Foundational

At this level, one is leading a variety of disciplines at multiple locations within a geographic area or region. Decision-Making and Impact may include decisions affecting area/ division-wide performance; influencing culture, profitability, and growth of the specific area/division.  This is the EXPANSION stage of one’s journey – applying practice with increasing independence in familiar or low/medium-stakes contexts.

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Audience – This is the usual group of people with which an individual at the specified responsibility level will interact. The interaction may take many forms; who you communicate with, who you influence, and who you serve.
Focus – What the interaction is about in the moment.  Think of it as what needs to occur if one is to achieve the goal.

Tools – These are resources that an individual at this responsibility level may access or deploy to interact with the specified audience.  
Goal – This is an indicator of what the intended outcome of the audience interaction is.
Development Guide - This section lists examples of where an individual can gain education, knowledge and experience in the skill areas that will aid in mastering a skill and preparing one to move to the next level of skill and/or responsibility level.

Quick Jump
Communications, Public Relations & Marketing  
Critical Thinking & Decision Making
 Data Analysis & Research  
Financial Management 
Interpersonal
Leadership
Natural & Cultural Resource Management
Organizational Design
 Planning (Operational)
Planning (Strategic, Master, Comprehensive & Asset Management)
Policy Compliance
Program/Event Management
Project Coordination/Management
Relationship Building
Resource Management  
Risk Management & Safety
 Supervision & Oversight 
Technology 

• Communicate in a clear and considerate manner, active listening, and comprehension
• Follow instructions precisely
• Provide feedback or ask clarifying questions when uncertain
• Understand non-verbal gestures and cues

• Understand public relations fundamentals and organizational messaging
• Assist with media monitoring and press release distribution
• Handle simple inquiries and social media messaging and engagement
• Maintain positive relationships with the local community

• Understand target audience and messaging basics
• Assist with event promotion and flyers
• Monitor and report on engagement metrics
• Understand policies regarding brand representation

• Attend basic communication workshops
• Attend introduction to public relations workshops
• Learn basic marketing concepts and target audience awareness

• Practice active listening exercises
• Understand social media etiquette
• Monitor and report engagement metrics

• Feedback delivery practice (e.g. SBI method)
• Shadow media monitoring and response
• Assist with creating digital content

• Time management
• Receive and execute tasks effectively

• Give and receive feedback
• Basic communication
• Monitor personal performance

• Problem-solving
• Receptive to coaching at the task level

• Identify and understand job aids and checklists
• Attend basic supervisory training

• Participate in one-on-one coaching sessions

• Shadowing experienced supervisors

• Understand program/project/event scope and safety protocols
• Develop a system of scheduling and task assignment

• Understand basic incident reporting and documentation
• Ensure program/project/event  readiness (equipment, facilities, staffing)

• Communicate with patrons
• Support inclusion and accessibility
• Provide input on program planning and activities

• Obtain training on basic program/project/event  management tools (e.g. Trello, Asana)

• Participate in supervisor-led coaching
• Train with task checklists and timelines

• Introduction to program/project/event lifespan training

• Understand self-awareness and accountability
• Effectively communicate

• Develop appropriate time management 
• Motivate peers, direct reports and volunteers

• Follow organizational values and standards

• Participate in leadership fundamentals workshops
• Practice giving and receiving feedback

• Attend customer service and communication training

• Engage in team-building exercises

• Active listening
• Understand and practice empathy and respect

• Build trust with peers,  patrons, and supervisors
• Basic interpersonal communication

• Openness to collaboration

• Participate in emotional intelligence workshops

• Engage in team-building exercises

• Practice active listening and feedback skills during daily interactions 

• Track and record program expenses and revenues using approved tools such as spreadsheets or financial software.

• Understand petty cash, purchasing thresholds, and internal financial control policies
• Follow procedures for procurement and vendor processes

• Recognize cost drivers and support accurate expense tracking
• Understand how to identify and report suspicious financial activity or risk indicators

• Attend basic workshops on budgeting and financial management concepts
• Practice using budget tracking spreadsheets and expense templates

• Participate in shadowing finance or accounting staff
• Review case studies of budget compliance issues and corrective actions

• Understand basic internal controls and how to report misuse of funds or property
• Participate in cross-training with the finance department

• Operate common software (email, word processing, spreadsheets)

• Use department-specific tools (registration systems, scheduling software, reporting software)

• Understand basic cybersecurity practices
• Troubleshoot simple technical issues

• Build comfort with basic software and tools

• Troubleshoot common technical problems

• Use technology to complete daily tasks efficiently
• Learn to follow cybersecurity best practices

• Proper care and use of tools/equipment

• Awareness of efficiency practices and maintenance plans

• Time management for assigned tasks
• Inventory tracking support

• Safely use and maintain equipment

• Track use of supplies and materials
• Practice waste reduction and efficiency

• Manage personnel and volunteer resources effectively

• Follow environmental stewardship protocols
• Identify common invasive species and hazards
• Assist with trail maintenance and native plant care

• Report environmental issues (erosion, wildlife activity, sea level rise, etc.)
• Recognize cultural resources and follow established protection protocols

• Perform routine maintenance without disturbing cultural assets
• Engage respectfully with the public about local cultural features
• Reports observed risks

• Participate in on-the-job mentorship with experienced field staff
• Orientation on ecosystem sensitivity and trail ethics
• Attend training in equipment and tools

• Attend orientation to natural resource impact resulting from recreational activities
• Participate in basic cultural resource management training (i.e. heritage site sensitivity, Leave No Trace, etc.)

