Environmental Education Assistant

Tri-Valley Career Center; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Pleasanton is seeking a Recreation Leader III – Environmental Education Assistant to join the Library and Recreation team. This hands-on role helps plan and run school field trips, Alviso Adobe Community Park tours, nature programs, family activities, and special events, connecting children and families with Pleasanton’s history, wildlife, and resources.

The ideal candidate is passionate about environmental education and youth programming, a strong communicator, organized, adaptable, and

Qualifications

• Demonstrates understanding of program objectives, operations, supplies and needs.
• Experience or familiarity with program operations.
• Some experience in emergency procedures and safety protocols.
• Some classes or training in the program area.

Responsibilities

• Lead engaging school field trips for elementary students at Alviso Adobe.
• Assist with planning, preparation, and delivery of environmental education programs and events.
• Bring local history, wildlife, and nature to life through hands-on learning.
• Prepare materials, secure supplies, set up/clean up, and ensure smooth operations.
• Respond to participant questions professionally and calmly.
• Support staff and volunteers with task assignments and program evaluation.

Skills

Child engagement

Public speaking

Program planning

Team collaboration

Safety awareness

Customer service

Flexible hours

Job description

The City of Pleasanton is excited to announce an opportunity for an enthusiastic, community-minded Recreation Leader III – Environmental Education Assistant to join the Library and Recreation team. Under the direction of the Library and Recreation Coordinator, this position helps plan and implement engaging school field trips, Alviso Adobe Community Park tours, nature programs, family activities, and special events. This hands‑on role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with children, connecting the community to local history and nature, and creating welcoming, educational experiences in one of Pleasanton’s most unique historic and natural settings. If you are passionate about environmental education, youth programming, outdoor recreation, and public service, this is a great opportunity to inspire curiosity and help bring Pleasanton’s natural and cultural resources to life!

We're Looking For Someone Who Is

• A friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic recreation professional who enjoys working with children, families, teachers, volunteers, visitors, and the public in a welcoming and service-focused environment.
• A confident communicator and presenter who can lead engaging activities, guide elementary‑aged students through educational field trips, and share information about local history, wildlife, nature, and environmental education in an age‑appropriate way.
• A creative and curious program assistant who is excited to contribute fresh ideas for environmental education programs, family activities, tours, community engagement, and special events.
• A dependable and organized team member who can help prepare program materials, secure supplies, set up and clean up activities, manage equipment, and keep programs running smoothly.
• A safety‑conscious leader who can use mature judgment, respond professionally to participant questions or unexpected situations, and help maintain a positive, safe, and inclusive environment for all participants.
• A collaborative coworker who enjoys supporting staff and volunteers, building effective working relationships, and contributing to a creative team that values employee input.
• A flexible and adaptable recreation professional who is comfortable working both indoors and outdoors, adjusting to changing schedules, weather conditions, participant needs, and program priorities.
• A knowledgeable ambassador for the City’s environmental education and historic preservation efforts who can help connect school groups, families, and community members with Pleasanton’s natural and cultural resources.
• A hands‑on multitasker who can balance program delivery, facility support, public contact, administrative tasks, and activity preparation with minimal supervision.
• A customer service‑oriented representative of the City who can interpret policies and procedures for participants, respond to concerns, and provide excellent service to clients, staff, outside agencies, contractors, and the public.

In This Role, You Will

• Lead engaging school field trips for elementary‑aged students at the historic Alviso Adobe Community Park.
• Assist with the planning, preparation, and delivery of environmental education programs, nature‑based activities, family programs, tours, and special events.
• Help bring local history, wildlife, and nature to life through hands‑on learning experiences for children and community members.
• Create welcoming and educational experiences for participants, teachers, parents, volunteers, visitors, and members of the public.
• Prepare program materials, secure supplies, set up and clean up activities, and help ensure programs run smoothly from start to finish.
• Support facility and activity operations, including opening and closing assigned facilities, animal care, monitoring activities, and serving as the person‑in‑charge when assigned.
• Assist with equipment and supply storage, care, use, and set‑up, including moving assigned program equipment and supplies as needed.
• Respond to participant questions, concerns, and unexpected situations in a professional, calm, and service‑focused manner.
• Support staff and volunteers by assisting with task assignments, program participation, staffing needs, and program evaluation.
• Perform daily operations, administrative tasks, facility supervision, and other assigned duties with minimal indirect supervision.

