What You'll Be Doing

Bring your experience to Wake County as our next Assistant Park Manager! We are looking for someone with proven experience in park maintenance, operation and management. Join our team in this exciting opportunity as we strive to keep the parks and amenities beautiful by directly managing and maintaining our park grounds, facilities and natural resources.

As the first established county park, Lake Crabtree County Park offers visitors opportunities for outdoor recreation. Located on a 215-acre site adjacent to a 520-acre flood control lake and near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the park hosts more than 16 miles of trails. Lake Crabtree County Park offers visitors amenities including picnic shelters, playgrounds, floodplain forest, an open play area, mountain biking, and a six-mile loop hiking trail around the lake. A seasonal boat rental operation (May-September) complements the year-round boating and fishing access on the lake. Park staff manage “286,” which provides nearly 7 miles of dual-use unpaved trails for mountain biking and hiking. This 150-acre property is located between Umstead State Park and Lake Crabtree County Park. Lake Crabtree County Park offers a unique experience supporting the outdoor recreational needs in the heart of the Triangle community.

Essential Functions:

• Effectively manage all aspects of maintenance and operations at Lake Crabtree County Park including a variety of landscapes and facilities, natural resources, playgrounds, trails and budget development
• Provide positive, innovative and visionary leadership
• Commit to culturally competent visitor engagement and be able to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic environment to meet the needs of all visitors
• Lead and mentor a team of 3-5 regular and temporary staff members while supporting their professional development
• Support the program team in providing educational and recreational programming, gardens and special events
• Provide excellent customer service while ensuring our park facilities are welcoming, open, clean and safe for the community to enjoy
• Assists in the planning and development of park capital improvement projects
• Assist with EVERYTHING else that it takes to operate a park including such opening/closing facilities, janitorial duties, contractor management and more

About Our Team

Wake County is one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation and the most populous county in the state, with more than 1.1 million residents. The County has received national and international rankings and accolades from publications such as Money, Fortune and Time magazines as one of the best places to live, work and play - and it’s no surprise. As part of the Community Services Department, the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Division (we like to call ourselves PROS) is a talented team devoted to ensuring our parks are accessible and welcoming. Our Mission: PROS preserves open space, promotes stewardship, and provides equitable and inclusive education and outdoor recreation for a diverse and growing community. PROS connects people to the things we love most - history, nature and outdoor recreation. As a member of our team, you’ll regularly interact with our community, deliver services that are highly valued by residents and support operations of our parks and facilities. We offer preservation, education and recreation opportunities across our (now!) nine parks and three nature preserves 361 days a year. Our parks have never been more popular! We serve nearly 2 million visitors annually and are actively planning and designing new facilities. Our community loves our parks (and so do we!). See for yourself at wake.gov/parks.

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Parks, History, Parks Administration or related field
• Two years of experience in parks management or parks supervision
• Valid Driver's License and "safe" driving record
• Depending on area of employment, Pesticide Applicator's License may be required after initial hire
• Depending on area of employment, Playground Inspector Certification may be required after initial hire
• Depending on area of employment, CPR certification may be required after initial hire
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

• Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Three or more years of experience overseeing park maintenance and operations
• Mechanically inclined and have general knowledge of park equipment, machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair and maintenance
• Experience supervising beginner or entry level personnel
• Hold or in process of attaining a professional certification such as Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or NC Environmental Education Certification

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• Excellent communication skills. You have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain positive, productive relationships with staff, colleagues, volunteers and partner organizations
• Ability to foster a work culture in which different ideas and opinions are encouraged and expected
• Ability to encourage others to be innovative and create and try new things
• Knowledge of diversity initiatives and ability to execute them, you believe that different backgrounds and experiences strengthen the organization and produce better results
• Ability to be resilient, adaptable and self-motivated to get the job done as efficiently as possible
• Versatility and adaptability are important in any situation
• Ability to model the behavior you want to see in your team members, you are not afraid to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty
• Skill as a visionary leader, you may not have all the answers, but you enjoy working with others to seek solutions and reach the destination
• Basic knowledge of horticultural practices for turf, plant, tree and overall landscape
• Knowledge of resources, information, trends, developments in park grounds and facility maintenance
• Knowledge and understanding of parks and have a solid interest in outdoor recreation and education

About This Position

Location: Lake Crabtree County Park Raleigh, NC 27610

Employment Type: Regular

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week including mornings, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

Hiring Range: 23.20 - 33.63

Market Range: 23.20 - 33.63

Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Posting Closing Date: 7:00 pm on 2/9/2025

What Makes Wake Great

Home to the State Capital, Wake County is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and the most populous county in the state, with more than 1.1 million residents. The County has received national and international rankings and accolades from publications such as Money, Fortune, and Time magazines as being one of the best places to live, work and play. The central location of the County allows for a short drive to the spectacular mountains or coast. Wake County Government is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, who are elected at-large to serve two-year terms. Wake County Government has a general operating budget of $1.874 billion, employs over 4400 employees, experiences minimal turnover, and is an award-winning leader in wellness and technology initiatives; such as offering employees and covered spouses free access to the Employee Health Center. Wake County Government offers a wide range of training and development opportunities, a stable career in public service with a balance of work and family life, flexible work schedules and a competitive salary and benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Wake County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Background Check Statement

Position may require a background check that may include: criminal, credit, motor vehicle, education, and sexual offender registry or others based on job requirements. Unless required by state law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude you from consideration for employment. Wake County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Emergency Service Worker Statement

In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations should be expected. Employee may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during and after the emergency. Employee may also be required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.

• 

• Wake County Government

Show more