Occupation · SOC 11-9072
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks.
Median wage
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Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
3,339 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationService OrientationWriting
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
ADP Workforce NowAdobe AcrobatAirtableApple KeynoteApple macOSAtlassian ConfluenceBlackboard softwareBlinkCisco WebexDropboxEkoEvernoteFacebookFlipgridGoogle AdsGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGoogle MeetGoogle SlidesGroupMeHewlett-Packard HP OpenVMSHubSpot softwareIBM Cognos ImpromptuIBM NotesIBM SPSS StatisticsIntuit QuickBooksLinkedInLinuxLogMeIn GoToMeetingLogMeIn GoToWebinarLoomMarketo Marketing AutomationMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft Dynamics GPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPoint
Representative tasks
Plan, organize, or lead group activities for customers, such as exercise routines, athletic events, Plan programs of events or schedules of activities.Talk to coworkers using electronic devices, such as computers and radios.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Group activity schedules — organize and distribute under supervisor guidance within a recreational facility setting.Customer communications — convey basic event and activity information to guests using approved scripts at a front-facing recreation center.Facility rules and regulations — explain safety guidelines and usage policies to customers at an entertainment or recreation venue under direct supervision.Electronic communication tools — use computers, instant messaging software, and two-way radios to relay information to coworkers during daily operations.Program calendars — assist in drafting schedules of activities using project management or presentation software under manager direction.Department expense records — record basic revenue and expenditure data into a database system under the guidance of a senior manager.Staff interview processes — participate in candidate screening and assist with structured interviews for recreational staff vacancies under supervision.Customer service interactions — apply active listening and social perceptiveness to address guest inquiries and concerns at a recreation or entertainment facility.Activity logistics — support the setup and coordination of group events such as fitness classes or arts and crafts sessions with direction from lead staff.Recreational software platforms — navigate human resources and document management software to complete assigned administrative tasks in an office or facility environment.
developing
Group activity programs — plan and lead exercise routines, athletic events, and arts and crafts sessions for diverse customer groups with minimal oversight at a mid-sized recreation facility.Event schedules — develop weekly or monthly programs of activities using project management software, adapting plans to participant needs and facility availability.Departmental budgets — write and monitor budgets for recreational programs, tracking planned versus actual expenses using database and spreadsheet tools.Staff recruitment — conduct interviews, evaluate candidates, and recommend hires to fill recreational staff vacancies in alignment with facility standards.Revenue and expense reporting — calculate, record, and reconcile department financial data on a regular cycle, identifying discrepancies for management review.Customer engagement — proactively communicate program details, schedule changes, and activity benefits to guests through verbal, written, and digital channels at an entertainment venue.Team coordination — assign and adjust daily staff duties using scheduling and instant messaging tools to maintain smooth operations across a recreation department.Regulatory compliance — routinely explain and enforce facility rules, safety protocols, and public security regulations to customers and frontline staff.Problem resolution — apply critical thinking and judgment to resolve non-standard customer complaints or operational issues within established policies.Training delivery — instruct new team members on activity facilitation techniques, service standards, and technology tools used in recreational program management.
proficient
Full program portfolio — autonomously design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive calendar of recreational and entertainment programs aligned with organizational goals and community demographics.Strategic budget management — develop, defend, and manage multi-program budgets, forecasting revenue streams and controlling expenditures across an entire recreation department.Complex staffing decisions — lead the full hiring cycle including job analysis, interviewing, selection, and onboarding for diverse recreational staff roles without supervisory approval at each step.Cross-functional coordination — orchestrate collaboration between programming, facilities, marketing, and finance teams using cloud-based sharing and project management platforms to deliver large-scale events.Non-routine customer challenges — apply inductive reasoning and problem sensitivity to resolve unusual guest conflicts, accessibility needs, or safety incidents at an entertainment or recreation venue.Financial performance analysis — analyze department revenue and expense trends, prepare detailed reports for senior leadership, and recommend data-driven adjustments to programming investments.Policy and regulatory expertise — interpret and apply public safety, liability, and organizational regulations across all programs, ensuring consistent compliance throughout the facility.Staff performance management — conduct evaluations, deliver constructive feedback, and implement development plans to elevate team performance within a recreation management context.Stakeholder communication — craft and deliver formal presentations, proposals, and written reports to internal leadership and external partners using presentation and document management software.Active learning application — continuously incorporate emerging industry trends, technology tools, and participant feedback to innovate and refine recreational programming offerings.
advanced
Organizational strategy — set the long-term vision, mission, and strategic priorities for an entertainment and recreation division, aligning programs with enterprise-wide goals and community needs.Executive budget authority — lead the creation and approval of multi-year capital and operating budgets across all recreation and entertainment departments, balancing fiscal responsibility with program growth.Workforce leadership — direct the recruitment, development, and retention strategy for a large recreation management team, building organizational capability and succession pipelines.Institutional partnerships — negotiate contracts, sponsorships, and collaborative agreements with external vendors, community organizations, and government agencies to expand recreational program reach.Culture and service excellence — champion a department-wide service orientation culture, modeling optimism and social orientation to elevate guest experience standards across all venues and programs.Complex problem governance — establish decision-making frameworks and escalation protocols that empower managers to resolve operational and customer challenges effectively at every level of the organization.Technology and innovation leadership — direct the adoption and integration of emerging management, communication, and training technologies to modernize recreation operations at an organizational scale.Cross-sector influence — represent the organization at industry conferences, public forums, and regulatory bodies, shaping policy discussions related to entertainment, recreation, and community wellness.Performance metrics and accountability — design and oversee organizational key performance indicators for programming quality, financial health, and customer satisfaction, reporting outcomes to executive leadership and boards.Mentorship and knowledge transfer — develop and lead formal mentoring programs and leadership academies that build the next generation of entertainment and recreation managers across the organization.
Also known as
58 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Activities ManagerAmusement Park ManagerAquatics DirectorAquatics ManagerBoat Club ManagerCamp and Recreation ManagerCamp DirectorClub DirectorClub ManagerEntertainment and Recreation GM (Entertainment and Recreation General Manager)Entertainment and Recreation ManagerEntertainment and Recreation Operations Manager (Entertainment and Recreation Ops Manager)Entertainment and Recreation Planning ManagerEntertainment and Recreation PM (Entertainment and Recreation Project Manager)Entertainment and Recreation Program ManagerEntertainment and Recreation Services ManagerEntertainment and Recreation Shift ManagerEntertainment and Recreation Site ManagerEntertainment DirectorEntertainment ManagerEntertainment SupervisorEvent CoordinatorEvents and Competitions DirectorEvents ManagerExperiences ManagerFitness Club ManagerGolf Club ManagerGolf Course ManagerLife Enrichment DirectorMarina Club ManagerPark ManagerPark Recreation ManagerPark SuperintendentPark Worker SupervisorParks and Recreation ManagerParks Recreation CoordinatorParks Recreation DirectorPool ManagerRecreation Attendant SupervisorRecreation Center Supervisor