Guest Services and Reservation System Manager

Guest Services and Reservation System Manager

Salary

$61,755.20 - $94,036.80 Annually

Location

Des Moines - 50321 - Polk County, IA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

27-00160

Agency

542 Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Opening Date

07/17/2026

Closing Date

7/30/2026 11:59 PM Central

LinkedIn Tag

#LI-POST

Point of Contact

Kim Bohlen; 515-360-3682; kim.bohlen@dnr.iowa.gov

To Apply

The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Description

The Department of Natural Resources encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks, Forests, and Preserves Bureau is seeking a driven, analytical, and highly collaborative professional to serve as our Guest Services and Reservation System Manager (Program Planner 3). If you are looking for a purposeful career where your daily work directly impacts the lives of millions of Iowans, this is your opportunity. In this role, you will become the heartbeat of Iowas state park accessibility, ensuring that families across the state can seamlessly connect with nature, camp, and recreate. By joining our team, you will contribute directly to our shared mission to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations, improving the quality of life in Iowa and ensuring a vibrant outdoor legacy for future generations.

We know that to successfully take care of Iowas natural resources, we must first take care of our people. The DNR prides itself on cultivating a professional yet deeply family-friendly environment that actively supports a healthy work-life balance. This position offers a highly predictable and stable Monday through Friday schedule from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, ensuring your evenings and most weekends remain your own to spend with loved ones. Within this supportive agency culture, you will enjoy a high degree of operational autonomy, professional growth opportunities, and the satisfaction of knowing your talents serve a distinct public good.

Core Responsibilities and Daily Work

Operating with significant independence, you will serve as the statewide technical authority and lead contract manager for Iowa's fully digital, 100% reservable campground and facility reservation system. In this capacity, you will manage the comprehensive contract lifecycle, direct vendor compliance, and formulate dynamic business rules to adapt to shifting market influences. Your primary fiscal duties will include auditing complex monthly vendor invoices and exercising independent oversight to authorize non-standard customer refunds. Additionally, you will coordinate critical campground modernization projects across the state, strategically managing the acquisition and field deployment of IT hardware to establish public Wi-Fi networks. As a key administrative strategist, you will also formulate official agency positions on high-profile public inquiries, draft formal language for the Iowa Administrative Rulemaking process, and deliver presentations to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and the Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC).

Beyond high-level contract administration, you will champion platform optimization and field staff empowerment. You will lead intra-bureau work groups to systematically evaluate platform user interfaces and conduct rigorous backend user-acceptance testing (UAT) on system updates, fixes, and alerts prior to public deployment. To ensure our field teams are fully supported, you will author and maintain the official Centralized Reservation System Operating Policies and Procedures manual, identify staff training needs, and produce instructional resources. Your administrative oversight will also extend to essential compliance programs, where you will act as the bureau administrator for pesticide licensing renewals and mandatory Human Trafficking prevention training records.

Collaboration is a core element of this position. You will partner closely with the Communications Bureau to guide public information strategies, manage digital publication schedules, and technically validate promotional codes within the reservation platform. To keep Iowa aligned with broader outdoor recreation trends, you will also integrate multi-source operational data to compile our states annual park statistics for regional and national benchmarking, providing finalized datasets for the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) and the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA).

Who We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate is a proactive, customer-focused team player who balances technical logic with exceptional communication skills. We are looking for an individual who exhibits high productivity and self-management, alongside a proven capacity for contract management, project management, and financial data analysis. Success in this position requires the integrity to handle sensitive public inquiries independently and the technical writing skills necessary to transform complex administrative rules into clear, structured guidelines for staff and the public. If you are an accountable professional who wants to use your administrative and technical expertise to make a meaningful difference for Iowa families, we encourage you to apply.

Essential Functions

• Directs the administrative, fiscal, and technical operations of the fully digital, 100% reservable statewide campground and facility reservation system
• Manages the centralized vendor contract lifecycle, executing end-to-end performance monitoring and vendor compliance reviews.
• Formulates and drafts formal regulatory proposals and language for the Iowa Administrative Rulemaking process.
• Designs and updates statewide business rules to proactively adapt to shifting market trends and stakeholder demands.
• Audits and reconciles monthly vendor invoicing and authorizes complex financial exceptions or non-standard customer refunds.
• Coordinates technical campground modernization projects, directing the distribution and field deployment of IT network infrastructure hardware.
• Leads intra-bureau work groups to systematically evaluate reservation platform functionality, field staff user interfaces, and public end-user deliverables
• Authors, maintains, and updates the official Centralized Reservation System Operating Policies and Procedures manual and public-facing informational publications.

Critical Job Competencies

Accountability, Integrity, Interpersonal Skills, Team Player, Communication Skills, High Productivity, Self-

Management, Customer Focus, Computer Skills, Project Management, Technical Skills (Contract Management & Financial Systems and Technical Writing and Compliance).

