Creative Arts Instructor

City of Fort Collins; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 21,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Fort Collins Recreation Department seeks a Creative Arts Instructor to lead engaging, beginner-friendly classes at the Senior Center. This hourly, part-time role offers opportunities to teach stained glass, knitting, woodworking, or Latin dance while fostering a welcoming community.

You will plan lessons, supervise participants safely, manage supplies, and collaborate with the Recreation Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Six months of informal experience or knowledge in the area.
• Previous educational or learning experience in the specialized area is preferred.
• Minimum age is 18.

Responsibilities

• Maintain active supervision of class participants, ensuring safety and awareness of whereabouts.
• Plan and prepare progressive, age-appropriate lessons and monitor progress.
• Use developmentally appropriate guidance to redirect participants and encourage participation.
• Conduct positive interactions with participants and families, communicating progress and behavior guidance.
• Manage classroom space, set up/clean up equipment and materials.
• Ensure safe and proper use of tools and space for the activities.
• Manage supply inventory and coordinate purchases with Recreation Coordinator.
• Attend staff meetings and required trainings.

Skills

Stained glass

Knitting

Woodworking

Latin dance

Job description

Creative Arts Instructor (Hourly)

Position Details

Requisition #: req8618

Department: Recreation

Location: SENIOR CENTER

Benefit Category: Variable Hourly Hourly Employee Benefit Highlights

Employment Type: Part-Time Hourly

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Hourly Rate: $15.16 - 19.00 per hour (based on relevant experience)

Selection Process: Application deadline is 11:59 p.m. MT on 9/22/2026. The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.

Post-Offer Requirements: Background check (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position).

While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.

Overview

The City of Fort Collins Recreation Department creates exceptional programs to serve an exceptional community. Our programs are an opportunity for individuals to learn new skills, find new passions, stay active, and connect with their peers and others in the community.

Do you have a specific skillset and passion for stained glass, knitting, woodworking, or Latin style dancing? And do you enjoy sharing it and teaching it to others? Creative Arts instructors will enjoy spending time with community members across the lifespan, creating a positive and supportive learning environment, and demonstrating a passion to teach community members.

Work Schedule

This is a part-time, fluctuating hourly position that plans for and teaches classes year-round. Program hours vary depending on instructor schedule. Evening and weekend availability required.

Responsibilities

• Maintains active supervision of class participants which can vary in age, ensuring safety and awareness of individual’s whereabouts during all class times.
• Plans and prepares progressive, age-appropriate lessons in specified area of instruction, monitoring participant progress to meet individual and group needs.
• Utilizes developmentally appropriate guidance strategies to redirect participants and encourage participation and engagement.
• Conducts positive, respectful interactions with participants and their families including greetings and departures and communication of skill-based progress and/or behavior guidance/supports needed.
• Manages classroom space including set-up and clean-up of all equipment and materials.
• Ensures the safe and appropriate use of all tools, equipment, and space specific to specialized activity.
• Manages activity supply inventory and communicating purchasing requests to the Recreation Coordinator.
• Complies with all City, department, and program policies and procedures.
• Attends recreation staff meetings and required trainings as scheduled.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position is not responsible for the direct supervision of any City employees. Experienced instructors may assist the Recreation Coordinator with supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable law which may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. This position may also supervise volunteers.

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

Qualifications

Minimum age is 18.

Education and/or Experience

• At least six (6) months of informal experience or knowledge in the area and genuine interest in working with desired populations which could include adults, youth, or individuals with disabilities.
• Previous educational or learning experience in specialized area of instruction preferred. Previous experience may include formal college or independent certification course work, previous work experience, or similar.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• CPR and First Aid Certification must be acquired within 60 days of hire.
• Maintains any certifications required for position in specialized areas of instruction.

Language Skills

• Must be able to communicate effectively with children, families, co-workers, supervisors, and the general public. Must be able to effectively give developmentally appropriate, verbal guidance to program participants.

Reasoning Ability

• Must possess the ability to solve and implement practical solutions to problems, to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form, and to foresee and initiate proactive measures to ensure program quality, customer service and participant safety.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to crawl, kneel, jump, run, stoop, crouch, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must have the ability to lift from the ground up to 60 lbs. The employee must be capable of leading participants in extended periods of exercise and movement and be able to actively participate in scheduled activities alongside participants in both an indoor and outdoor environment.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to various weather conditions including rain, snow, wind, hail, and heat. The employee may be exposed to allergy causing conditions (i.e., cottonwood, dust, animals, etc.). The employee may be exposed to a variety of childhood illnesses. The noise level in the work environment can be at high extremes at times.

The employee must be able to work effectively in an environment with a variety of emotional states of scheduled participants which can vary from youth to adult. The employee must possess high tolerance for the characteristic behavior of participant ages in indoor and outdoor recreation settings and work effectively in high energy, chaotic, or disruptive situations. The employee should be flexible with the demands and interests of participant ages.

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call [phone] for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use

Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behaviour that violates this policy.

Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.

The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.

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