Recreation Specialist (Aquatics), Grade 21

Salary : $70,556.00 - $112,166.00 Annually
Location : 2425 Reedie Dr Wheaton MD 20902 USA
Job Type: Permanent
Job Number: 2026-00319
Department: Department of Recreation
Division: REC 72 Aquatic Team Management
Opening Date: 05/28/2026
Closing Date: 6/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Exempt


About the Position
Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $70,556 - $99,209 , based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
WHO WE ARE
Montgomery County Department of Recreation is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with a mission to provide high quality, diverse, and accessible community-based programs, activities, and services that serve the recreation and leisure needs of the Montgomery County community. The department manages 39 facilities including recreation centers, senior centers, and indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities and provides thousands of programs such as out-of-school activities, aquatics, classes, youth and adult sports programs and leagues, senior programs, and therapeutic recreation.


WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Join our dynamic aquatics team as an Aquatic Recreation Specialist , where you'll play a key role in creating safe, fun, and meaningful experiences for our community. In this hands-on position, you'll design and lead innovative aquatic programs, support lifeguard training, and help maintain a welcoming and well-run facility. You'll be a go-to resource for patrons, providing exceptional customer service while promoting water safety and community engagement. If you're passionate about aquatic recreation, enjoy working with people, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we'd love to have you make a splash with us!

Recreation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences and cultures. Recreation encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.

What You'll Be Doing

Key Responsibilities
As a Recreation Specialist, your duties will include:

• Program Development & Instruction Designs, schedules, and leads aquatic programs such as swim lessons, water fitness classes, safety courses, and recreational activities.
• Facility & Water Safety Oversight Ensures pools and aquatic areas meet safety standards, maintains proper water chemistry, and helps enforce facility rules to protect patrons.
• Lifeguard Supervision & Training Support Assists with onboarding, mentoring, and refreshing lifeguard staff on skills, emergency response procedures, and daily operational expectations.
• Customer Service & Community Engagement Provides support to patrons, answers questions, handles concerns, and promotes a positive and inclusive aquatic environment.
• Administrative & Operational Support Helps with scheduling, program registration, incident reporting, equipment upkeep, and coordination of special events or facility needs.

Successful candidates should demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Working knowledge of aquatic processes, including general maintenance, chemical handling, safety, staffing requirements
• Working knowledge of business English, spelling, grammar, punctuation, arithmetic, and standard office practices
• Ability to create and maintain working relationships with all stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain accurate office records and generate reports
• Clear and effective communication skills, both verbal and written
• Proficiency with standard office software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Ability to multitask and manage several clerical responsibilities simultaneously
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment, courtesy, and professionalism when interacting with the stakeholders

Important things to Know:

• This position will require work beyond a standard 40-hour week , including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and on occasion, in outdoor or extreme weather conditions.
• The selected candidate will be required to complete a background investigation and a limited core exam with a drug/alcohol test prior to appointment.
• This position will require onsite facility management responsibilities and will involve travel to various program locations throughout the County and is not eligible for telework.
• To ensure compliance with laws and to support a positive work culture, all required mandatory trainings must be completed within 3 to 6 months of hire, or as specified.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: Two (2) years of progressively responsible specialist work involving planning, organizing, supervising and implementing an area-wide, county wide or special interest recreation program.
• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.
• Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• Certification: Current Lifeguard, CPR, AED and First Aid certifications from the American Red Cross or any other agency approved by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
• License: Montgomery County Pool Operators License
• License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicant's state of residence if required by the position of assignment

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

Experience: Two (2) years of experience working in large aquatic facilities with multiple pools and diverse features.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at View email address on click.appcast.io. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law : Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.
Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.


Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
01



How many years of recreation work experience involving planning, organizing, and directing recreational activities or special interest recreation program activities/ services do you have?

• No Experience
• 1 Year Experience
• 2 Year's Experience
• 3 Year's Experience
• 4 Year's Experience
• 5 Year's Experience
• 6+ Year's Experience

02



What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate

03



Do you currently possess a valid Montgomery County Pool Operators license, or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

04



Do you currently possess a valid American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification, or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

05



Do you have two or more years of experience working in aquatic facilities?

• Yes
• No

06



Please detail your experience working in aquatic facilities. If NONE, put "NA"
Required Question