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Water Park Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Overview This position is responsible for assisting with the safe maintenance of water park rides ... park management * Conduct thorough pre-opening inspections of all pools, slide structures, and ...

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Water Park Manager information

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$16.5K

$45.4K

$99K

How much do water park manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for water park manager in the United States is $45,361.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31,000.00 and $50,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a water park manager do?

A Water Park Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a water park, ensuring the safety and satisfaction of guests and staff. Their duties include managing employees, maintaining equipment and facilities, implementing safety protocols, and handling customer service issues. They also coordinate with vendors, manage budgets, and develop marketing strategies to attract visitors. The role requires strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills to ensure the park runs smoothly and efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a water park manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Water Park Manager, you need strong leadership abilities, experience in hospitality or recreation management, and a relevant degree or certification in leisure, tourism, or business. Familiarity with facility management software, health and safety regulations, and emergency response systems is typically required. Excellent communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills set outstanding managers apart. These competencies ensure the safe, efficient, and enjoyable operation of the water park, driving guest satisfaction and staff performance.

What are some common challenges faced by water park managers, and how can they be addressed?

Water Park Managers frequently encounter challenges such as maintaining safety standards, managing large seasonal teams, and ensuring high guest satisfaction during peak periods. To address these, it's essential to implement rigorous staff training, maintain open communication channels, and develop efficient scheduling practices. Proactively monitoring park operations and responding quickly to guest feedback also helps prevent issues from escalating, ensuring a positive and safe experience for both visitors and staff.

What is the difference between Water Park Manager vs Lifeguard?

AspectWater Park ManagerLifeguard
Required CertificationsCPR, First Aid, Waterpark-specific trainingCPR, First Aid, Lifeguard certification
Work EnvironmentOversees entire water park operations, manages staff, ensures safety protocolsMonitors pool areas, enforces safety rules, responds to emergencies
Employer & Industry UsageAmusement parks, water parks, resort facilitiesPublic pools, water parks, recreational facilities

The main difference between a Water Park Manager and a Lifeguard is their scope of responsibilities. The Water Park Manager oversees overall operations, staff management, and safety compliance, while Lifeguards focus on monitoring swimmers and responding to emergencies. Both roles require CPR and First Aid certifications, but the manager's role involves broader administrative duties within the water park environment.

What cities are hiring for Water Park Manager jobs?

Cities with the most Water Park Manager job openings:

What states have the most Water Park Manager jobs?

States with the most job openings for Water Park Manager jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Water Park Manager jobs?

For Water Park Manager jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Water Park Manager job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,361 per year, or $21.8 per hour.

Park Manager 1 (NY HELPS) - Taconic Region

Carmel, NY • On-site

New York State
Public Administration • 10K+ employees

$69K - $88K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


New York State rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 189 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Duties Description The Park Manager 1 position will report to and operate under the direction of the Park Manager 3 for the Fahnestock Park Complex. The complex consists of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, Wonder Lake State Park, and the Taconic Outdoor Education Center (TOEC). Park Manager 1 duties will include but not be limited to: Manage, supervise and participate in all aspects of Fahnestock State Park operations and maintenance.

Oversee beach maintenance, water operations, swimming, and boating. Maintain all DOH and State Park lifeguard and water safety standards. Oversee ski rental and ski trail grooming; snow removal and plowing.

Operate and maintain a variety of equipment including trucks, tractors, loaders, gators, snowplows, snowblowers, snowmobiles, ATV and snow grooming equipment. Manage the operation of our cafe in the summer and winter months. Hire, schedule and supervise all seasonal staff including lifeguards, general maintenance, operations and ranger staff.

Schedule year-round staff. Work with the Park Manager 3 and the Office Manager on all park administration tasks including finance, personnel, maintenance permitting, and training. Utilize a variety of hand tools and power tools for landscaping and horticultural activities.

