Exam Bulletin - Associate Park and Recreation Specialist

Department of Parks & Recreation

Exam Code: EX-1569

Examination Plans Included:

  • ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST: $6,243.00 - $7,815.00 per Month

View the ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1569

For ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01569

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00101089 - ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with any major, but preferably in environmental or urban planning, public administration, recreation, park management, or a natural resource-related field.

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. And

Either 1

One year of experience performing the duties of a Park and Recreation Specialist, Range C.

Or 2

Three years of increasingly responsible professional experience in planning, administrative or technical work in connection with the analysis, develop ment and implementation of outdoor recreation plans and programs.

Position Description

00101089 - ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST

This is the full journey level class. Incumbents perform the more responsi ble, varied and complex work, and continually provide consultative services to departmental management, governmental agencies and others. They may be assigned as a lead worker on a team with other Park and Recreation Special ists of equivalent or lower classifications to work on specific major projects.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. General principles and techniques of research and statistical analysis
  2. General concepts and principles of ecology, land use, conservation, and planning, particularly as they related to outdoor recreation and recreational and historical resources
  3. Structure, administrative, and fiscal procedures of the Federal, State, and local governments
  4. Trends in outdoor recreation usage, including social and economic factors
  5. Laws and regula tions of various levels of government relating to the funding, acquisition, development, and operation of recreational areas and outdoor recreational programs
  6. Group leadership
Ability to:
  1. Reason logically and analyze data
  2. Communicate orally and in writing, and prepare reports
  3. Establish and maintain cooperative relations, and deal tactfully with a variety of private and governmental individuals and groups
  4. Creatively solve complex outdoor recreation and related problems
  5. Prepare finished reports with clear, concise recommendations and analyses
  6. Coordinate the work load of others, lead project groups
  7. Interpret and assist in the development of policy
  8. Understand and comply with State administrative procedures

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the ASSOCIATE PARK AND RECREATION SPECIALIST Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Parks & Recreation

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Associate Park and Recreation Specialist Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.
  1. Identifying needs for program or project development, permits, and/or grant applications.
  2. Assisting in the preparation of environmental and/or program analysis documents related to operations or grant applications/management.
  3. Facilitating formal and informal meetings by determining the need for a meeting, scheduling the meeting, and communicating the nature of the meeting verbally and/or in writing to brief supervisors and managers on project or program status.
  4. Managing projects/programs by acting as a point of contact with team members, management, and/or the public; relaying status and activities; and seeing the project/program through its life cycle.
  5. Assists in preparing, interpreting, implementing, and/or overseeing project agreements or program guidelines to ensure all stakeholders understand and adhere to the requirements.
  6. Preparing or participating in the improvement and editing of a variety of professionally-written documents (e.g., plans, recommendations, memos, marketing materials, training manuals, reports) detailing all relevant information.
  7. Evaluating written materials (e.g., reports, legislative proposals, case law, plans) in relation to current projects/programs, rules, regulations, and/or policies in order to relay the potential impacts to management.
  8. Identifying program trends and needs to develop ideas for improvements and creating draft proposals to contribute to the success of the program.
  9. Receiving complaints from the public, stakeholders, other agencies, and/or legislators and appropriately handling the complaints and resolving basic issues or elevating complex issues to management to maintain overall good customer service.
  10. Developing solutions to problems by researching legislation, policies, rules, and/or regulations and determining the most appropriate course of action.
  11. Collaborating with stakeholders (e.g., the public, project team, private organizations) on projects/programs and debriefing with internal staff and/or management where appropriate.
  12. Evaluating the deliverables (e.g., activities, reports, documents, plans) of contractors and/or other staff by reviewing them for accuracy, thoroughness, professionalism, and adherence to program standards.
  13. Preparing reports for management that accurately summarize issues, status, and activities related to the program or project.
  14. Performing and interpreting basic mathematical computations to estimate amounts, calculate areas, track budgets, and/or assess financial reports or contracts.
  15. Maintaining accurate and detailed project/program materials (e.g., files, logs, records, financial documents, notes) for the purposes of audits and program records.
  16. Comparing the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to help identify the most appropriate next steps for issue resolution or program improvement.
  17. Assessing the status of projects and/or programs to ensure they are operating according to objectives.
  18. Assist in coordinating or overseeing the activities of projects or programs to ensure they run smoothly and according to budget and timeline.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Parks & Recreation

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Parks & Recreation
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296
Phone: (916) 902-8674

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Parks & Recreation reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)