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  • Senior Recreation Leader, Parks Division - Parks, Recreaton and Neighborhood Services (PRNS)

    San Jose, California United States CITY OF SAN JOSE Full Time $64,144.08 - $77,903.28 Annually Aug 22, 2025
    City of San Jose Employer:

    CITY OF SAN JOSE

    SanJoseCA.gov is the City of San José’s public website, offering information for our community 24/7. The City of San José is a large organization offering a wide variety of services and programs, and the website is intended to make it easier to find information about these services online.The purpose of the City website is to provide information of the City's choosing to the public in order to conduct the City’s business and promote the City's goals as guided by the City Council. The City’s website and the selection of sites to which any of them may be linked are not intended to serve as a forum for free discussion. Ample facilities for free expression are available both on the Internet and in the physical world. Instead, the City’s website is intended to serve the City’s need to make useful and practical information available to residents, businesses, and visitors which facilitates provision of a City service or furthers another specifically articulated purpose of the City.You can search our website by City services, department directory, or by topic. If you are looking for information on City policies and ordinances, try searching the City Council meetings, agendas and minutes database, the City Policy Manual or the Municipal Code. The Mayor’s Office, the City Council, Boards and Commissions, and most City departments and offices are represented on SanJoseCA.gov. You can also find certain City departments and programs via separate websites for Mineta San José International Airport, Police Department, Public Library and Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.You can find more information about City programs, services, and events through CivicCenterTV (Cable Channel 26), by subscribing to City News and Information, and by following us on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter.    

    Apply Now View job Employer Profile

    Job Description

    Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

    The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

    About the Department

    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.

    For more information, please visit activatesj.org.

    Position Duties

    The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department is currently seeking to fill two (2) Full-Time Senior Recreation Leader vacancies within our Parks Division.

    Salary range for this classification is: $64,144.08 - $77,903.28 annually.

    This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

    The Senior Recreation Leader is the highest class in the Recreation Leader series responsible for organizing, conducting, and coordinating a variety of recreation activities. Incumbents regularly work on tasks that require discretion and independent judgment. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to deliver services.

    Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Scheduling, supervising, training, and evaluating part-time staff and volunteers to ensure high-quality program delivery and customer service.
    • Providing timely and accurate information and referrals to the public regarding park activities and available services; creating and distributing promotional and outreach materials as needed.
    • Ensuring a safe and welcoming park environment by following safety protocols and assisting with emergency response procedures when necessary.
    • Ensuring the provision of optimal customer service; receiving and responding to issues, concerns and other comments or questions from customers.
    • Supporting the development of inclusive, culturally responsive programs that reflect the diversity of the San Jose community
    • Allocating budget hours to various activities, monitors expenditures for activities, prepares routine reports, and as appropriate provides refunds.
    • Planning and conducting special events and activities such as nature-based public programming.
    • Working collaboratively with the park’s stakeholders and partner organizations to support ongoing park programs and coordinate special events.
    • Assisting in overall park operations, including customer service, opening and closing facilities, addressing safety concerns, and coordinating among all park teams.
    • Ability to work nights and weekends.
    • Other duties as assigned
    Staff hired for these positions may be assigned to one of the following programs:

    Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (Full-Time)

    The Senior Recreation Leader at Happy Hollow performs work of moderate difficulty in day-to-day and long-term coordination of public and in-house events and conservation initiatives within the Conservation & Communications department.

    Responsibilities for the Senior Recreation Leader at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo position may include, but are not limited to: planning, organizing, and conducting park-wide and internal special events; attending off-site events on behalf of the park and zoo; supervising part-time staff and volunteers during event days or volunteer work days; implementing procedures for conservation grant funds and monitoring and tracking funds distributed; monitoring and tracking success of events and conservation programs.

    As a member of the Conservation & Communications team, this position supports the marketing and public relations efforts of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, including assisting with social media content creation, website updates/edits, and graphic design, particularly related to conservation projects and Happy Hollow events. The schedule for this role typically spans Tuesday through Saturday, with some required evening and holiday hours.

    Emma Prusch Farm Park (Full-Time)

    The Senior Recreation Leader at Emma Prusch Farm Park is a hands-on, dynamic role focused on creating and leading engaging nature-based educational programs that highlight the park’s agricultural history. This includes camps, preschool and adult programs, leisure activities, school field trips, and group tours that incorporate the park’s gardens, farm animals, and seasonal crops, with opportunities to operate park equipment such as the tractor as part of programming. The role also supports major community events like the Halloween Trick-o-Treat and Holiday Give-Away, while ensuring programs are inclusive and culturally responsive to the diverse Mayfair and surrounding neighborhoods. In addition to program leadership, the Senior Recreation Leader trains and supervises part-time staff and volunteers, provides support for facility rentals and customer service, collaborates with community partners and stakeholders, and assists with daily park operations. The recurring schedule is Tuesday through Saturday or Sunday through Thursday, with some evenings, weekends, and holidays required to support programming and operational coverage. Bilingual, preferably Spanish, is a plus.

    Minimum Qualifications

    Education and Experience:

    Completion of high school or equivalent (General Education Development [GED] Test or California Proficiency Certificate) AND one (1) year (equivalent to 2080 hours) of full-time recreation experience planning programs, scheduling classes, lesson plan development, leading recreation activities, or performing recreational support services.

    OR

    Completion of high school or equivalent (General Education Development [GED] Test or California Proficiency Certificate) completion of a minimum of two (2) years of college (equivalent to 60 semester units/90 quarter units) AND six (6) months (equivalent to 1040 hours) of full-time recreation experience planning programs, scheduling classes, lesson plan development, leading recreation activities, or performing recreational support services.