Utilize a variety of tools and equipment to perform maintenance on buildings, roads, trails and other infrastructure. Build new trails and maintain existing trails. Participate in lost hiker and injured hiker rescues as needed.

Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).** To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are: Either 1

six years of experience working in a park, recreational facility, or campus* in any two of these functional areas: administration (business, personnel, finance); capital or operational planning; recreational programming; public relations/visitor services; maintenance; or environmental education/interpretation. This experience must have included two years of supervisory experience; Or 2. a bachelor's or higher-level degree in environmental education, environmental management, environmental policy, environmental sustainability, forestry, golf course management, historic preservation, horticulture, natural resources management, park administration, park management or recreation management AND two years of supervisory experience working in a park, recreational facility, or campus* as described in any of the functional areas listed in option 1 above.

Examples of non-qualifying experience include but are not limited to: working at a gym, ski area/resort, and sport stadiums. Examples of non-qualifying degrees include but are not limited to: accounting, anthropology, archaeology, biology (all majors), business, history, hospitality, physical education, recreation therapy and sports management. *A park, recreational facility, or campus is defined as a location that offers at least three of the following elements: athletic fields, skating rink, campgrounds, golf courses, hiking trails, historic structures, marinas, picnic areas, playgrounds, recreation programs, swimming facilities or education, environmental or interpretive programming.

You must clearly list this information on your application. If verifiable, we will accept and prorate appropriate part-time and volunteer experience. Candidates may also be qualified for permanent competitive appointment if reachable from the appropriate Civil Service eligible list or eligible for reassignment or transfer in accordance with Civil Service Law.

Transfer Opportunity: Candidates must be current New York State employees and have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service in a title eligible for transfer under Section 52.6 or 70.1 of the Civil Service Law. Additional Comments OPERATING NEEDS: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license that allows the candidate to operate a vehicle in New York State as a term and condition of employment. Must be available to work a variable schedule that may include weekends, nights and/or holidays as needed

Must have the ability to operate a chainsaw and complete OPRHP Sawyer training or equivalent within the probationary period and maintain it as a term and condition of employment. This training will be provided by OPRHP. Must be able to operate light duty trucks, UTV's, tractors, trailers, loaders, snowplows and snowmobiles.

Must have the ability to communicate effectively with other staff and park patrons. Must have the ability to communicate in writing and to read and comprehend written material. Must possess experience with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Must obtain Servsafe certification within the probationary period. Must obtain Class C Water Treatment Operator certification within the probation period. BENEFITS: Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including: Paid Time Off: Generous benefits package, worth approximately 65% of salary, including: Paid Time Off: 44 days - 13 Vacation days, 13 Sick days, and 5 Personal Leave days, 13 Holidays.

PEF: Three (3) days of professional leave annually to participate in professional development. Health Care Benefits: Eligible employees and dependents can pick from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost.

Additional Benefits: New York State Employees' Retirement System (ERS) Membership NYS Deferred Compensation Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, as well as U.S. Savings Bonds Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Paid Parental Leave Positions located within Putnam and Dutchess Counties are also eligible to receive an additional $2,000 annual Mid-Hudson adjustment. To learn more about our benefits, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/employment/benefits.aspx

**For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a permanent non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State.

While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified. Employees appointed via the NY HELPS program are restricted for promotional appointment until their position is covered-in to the competitive class by the New York State Civil Service Commission (CSC), or they otherwise obtain permanent competitive status. The CSC has covered-in employees who were appointed via NY HELPS on a permanent or contingent permanent basis between June 26, 2024 and June 11, 2025.

You may wish to apply if you received a permanent NY HELPS appointment to a qualifying title within these timeframes and are interested in this opportunity. Your eligibility for promotion will be reviewed by Human Resources. Employees with a permanent NY HELPS appointment occurring effective June 12, 2025 or later will be addressed with a subsequent cover-in.

This position may require a background check prior to appointment. Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.


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