Corrections Recreation Leader

Advertisement Closes 9/24/2026 (11:59 PM ET) req81337

Pay Grade 12

Salary $38,854.56 Annually

Employment Type EXECUTIVE BRANCH | FULL TIME | ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY | 18A | 40.0 HR/WK

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Location

3111 Spurr Road, Lexington, KY 40511 USA

Description

Creating a better, safer Kentucky.

The Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC), Division of Adult Institutions operates 13 correctional facilities that house Kentucky's adult inmate population. The mission of DOC is to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth and to provide a safe, secure and humane environment for staff and offenders in carrying out the mandates of the legislative and judicial processes; and, to provide opportunities for offenders to acquire skills, which facilitate non-criminal behavior.

This position is located in the Central Kentucky Medical Correctional Complex in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Corrections Recreation Leader is responsible for planning, organizing, and supervising recreational activities to meet specific needs, interests, and abilities of inmates within the facility. This position will need to accommodate a varied population of offenders with a variety of innovative planned activities and daily recreational opportunities.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Plan, direct and coordinate recreational activities to meet needs of correctional clients in a large correctional institution.
• Consult with various institutional staff in planning programs for residents.
• Gather information on offender skills, abilities, and interests in an effort to recommend, plan and implement recreational activities.
• Supervise institution gymnasium sanitation, general maintenance of recreation equipment, and inventory of supplies.
• Attend institution meetings.
• Prepare various reports.
• Maintain records on recreational equipment.
• Direct leagues, tournaments, and holiday events for all inmate populations.
• Maintain records and inventories of recreational equipment.

The ideal candidate for this position will have strong observation skills, strong communication skills, be self-motivated, be well organized.

Responsibilities and personal characteristics for success include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Demonstrate capacity to multi-task and effectively communicate and command large numbers of inmates. For example, you will at times be a referee, umpire, official, and supervisor, which requires good judgement, consistency, fairness, cooperation, integrity, and professionalism.
• Assist in training and supervision of inmate Recreation workers.
• Should possess unusually high levels of initiative by making good decisions and carrying out specific Job tasks and assignments with little supervision.
• The Recreation Department is open 365 days per year.
• Required to show initiative to confront inmates to ensure the rules of the Recreation Department and Institution are followed.
• Ensure resolve on such matters for the safety and security of the Institution.
• Submit weekly and monthly reports to Recreation Supervisor as requested.
• General knowledge of various card and table games, events, tournaments, single, partner and team sporting events and matches.
• Ability to work with complex electronic and exercise equipment and provide general maintenance.
• Be able to recognize stress on equipment and when repairs are required.

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: NONE

Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE

Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: Experience in planned recreation, physical education, or related activities will substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Current or prior military experience will substitute for the required college on a year-for-year basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (AGE, LICENSURE, REGULATION, ETC.): NONE

Working Conditions

Work is generally performed within a correctional institution. Work environment is hazardous due to working in a state correctional facility with inmates.

Probationary Period

This job has an initial and promotional probationary period of 6 months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

If you have questions about this advertisement, please contact Kasey Schank at Kasey.Schank@ky.gov

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D