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Recreation manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Marieke Van Puymbroeck Ph.D.,

Matt Chase Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical recreation manager skills. We ranked the top skills for recreation managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.4% of recreation manager resumes contained cpr as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a recreation manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 recreation manager skills for your resume and career

1. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how recreation managers use cpr:

Certified Pool Operator, Certified Medication Technician, CPR and First Aid Certified, ServeSafe food handling certification.
Instructed American Red Cross Lifeguard, CPR, and Water Safety Instructor classes.

2. Cleanliness

Here's how recreation managers use cleanliness:

Ensured the cleanliness and safety of the facility and equipment by careful inspection at opening, hourly, and closing rounds.
Inspected facility daily for cleanliness and safety, and updated safety policies and procedures.

3. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how recreation managers use safety procedures:

Developed and managed safety procedures training, performed general office duties to include timesheets and payroll tracking.
Maintained security and safety of facilities by following school safety procedures and city policy.

4. Guest Satisfaction

Here's how recreation managers use guest satisfaction:

Maintained high level of guest satisfaction by communicating and interacting with customers.
Maximize revenue and minimize costs without sacrificing guest satisfaction.

5. Recreation Facilities

Here's how recreation managers use recreation facilities:

Performed regular inventory of recreation facilities, and provided comprehensive process improvement techniques and tools to and streamline operations.
Provided information to guests about available recreation facilities and activities.

6. Aquatics

Here's how recreation managers use aquatics:

Supervised the operation of Sports & Wellness Department, consisting of Fitness, Aquatics and Physical Education.
Manage recreation center, aquatics center, enrichment center, childcare, sports fields and all recreation programming.

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7. Direct Reports

Here's how recreation managers use direct reports:

Managed recreation programs for Evergreen Lodge and oversaw 3-4 direct reports.
Position works with direct reports to carry out departmental strategies.

8. Health Club

Here's how recreation managers use health club:

Hired to design, build, and manage a new two-story health club attached to golf course clubhouse.
Report daily to the General Manager with the Health Club daily activities and programs.

9. Fitness Classes

Here's how recreation managers use fitness classes:

Supervised 26 member staff to provide fitness classes and intramural sports programs to an average of 50K patrons per year.
Instruct fitness classes - Coordinate activity programs - Maintain the Recreation Center - Maintain the Pool and Fitness Room

10. Front Desk

Here's how recreation managers use front desk:

Assist with Front Desk check-ins for 1,042 guest rooms and respond to inquiries in connection with hotel services.
Supervised all front desk responsibilities as well as all ongoing events.

11. Community Organizations

Community organizations refers to a form of social or volunteer work that focuses on bettering a community. This may be a community defined by geographic boundaries or by a person's racial or sexual identity. These organizations are often nonprofits that help groups of people affected by natural disasters or hate crimes.

Here's how recreation managers use community organizations:

Work with partners including businesses and community organizations to sponsor events.
Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professionalpersonnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.

12. Developmental Disabilities

Here's how recreation managers use developmental disabilities:

Managed a comprehensive social recreation program for adults with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's, dementia and related psychological disorders.
Provided 1:1 support for individuals in community with developmental disabilities and mental illness while leading community group events.

13. Event Planning

Here's how recreation managers use event planning:

Conducted four regional championship tournament events annually including marketing, event planning and coordination, media coverage and tournament direction.
Assisted with special event planning via coordinating services in conjunction with other facility departments.

14. Performance Evaluations

Performance evaluation is a formal and productive process to measure an employee's work and results based on their job responsibilities over a defined period of time and to properly measure an employee's contribution to the workforce and employers and achieve a high level of quality and quantity of work produced. The evaluation also helps employees provide information about deficiencies in job performance and the company's expectations for the future.

Here's how recreation managers use performance evaluations:

Conducted performance evaluations and reviews for a staff of 30.
Completed performance evaluations and assisted Department Supervisor with quality improvement, discipline issues, time and attendance monitoring and program evaluation.

15. Disciplinary Actions

Disciplinary actions refer to a corrective measure taken against an employee for unsatisfactory behavior. Many work environments have a tiered system for disciplinary action, where the first warning is verbal and the second is written. Disciplinary action may be given after a weak performance review, a violation of company rules and policies, or a poor customer review.

Here's how recreation managers use disciplinary actions:

Scheduled, orientated and provided appropriate disciplinary actions to union and non-union employees.
Provided clinical assessments and written disciplinary actions for youth on a daily basis.

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What skills help Recreation Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on recreation manager resumes?

Marieke Van Puymbroeck Ph.D.

Professor, Graduate Coordinator, Clemson University

A variety of skills and certifications always set individuals apart from the crowd. In this day and age, being able to provide virtual programming, offer innovative ideas about programming, and engage people virtually are particularly important.

What recreation manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Matt Chase Ph.D.

Professor, Recreation and Tourism Management, Eastern Washington University

The recreation industry values hands-on, applied experience. That and we are a certification driven industry. Students would be well served to pursue applicable certifications (and there are many) as well as applicable seasonal work. I anticipate opportunities for seasonal work will open up again in late spring and summer. All of the sectors - public, private, and non-profit - have opportunities for seasonal work - spring through fall. And of course, opportunities for winter seasonal work are available in the ski resort industry, as well as resorts and recreation operations that are located in the SE and SW.

What type of skills will young recreation managers need?

Diane Blankenship Ed.D.

Professor, Recreation and Parks Management Program Athletic Training Program Director/Preceptor, Frostburg State University

The professional expectations are changing and growing for graduates to enter the workforce in the recreation and parks industry. The graduate should have a solid resume with professional experiences, provided by their university program, to plan and conduct programs and events. Within these experiences, they should touch on human resource skills, operation skills, communication, and marketing. Additionally, the graduate should have the expected entry-level knowledge related to the major job duty areas. Finally, employment history in the industry is very helpful, such as working at day and residential camps, aquatic centers, outdoor outfitters, parks, and other recreation-oriented settings during the school year and/or summer.

Do you want to know more?

List of recreation manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a recreation manager resume and required skills for a recreation manager to have include:

CPR
Cleanliness
Safety Procedures
Guest Satisfaction
Recreation Facilities
Aquatics
Direct Reports
Health Club
Fitness Classes
Front Desk
Community Organizations

Developmental Disabilities
Event Planning
Performance Evaluations
Disciplinary Actions
RAN
Yoga
Athletic Events
Tennis Courts
MDS
Recreational Services
Swimming Pools

Summer Camps
Recreation Equipment
Recreation Events
HR
Equipment Inventory
PowerPoint
Smooth Operation
Community Events
MWR
Leadership

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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