• Learn to recognize types of cultural resources - historic, indigenous, archaeological
• Shadow interpretive staff or rangers during tours
• Practice accurate reporting of potential cultural concerns

• Knowledge of workplace safety rules and risks
• Recognize and report common operational risks and hazards

• Understand risk reporting procedures, equipment checks (first aid)
• Follow standard safety and operating procedures and compliance guidelines

• Understand emergency response plans
• Communicate clearly during incidents
• Understand and apply personal accountability for risk awareness

• Attend risk awareness and safety training
• Participate in hazard identification exercises

• Use risk reporting tools regularly
• Participate in emergency drills (fire, weather, lockdowns)

• PPE training (e.g. gloves, vests, lifting techniques)
• Site-specific walk throughs

• Understand organization policies and codes of conduct
• Participate in policy compliance training

• Adherence to standard operating procedures, facility and equipment policies

• Understand basic regulatory compliance and reporting of policy breaches

• Attend orientation sessions covering key policies
• Conduct facility rules walk throughs

• Understand and implement patron complaints
• Incident reporting and escalation

• Consistent application of policies
• Understand ADA standards and policies

• Understand work schedules and priorities
• Provide input on logistics (weather, site needs, etc.)

• Follow daily/weekly plans accurately

• Observe and report barriers to effective task completion

• Understand how daily and short-term plans are created and executed

• Follow assigned plans accurately to build reliability
• Participate in team briefings and debriefings

• Understand alternative scenarios for course corrections
• Learn to identify obstacles and communicate them promptly

• Read, interpret, and follow existing plans, procedures, maps, and site analyses
• Collect and report data on park assets and conditions

• Assist with routine maintenance and inspections

• Understand basic terminology and goals of planning processes

• Understand basic planning frameworks and asset conditions
• Support data collection and reporting
• Apply basic graphic and visual communication skills
• Understand existing plans and procedures

• Ability to solve problems using a balance of technical competence and creativity
• Assist in routine inspections and maintenance

• Use basic GIS/mobile apps
• Awareness of public input methods
•  Understand broad urban planning and land-use principles
  
  

• Gather and organize data accurately
• Use basic data tools

• Perform basic descriptive statistics (averages, counts, sums)

• Understand data relevance to tasks
• Report findings clearly and simply

• On-the-job training on data entry and reporting
• Learn basic spreadsheet functions (formulas, formatting) to track and report outcomes

• Understand methods of gathering attendance, usage, and survey data accurately

• Recognize patterns and report anomalies
• Understand the importance of accurate data collection

• Recognize types and purposes of projects/grants/contracts
• Follow project/grant/contract deadlines

• Maintain accurate records of grants, contracts, MOUs, and financial data

• Communicate clearly with team and supervisors
• Support reporting for projects/grants/contracts 

• Participate in workshops on project tracking and documentation
• Shadow experience coordinators during grant and contract processes
• Practice clear communication and following protocols
• Learn to use basic project management tools (calendars, document systems)

• Attend introductory training on grant types and processes, and general project coordination
• Assist in organizing and filing project/grant documentation
• Shadow grant coordinators and/or project coordinators during application cycles

• Attend training on  contract terminology and components
• Assist with contract filing and tracking deadlines
• Learn organizational policies and procedures
• Shadow experienced contract administrators

• Identify simple problems and gather relevant information
• Analyze options based on immediate facts

• Seek guidance when uncertain
• Follow established procedures and guidelines

• Minimal independent decision-making
• Support team outcomes; low business risk

• Understand basic problem-solving frameworks
• Learn to gather and analyze relevant information

• Follow policies and escalate complex issues

• Build confidence in making routine decisions
• Job shadowing to see how decisions are made

• Apply active and empathetic listening
• Understand clear and respectful verbal communication

• Responsibility for assigned tasks, including meeting established deadlines

• Embrace task variety and accept challenges, while collaborating with peers and supervisors
• Maintain openness to feedback

• Attend training on active listening and respectful communication

• Role-play common workplace scenarios
• Participate in team-building exercises

• Remain open to feedback and continuous improvement

• Learn organizational charts and reporting lines

• Understand roles and responsibilities within teams

• Support team alignment activities
• Participate in orientation and onboarding

• Learn to read and interpret organizational charts
• Participate in onboarding and orientation sessions

• Assist with team alignment and role clarification activities

• Observe team workflows and support collaboration