A Few Reasons You’ll Love Working With Us

• You’ll help inspire curiosity in children by introducing them to local history, wildlife, nature, and environmental stewardship through hands‑on experiences.
• You’ll work in one of Pleasanton’s most unique historic and natural settings: Alviso Adobe Community Park.
• You’ll be part of a collaborative and creative Library and Recreation team that encourages new ideas and values employee input.
• You’ll build valuable skills in leadership, public speaking, environmental education, youth programming, event coordination, and public service.
• You’ll have the opportunity to create memorable experiences for school groups, families, and community members.
• You’ll play an important role in connecting the community with Pleasanton’s natural and cultural resources.
• You’ll enjoy a dynamic, hands‑on role where each day may include a mix of program delivery, outdoor learning, public interaction, facility support, and event preparation.
• You’ll support meaningful public service by helping provide high‑quality recreation, education, and community programs for Pleasanton residents and visitors.

A Few Challenges You Might Face

• Leading groups of energetic elementary‑aged students while keeping activities engaging, organized, safe, and on schedule.
• Adapting to changing schedules, weather conditions, participant needs, staffing levels, and program requirements.
• Balancing multiple responsibilities, including program preparation, activity leadership, public contact, facility support, clean‑up, and administrative tasks.
• Responding professionally to participant questions, concerns, unexpected situations, or last‑minute program changes.
• Working independently while also collaborating closely with City staff, coworkers, volunteers, teachers, parents, and community partners.
• Staying flexible in an active recreation environment that may require working varied or flexible hours.
• Performing hands‑on physical tasks such as moving and setting up supplies, lifting up to 25 pounds, climbing, squatting, kneeling, sitting on the floor, and assembling basic equipment or tools as needed.

The Ideal Candidate Will Be

• Passionate about environmental education, local history, outdoor recreation, nature‑based learning, youth programming, or community engagement.
• Experienced or familiar with recreation program operations, activity planning, facility protocols, supplies, equipment, and participant needs.
• Friendly, approachable, and comfortable working with children, families, teachers, volunteers, coworkers, and the public.
• A strong communicator who enjoys presenting information, leading group activities, answering questions, and creating engaging educational experiences.
• Creative and willing to help develop program activities, contribute new ideas, and support marketing or promotional materials as needed.
• Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Safety‑conscious and capable of using mature judgment, resolving conflicts, and helping address problems in a calm and professional manner.
• Collaborative and able to establish, facilitate, and maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, participants, outside agencies, contractors, and the public.
• Comfortable supporting activity setup and clean‑up, equipment storage, facility operations, and other hands‑on recreation duties.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to work indoors and outdoors, support changing program needs, and work flexible hours as assigned.

For more information about the position, please refer to the job description by visiting the following link Recreation Leader III.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrates an understanding of program objectives, operations, supplies and needs.
• Demonstrates experience and/or familiarity with program operations.
• Demonstrates some experience in emergency procedures and safety protocols.
• May have taken classes or training courses in program area.

License

• Possess current American Red Cross certification including Water Safety Instructor Lifeguard Training, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and all guidelines outlined in Title 22 (may be obtained after employment).

Knowledge Of

• Activity theory and philosophy.
• Activity/facility protocols.
• Activity equipment and facility care and use policies.
• Principles and practices of accurate money handling.
• City policies and procedures.

Skill To

• Possesses CPR - First Aid - AED certification.
• Provides basic staff training.
• Develops and implements program marketing and promotion materials.
• Determines problems and facilitates solutions.
• Establishes, facilitates and maintains effective working relationships.
• Provides excellent customer service.

Ability To

• Develops program activities.
• Interacts with clients, staff and outside agencies and contractors.
• Provides leadership and direction for subordinate staff.
• Coordinates resources.
• Uses mature judgment and resolves conflict.
• Works flexible hours.
• Lifts up to 25 pounds.
• Moves and sets up assigned program equipment and supplies.
• Climbs, squats, kneels, and sits on floor, as needed to accomplish job duties.
• Assembles basic equipment, tools and supplies.
• Operates tools and equipment.

Working Conditions

• Extensive competitive swimming experience and/or Safety Training for Coaches
• Ability to demonstrate lifesaving and emergency first aid skills
• Ability to perform all swimming strokes according to American Red Cross standards