Outdoor Recreational Planner

Outdoor Recreation Planning

Download Details
GS-0023

Position Overview

Increasing access to outdoor recreation opportunities on our nation’s public lands is a top priority for the Department of the Interior.  Activities like mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, fishing, and hiking provide physical and mental health benefits and allow Americans to more fully experience beautiful public lands and waterways.  Outdoor Recreation Planners are an important part of the DOI team supporting the public’s enjoyment of land, water, and related resources for leisure use, while protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment.

This position is represented at the following bureaus

Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
National Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Candidate Description

The ideal candidate has a broad knowledge base that combines understanding of outdoor recreation, natural resource conservation, sociology, land management, community or regional planning, forestry, biology and other scientific fields.  This person is able to analyze, plan and evaluate, and to educate and collaborate effectively with a variety of people.

Specialty Areas

Visual resource management, wilderness or special area management, sustainable design

Work Environment

Work may be performed in both an office setting and in the field for activities such as trail building, visitor facility maintenance, or data collection.

Minimum Education Requirements

Please see the Individual Occupation Requirements and the Administrative and Management Positions Group Qualification Standard on the OPM websites.

Career Level Requirements

Responsibilities by Level

  • Entry:

    • Gathering information for inventories of recreation resources
    • Consolidating and displaying data used in resources planning and reports
    • Reviewing project proposals that may impact recreational areas or activities
    • Developing or collecting data and conducting analyses (such as geospatial information)
    • Constructing or maintaining visitor facilities and recreation infrastructure

  • Mid:

    • Serving on teams studying areas to determine future development potential
    • Preparing portions of environmental assessment documents
    • Reviewing permit applications to identify potential impacts on recreation areas and activities
    • Developing or implementing surveys or other social science research

  • Journey:

    • Applying innovative solutions to solve outdoor recreation problems or implementing complex projects
    • Advising state or local leaders on recreation program priorities, initiatives and goals
    • Participating on committees or other groups working on recreation planning and management initiatives
    • Planning or designing recreation facilities and access

  • Senior:

    • Leading, directing and guiding work of lower level planners
    • Managing a regional or national recreational planning program
    • Resolving complex or controversial issues and managing user conflicts
    • Developing budgets, tracking expenditures, and managing fee programs
    • Developing strategic and operational plans for visitor use
    • Preparing and conducting briefings for agency leadership
    • Preparing and conducting meetings with external stakeholders, such as other Federal agencies or political leaders

Click to read more

Strengths by Level

Entry 7
Mid 9-11
Journey 12-13
Senior 14-15
  • Accountability
    Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Attention to Detail
    Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Compliance
    Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Conflict Management
    Manages and resolves conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative personal impact.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Continual Learning
    Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Customer Service
    Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Decision Making
    Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Entrepreneurship
    Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • External Awareness
    Identifies and understands economic, political, and social trends that affect the organization.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Flexibility
    Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Influencing/Negotiating
    Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior; works with others towards an agreement; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Integrity/Honesty
    Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Interpersonal Skills
    Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Oral Communication
    Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Organizational Awareness
    Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Partnering
    Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Physical Strength and Agility
    Ability to bend, lift, climb, stand, and walk for long periods of time; ability to perform moderately heavy laboring work.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Planning and Evaluating
    Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Political Savvy
    Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Problem Solving
    Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Program Management
    Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for the coordinated management of a program to include providing oversight of multiple projects, integrating dependent schedules and deliverables, and related activities (for example, benefits management, life cycle management, program governance).
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Project Management
    Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Reasoning
    Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Resilience
    Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Self-Management
    Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Stakeholder Management
    Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and techniques used to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a work effort; including those actively involved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who have a vested interest in the outcome (positive or negative).
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Strategic Thinking
    Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy. Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long-term perspective. Determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Teaching Others
    Helps others learn through formal or informal methods; identifies training needs; provides constructive feedback; coaches others on how to perform tasks; acts as a mentor.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Technical Competence
    Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15
  • Writing
    Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 7
    Mid 9-11
    Journey 12-13
    Senior 14-15

Common Pathways

Candidates who made this career change most commonly held these occupations...

0303 - Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant 5.9%
0455 - Range Technician 5.3%
0028 - Environmental Protection Specialist 3.6%
0404 - Biological Science Technician 3%
1170 - Realty 3%
Less Common Pathways (<2%)

Where We Are

DOI employs people at more than 2,400 locations across the United States and territories. Use the Position Locator tool to see where current DOI employees work. To check for job opportunities, scroll down and click "See jobs on USAjobs.gov."

Explore the possibilities.

See all jobs on USAJobs.gov