Program Specialist (Health & Wellness)

Job Title: Program Specialist (Health & Wellness)

Reports To: Senior Program Manager

New/Replacement Position: Replacement

Location: Remote (within the United States)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Range: $28.80 - $34.55 per hour

$56,162 - $67,380 annually

About the Organization

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, healthy, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. NRPA advances this vision by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals as a catalyst for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being.

With more than 60,000 members,?NRPA champions and supports the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates through professional development, grants and programs, research, publications, conferences, advocacy and more.?

For more information, visit?www.nrpa.org.

For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication,?Parks & Recreation, visit?www.parksandrecreation.org.

Job Overview

This position is a full-time, benefits-eligible position funded through November 2025 (with future term contingent on grant funding). The Program Specialist position is an instrumental part of advancing the organization’s strategic priorities focused on building healthy communities, ensuring equitable access, and climate resilience. The Program Specialist is responsible for assisting with and coordinating key project(s) within NRPA’s health and wellness portfolio. This position will have a passion for the subject matter and other key strategic priorities, including parks and recreation, community-based youth sports, physical activity and play, youth development, advancing community health and well-being, and social justice.

This position is responsible for providing assistance to the management of grant funded projects and NRPA initiatives including grant planning and execution to meet project goals, grant communications, supporting and providing technical assistance and professional development, management of technology systems, evaluation to include program data collection and supporting data entry and analysis, resource development, and reporting. This position should work collaboratively with members of NRPA’s health team, other Programs and Partnerships Department members, and all NRPA staff.

Responsibilities and Duties

Project Coordination

• Coordinate and support grant-funded programs in the NRPA Health and Wellness portfolio centered on physical activity, increasing equitable to community-based youth sports, and youth development in service of the goals outlined in NRPA’s strategic plan and other strategic priorities. Core responsibilities include:

• Support grant management activities, including supporting the grant application process, collecting grant agreements, managing grantee communications, ensuring grantees are meeting program requirements, and providing general support to grantees.

• Support key project activities including the development of training and technical assistance for grantees, which may include virtual and/or in-person training opportunities and site visits; an in-person partner convening; and the development and dissemination of key resources focused on increasing equitable access to community-based youth sports to support advancing NRPA’s strategic goals.

• Administer evaluation activities including electronic surveys, assessments, metrics collection, and support data entry and analysis in consultation with NRPA research team, as defined by project scope.

• Assist grantee learning cohorts to steward engagement and resource sharing.

• Keep abreast of trends and opportunities in parks and recreation, community-based youth sports, physical activity and play, youth development, health equity, and advancing community health and well-being.

• Support partnerships with local, state, national and federal organizations to implement project deliverables and enhance NRPA's Health and Wellness portfolio.

• Attend local, state, and national conferences/meetings to represent NRPA and share challenges, successes and lessons learned with allied professionals.

• Expand knowledge in key subject matter, and build relationships with professionals in the field plus organizations working in the community-based youth sports space.

Communications Support

• Responsible for contributing content and thought leadership to health and wellness team and organization, including coordinating, writing and deploying of regular communications:

• Collect and repurpose stories from grantee projects to share broadly through blogs, magazine articles, podcasts, or other communications channels.

• Develop and support PowerPoint presentations, brochures, webinars, and marketing materials for project promotion and broad dissemination.

• Provide regular updates to NRPA website on programs.

• Create other communications for the program in consultation with NRPA’s marketing and communications team.

• Serves as a resource with grantees, members, donors, partners, and colleagues.

• Identify compelling content and guest authors/contributors that can support NRPA’s communications channels in alignment with NRPA’s strategic priorities.

Budget Management

• Assist with budget management to include reviewing grantee budgets in alignment with program requirements, processing check requests, managing grantees in payment system, maintaining accurate and organized data.

• Demonstrate an interest in learning about budget management and fiscal responsibility.

Customer Service

• Ensure timely responses (24-48 hours) to inquiries, requests, and concerns from stakeholders such as grantees, members, donors, partners, and colleagues.

• Maintain a professional demeanor and attitude in all interactions with stakeholders. This includes being courteous, respectful, and patient.

NRPA Annual Conference

• Support planning efforts for NRPA’s Annual Conference by participating in conference education planning (submitting sessions during the call for proposals, planning pre-conference workshops, recruiting speakers and subject matter experts, reviewing proposals, participating in conference review committee, etc.); participating in conference task forces (DEI, member area, etc.); promoting conference to grantees and partners; coordinating grantee meetings and networking events; or providing other support as needed.

• Provide onsite or remote support at NRPA’s Annual Conference by serving as a volunteer for events and activities (receptions, ceremonies, networking events, room hosting, etc.); supporting NRPA’s membership area; presenting, facilitating, or supporting education and pre-conference sessions; hosting grantee or partner meetings; or providing other onsite support as needed.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 2-6 years in related field; 2-4 years position specific experience preferred; Association or P&R experience preferred.

• Passion for parks and recreation, community-based youth sports, physical activity and play, health equity, youth development, advancing community health and well-being, and social justice.

• Demonstrated excellent organizational, time and project management skills; ability to work effectively and efficiently in a remote work environment.

• Excellent communication (oral, written) to effectively communicate with individuals at all levels, including members, partners, and donors.

• Interest and willingness to facilitate meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities, and present on behalf of NRPA at conferences, meetings.

• Demonstrates an understanding and passion for learning more about diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts, ability to represent those in internal and external relationships, and ensures these concepts are reflected in the programs and activities they are responsible for

• Excels in dynamic, fast-paced, remote-work environment.

• Self-directed and detail-oriented with a collaborative and professional team spirit to contribute to a collegial, team-oriented environment.

• Travel up to 20 days per year to local, state-wide or national conferences, meetings, grantee site visits, etc.