Recreation policy officer

Recreation policy officers research, analyse and develop policies in the sports and recreation sector and implement these policies in order to improve the sport and recreation system and improve the health of the population. They strive to increase the participation in sports, support athletes, enhance the performance of athletes in national and international competitions, improve social inclusion and community development. They work closely with partners, external organisations or other stakeholders and provide them with regular updates.

The following job titles also refer to recreation policy officer:

sports and recreation policy advisor
sports and recreation policy officer
sports policy officer
sports and recreation policy specialist
sports and recreation policy analyst
sports policy advisor
recreation policy specialist
sports and recreation policy researcher
recreation policy advisor
sport and recreation policy officer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as recreation policy officer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Recreation policy officer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to recreation policy officer.

labour market policy officer
housing policy officer
regional development policy officer
economic policy officer
education policy officer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of recreation policy officer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of recreation policy officer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of recreation policy officer.

These skills are necessary for the role of recreation policy officer.

Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
Develop sports programmes: Develop plans and policies for the inclusion of sporting activities and organisations in a community, and for the development of sporting activities for specific target groups.
Maintain relationships with government agencies: Establish and maintain cordial working relationships with peers in different governmental agencies.
Develop recreation programmes: Develop plans and policies which aim to provide the desired recreation activities to a target group or in a community.
Advise on legislative acts: Advise officials in a legislature on the propositioning of new bills and the consideration of items of legislation.
Promote recreation activities: Promote the implementation of recreation programs in a community, as well as recreation services provided by an organisation or institution.
Promote sport activities in public health: Support the delivery of sport and physical activity to promote general health and wellbeing, decrease risk factors for disease and prevent chronic disease and disability.
Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.
Analyse community needs: Identify and respond to specific social problems in a community, delineating the extent of the problem and outline the level of resources required to address it and identifying the existing community assets and resources that are available to address the problem.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of recreation policy officer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Government representation: The legal and public representation methods and procedures of the government during trial cases or for communication purposes, and the specific aspects of the governmental bodies being represented in order to ensure accurate representation.
Government policy implementation: The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.
Project management: Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of recreation policy officer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Liaise with sports organisations: Liaise with local sports councils, regional committees and national governing bodies.
Apply latest sport science findings: Identify and apply the latest findings of sport science in the area.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Advise on government policy compliance: Advise organisations on how they may improve their compliance to the applicable government policies they are required to adhere to, and the necessary steps which need to be taken in order to ensure complete compliance.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Liaise with politicians: Liaise with officials fulfilling important political and legislative roles in governments in order to ensure productive communication and build relations.

2422 – Policy administration professionals

 

 

---

 

 

References

1. Recreation policy officer – ESCO