What You Get from Us:

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

(Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).

• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)
• The State's total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.
• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
• Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).
• Workout/Gym facilities available onsite at 6200 Park Ave.

Comments

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

Ensure you are kept up to date of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from info@govermentjobs.com. This is a system generated email from the DAS application system, and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Iowa DNR Mission

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Seven years of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility).

2) All of the following (a, b, and c):

a. One year of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility); and

b. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and

c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3) Graduation from an accredited school of law.

4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes nine months of full-time work as a Program Planner 2 or twenty-seven months of full-time work as a Program Planner 1.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

Why Choose the State of Iowa?

At the heart of our commitment to excellence is a dedication to our most valuable asset - our employees. Discover the outstanding benefits that set us apart as an employer of choice.

Our Robust Benefits Package Includes:

Competitive Compensation:

Enjoy a competitive salary that reflects directly on your skills and expertise.

Keep in mind, your wage is just one part of your total compensation. Unlock the complete value of your employment with the State of Iowa by using our user-friendly Total Compensation Calculator. Gain insights into your comprehensive annual compensation, including salary and State-provided benefits.

Health and Wellness:

Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health plans, including medical, dental, and vision coverage. Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that the State of Iowa covers 90% of the premiums, providing you and your loved ones with excellent coverage at a remarkably low cost.

Retirement Planning:

We are proud to offer the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS). A defined benefit plan, IPERS benefits are guaranteed for life, meaning once you retire, you will receive the same monthly benefit for the remainder of your life (once vested). We invest in your long-term financial well-being, so you can retire with peace of mind. Click here to learn more about IPERS.

Paid Time Off:

Life is unpredictable, and at the State of Iowa, we understand the importance of work-life balance. Our leave policies, including paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave with unlimited accrual, ensure you have the flexibility you need for personal and family matters.

Professional Development:

Elevate your career with continuous learning opportunities. We support your growth through training programs, workshops, and tuition reimbursement.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

We care about your well-being beyond the workplace. Access confidential counseling, resources, and support through our Employee Assistance Program.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces all backgrounds and perspectives. We believe diversity is a strength that drives innovation.

Join Us - Elevate Your Career:

Ready to elevate your career with the State of Iowa? Click here to explore more about our unparalleled benefits and discover what makes us unique. Your success is our priority!

01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

• Yes - I understand and agree.
• No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq
• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

03

How many years do you have of full-time work experience performing the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility)?

• No experience
• Less than seven years in the specified areas
• Seven years or more in the specified areas

04

Are you a current State of Iowa employee (executive branch)? IF YES - How many months of experience do you have in the classification of Program Planner 1 for the State of Iowa?

• I am not a State of Iowa employee
• I do not have any experience in the classification of Program Planner 1 for the State of Iowa
• Less than 24 months of experience in the classification of Program Planner 1 for the State of Iowa
• 24 to less than 27 months of experience in the classification of Program Planner 1 for the State of Iowa
• 27 months or more of experience in the classification of Program Planner 1 for the State of Iowa

05

Have you graduated from an accredited school of law?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you a current State of Iowa employee (executive branch)? IF YES - How many months of experience do you have in the classification of Program Planner 2 for the State of Iowa?

• I am not a State of Iowa employee
• I do not have any experience in the classification of Program Planner 2 for the State of Iowa
• Less than six months of experience in the classification of Program Planner 2 for the State of Iowa
• Six months to less than nine months of experience in the classification of Program Planner 2 for the State of Iowa
• Nine months or more of experience in the classification of Program Planner 2 for the State of Iowa

07

Do you have ALL of the following:: A) One year of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility); AND B) A total of four years of post high school/college education and full-time experience (experience as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; AND C) A total of two years of GRADUATE-level education and full-time experience (experience as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience? *The experience used to count for A, B and C must be separate and unique experience. The same experience CANNOT be counted for A, B and C.

• Yes
• No

08

After reviewing the list of essential functions for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources position you are applying for, please answer the following question: Based on the list of essential functions listed within the job announcement, are you able to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without a reasonable accommodation?

• Yes
• No

09

Reference Checks: If you are one of the top candidates for this position, the Hiring Team may wish to contact the references provided by you or any others we deem appropriate in order to verify your current or prior employment for the purpose of evaluation of your qualifications for the above position. Any information obtained through a reference check shall be kept confidential to the extent allowed under the Iowa Open Records Act (Iowa Code chapter 22). Please list below three professional business references, including at least one current or former supervisor. Please provide name, title, organization, relationship to you, phone, email, and full address of the reference. You may attach these to your application or type them in the box provided below.

Required Question

Employer State of Iowa

Agency 542 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Address 6200 Park Ave

STE 200

Des Moines, Iowa, 50321

Website http://www.iowadnr.gov/