    Required Licensing (such as driver’s license, certifications, etc.):
    • A 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.


    Other Qualifications

    Other Qualifications
    • Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
    • Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
    • Computer Skills: Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, MS Excel.
    • Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
    • Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
    • Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
    • Supervision: Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
    • Project Management: Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

    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.

    If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jaine Davies at jaine.davies@sanjoseca.gov.

    Additional Information:

    Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

    You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

    Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

    This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

    Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

    The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

    For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

    In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

    Closing Date/Time: 8/28/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
    Apply Now View job Employer Profile

    Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

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Find Your Dream Job: Top Parks and Recreation Jobs to Apply For

Find Your Dream Job: Top Parks and Recreation Jobs to Apply For

Parks and recreation play a vital role in creating vibrant communities, and the demand for professionals in this field continues to grow. Whether you’re passionate about maintaining state parks, overseeing golf courses, or helping preserve our natural resources, countless career opportunities are waiting for you. In this guide, we’ll explore various jobs in parks and recreation, the departments that make up this sector, and the benefits of pursuing a rewarding career in this dynamic industry.

 

Exploring Career Opportunities in Parks and Recreation

The field of parks and recreation offers diverse career opportunities, ranging from management and administration to maintenance and operations. Whether you’re interested in overseeing community programming or keeping city parks beautiful, you have a role. From seasonal positions to full-time jobs, parks and recreation departments provide a range of employment options.

If you’re interested in helping preserve nature for future generations, many state parks offer specialized positions focused on conservation and sustainability. Let’s consider some of the top parks and recreation jobs.

 

Types of Parks and Recreation Jobs

Management and Administration

  1. Park Manager: Oversee the daily operations of a park or recreation center, ensuring it runs smoothly.
  2. Recreation Director: Develop and implement programs that engage the community and foster active participation.
  3. Administrative Assistant: Provide key administrative support to the park team, handling tasks such as scheduling and communications.

Maintenance and Operations

  1. Park Maintenance Worker: Perform essential tasks like landscaping, cleaning park facilities, and repairing equipment.
  2. Equipment Operator: Operate heavy machinery such as tractors and mowers to maintain parks and golf courses.
  3. Janitor/Cleaner: Ensure the cleanliness and safety of park facilities, making them enjoyable for visitors.

Recreation and Programming

  1. Recreation Coordinator: Plan and execute engaging activities and events at city parks and recreation centers.
  2. Park Ranger: Patrol parks, ensuring safety and enforcing rules while educating the public about natural resources.
  3. Lifeguard: Monitor swimming pools, ensuring the safety of swimmers during peak seasons.
 

Specialized Roles in Parks and Recreation

Golf Courses and Sports Facilities

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If you have a passion for sports and golf courses, there are specialized jobs available in these areas:

  1. Golf Course Superintendent: This person oversees the maintenance and operations of a golf course, ensuring it’s in top condition.
  2. Sports Facility Manager: Manage daily operations at a sports complex, including field maintenance and event coordination.
  3. Athletic Field Maintenance Worker: Keep athletic fields and facilities in excellent condition for sporting events and community use.

State Parks and Conservation

Working in state parks often involves a focus on preserving and promoting natural resources. Some of the specialized roles include:

  1. Park Naturalist: Educate visitors about the flora, fauna, and ecosystems within a state park, helping to foster a connection with nature.
  2. Conservation Biologist: This person works to protect and preserve natural resources within state parks, ensuring their sustainability for future generations.
  3. Park Ranger (State Parks): Enforce regulations and ensure the safety of visitors in state parks while educating the public on conservation efforts.
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Working in City Parks and Recreation Departments

City parks offer a range of career opportunities for those interested in working at the local level. Whether you’re involved in recreation programming or keeping the parks maintained, plenty of rewarding jobs are available.

  1. Seasonal positions: Help with specific projects during peak seasons, such as working in swimming pools or leading summer programs.
  2. Full-time positions: Take on more permanent roles within city parks, including management and operations.
  3. Team-based roles: Work collaboratively with other employees to keep parks running smoothly and provide an excellent experience for visitors.
 

Job Opportunities and Application Process

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If you want to start your career in parks and recreation, you can search for openings through your local government’s career center or statewide listings. Many parks departments are constantly recruiting new talent, offering a variety of roles that match different skill sets and interests.

The application process typically involves submitting a resume and completing an online application. If you’re selected for an interview, you’ll likely meet with a hiring manager to discuss your qualifications and how you can contribute to the parks team.

 

The Benefits of a Career in Parks and Recreation

There are many perks to working in parks and recreation, from the opportunity to work outdoors to making a meaningful difference in your community. Some of the key benefits include:

  1. Rewarding career: Working in parks and recreation directly impacts your community’s quality of life, providing spaces for recreation and relaxation.
  2. Opportunities for advancement: Many parks departments offer clear career pathways, with chances for promotions into management or specialized roles.
  3. Job security: Public spaces like parks and recreation centers are essential to communities, so there’s a constant need for qualified professionals in this field.
  4. Diverse work environments: From urban city parks to expansive state parks, you can work in various settings, depending on your interests.
 

Conclusion

A career in parks and recreation is fulfilling and offers a chance to make a lasting impact on your community. Whether you’re interested in managing golf courses, preserving natural resources, or planning recreation programs, there are countless career opportunities in this field. You can take the next step by exploring job openings and start your journey toward a rewarding career today.

Remember, parks are essential to the health and happiness of communities, and the professionals who maintain and manage these spaces play a critical role. Join the world of parks and recreation and help shape the future of public spaces for future generations.

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