organizations, to support park operations and programming.

Partnership and Sponsorship Development

• Identify and cultivate potential sponsors for park programs, events, and facilities, building long-term relationships to secure funding and resources.
• Use the Partnership Engagement Plan to develop sponsorship packages and proposals that align with park system priorities, ensuring sponsors receive meaningful visibility and value.
• Proactively engage local businesses, community leaders, and organizations to sponsor volunteer events, community programs, and park conservation initiatives.
• Leverage outreach strategies in the Partnership Engagement Plan to secure new corporate, nonprofit, and municipal partnerships that align partner missions with park goals and enhance program offerings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners to obtain funding, in-kind donations, and sponsorship support for park initiatives and events.

Program Development and Evaluation

• Collaborate with park staff, including natural resource managers, coordinators, and field supervisors, to identify sponsorship and volunteer opportunities and secure donations to support programs and projects.
• Regularly evaluate volunteer programs, community engagement strategies, and partnership effectiveness to ensure continuous improvement, inclusivity, and impact.

• Maintain the Volunteer Program Manual and associated documents, ensuring policies, procedures, and resources remain current and effective.

• Measure program success using surveys, participation data, and strategic metrics, providing annual performance reports to leadership.

CLASSIFICATION SPECIFICATION

To view the full classification specification for Park Programs Specialist click here.

Minimum Training & Experience Requirements
1. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor's degree in park and recreation administration or a closely related field.
2. Two years of responsible work experience in park and recreation administration or a closely related field.

Waukesha County provides a comprehensive compensation and benefits package including excellent health/dental/vision, life insurance, generous paid time off (vacation, 10 holidays, 3 floating holidays, ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year), an exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan. Amongst many other benefits, employees are recognized and valued through a pay for performance system. Successful candidates will be eligible for performance-based merit increases and non-base performance awards.

Employee well-being is promoted through a balanced work-life culture and through an exceptional employee wellness program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote an employee's wellness and health, including an on-site health & wellness clinic.

About Us:
Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the wellbeing of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and LEAN principles as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?"

Location:
Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site cafe and fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.

EEO:

Waukesha County is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and adheres to all Federal, State and County Equal Employment Opportunity laws, policies, plans, rules, regulations and ordinances. The County recognizes and accepts its important leadership role in providing for equal employment/service opportunities. It is the express policy of Waukesha County to promote equal employment opportunity among all who are employed by Waukesha County and who seek employment with Waukesha County.

For further information visit:https://www.waukeshacounty.gov

The County does not sponsor applicants for work visas. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.