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Posted: December 31, 2025 (14 days ago)

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Recreation Specialist - Institutional (Recreation Specialist)

Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Recent

Salary

$56,899 - $81,876

per year

Closes

January 15, 2026

GS-5 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $33,878 - $44,042

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience. Bachelor's degree.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves running recreational programs in a federal prison to help inmates stay active and prepare for life after release, including planning activities, buying equipment, and supervising events like sports or group games.

It's a good fit for someone with a background in recreation or physical education who enjoys organizing community-style programs and working in a structured, secure environment.

Entry-level candidates with relevant education or experience in leading group activities would thrive here.

Key Requirements

  • Undergraduate degree in recreation, physical education, or related field (e.g., outdoor recreation, community recreation)
  • For GL-07: One year of graduate education or superior academic achievement, plus specialized experience supervising team sports or tracking program participation
  • For GL-09: Master's degree or two years of graduate education in a related field, plus experience developing activities for inmate populations and managing budgets for equipment
  • Specialized experience in planning, organizing, and evaluating recreational programs in institutional or community settings
  • Ability to supervise daily operations of recreation programs and solicit input from participants
  • Skills in using computer programs to track participation and preparing financial requests within guidelines
  • Experience speaking to large groups to promote recreation opportunities

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements.

Basic Requirements: Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- general recreation, or one of the appropriate fields of recreation such as outdoor recreation; recreation and parks leadership; wild land recreation management; natural resources recreation; youth recreation; public, urban, or community recreation; special populations recreation (e.g., senior citizens, institutional, etc.); or physical education.

OR Experience: Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that demonstrated the ability to apply the principles of one or more specialty areas of recreation.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Planning, organizing, coordinating, supervising, or evaluating community, industrial, outdoor, institutional, or other recreational programs.

Planning, establishing, or evaluating a recreational curriculum for junior college or higher academic levels.

Instructing in the principles and techniques of recreational program planning and management.

Serving in a leadership role in the programs and activities of local, regional, and/or national recreational organizations.

AND In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must have: Education: GL-07: 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.

GL-09: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related.

OR Experience: GL-07 and GL-09: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GL-07: Experience in supervising team sports and activities or tournaments.

Experience that demonstrates skill in a wide range of participant interest, experience in developing and overseeing a recreation program’s daily operation and primarily organize and direct participants.

Experience tracking participation in programs using a computer program.

GL-09: Experience in developing and implementing recreational activities and arrange for community resources, experience in developing indoor and outdoor activities to meet the needs of an inmate population.

Experience preparing financial requests for new recreational equipment within established guidelines.

Experience speaking in front of large groups or participants to explain recreation and leisure opportunities at a facility.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: GL-07 and GL-09: You may have a combination of successfully completed higher education and experience.

This experience must have equipped you with the particular qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

Works under the general direction of the Recreation Supervisor and/or Assistant Supervisor of Recreation.

The requirements of the position include knowledge of the goals, principles, methods, and techniques of the broad field of recreation.

Supervises the operation of the recreation and leisure time program.

Solicits suggestions from the inmate population, plans and creates recreational activities based upon research, purchases the equipment and supplies needed for such programs, draws up necessary tournament rosters, etc., and assures that appropriate recreational activities take place in a timely fashion.

Assist the Recreation Supervisor and the other recreation/sports specialists in planning, organizing, advising on and administering recreation activities and programs which promote the physical, creative and social development for the inmate population.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution.

The staffs correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 12/31/2025 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/1/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: TRV-2026-0013