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City of San Jose

Recreation Program Specialist - Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRN

City of San Jose, San Jose, California, United States, 95199


Are you ready to join a team that is “Building Community Through Fun?” Are you ready to make a difference?

The City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San José a better place to live. Our mission is to connect people through parks, recreation and neighborhood services for an active San José. ActivateSJ, PRNS’ latest strategic work plan, is committed to establishing healthy communities that inspire belonging by following the guiding principles of stewardship, nature, equity & access, identity and public life.

The Department creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn, which include 48 community centers, 10 regional parks, 200 plus neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 290 playgrounds and over 60 miles of trails, programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families in our community. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public’s trust. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative. We are a fast-paced organization that takes decisive action after thoughtful planning.

The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Service Department is currently seeking to fill five (5) full-time CLASSIFICATION vacancies in the Recreation Services Division. The current vacancies include Community Centers, Citywide Out of School Time, and Citywide Aquatics.

The Recreation Program Specialist position is responsible for developing a variety of recreation activities and community service programs. The position requires recreation programming experience and supervision of a team of recreation staff responsible for delivering programs and services that meet the needs of a population located within a given community center area or citywide.

Some positions may require working early mornings, late evenings, and/or weekends.

PRNS provides a variety of recreation programs for children, youth, and adults, including recreation classes in diverse areas such as dance, music health and fitness, gymnastics, theater arts, swim lessons and more.

Typical duties for the Recreation Program Specialist classification include, and are not limited to the following:Develops and implements recreational programming for their assigned community center.Research market trends for recreational activities increasing in popularity in order to implement them at their given centers.Establishes recreation programs, including negotiating, and contracting with instructors and other service providers, setting class fees and charges, acquiring adequate facilities, and evaluating programs and classes.Plans, coordinates, and conducts special recreation events, trips, visits, programs, and social clubs for children and youth, seniors, and/or special needs populations.Provides information and referrals to the community regarding programs available, including developing and disseminating publicity through all forms of media.Interacts with citizens, community groups, private organizations and/or agencies, and other public and/or government agencies to identify and determine the leisure and human service needs of the population being served.Participates in the preparation and implementation of the budget for their assigned area. Secures supplies and equipment for programs.Recruits, supervises, trains, and evaluates part-time staff and volunteers.Maintains financial records of fees collected; prepares reports, proposals, and various letters and memos. Conducts registrations as needed.Education and ExperienceA Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Recreation and Leisure Services or closely related field AND one (1) year (equivalent to 2,080 hours) of full-time recreation leadership or programming experience.

Acceptable SubstitutionAdditional years of increasingly responsible recreation leadership or programming experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis for up to two (2) years. There will be no substitute for required one (1) year (equivalent to 2,080 hours) of full-time recreation leadership or programming experience.

Required LicensingA valid First Aid certificate is required and must be maintained. Must provide proof of a valid certificate or will need to obtain a certificate within one (1) year of hire.A valid CPR certificate is required and must be maintained. Must provide proof of a valid certificate or will need to obtain a certificate within six (6) months of hire.Selection Process:The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

E-mail will be the default method of correspondence with applicants. To ensure that you receive timely notifications regarding your application status for this recruitment, please enter a valid e-mail address when submitting your application.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jaine Davies at

jaine.davies@sanjoseca.gov .#J-18808-Ljbffr