PARK CENTER AIDE- P/T

City of Columbia; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Columbia seeks an entry‑level recreation program assistant to help coordinate park activities for youth, adults and seniors. The role involves assisting with after‑school programs, summer camps, field trips and cultural events, while ensuring participant safety and compliance with rules.

You will support scheduling, attendance records and basic building/grounds tasks, plus clerical duties and responsive public inquiries.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Six months relevant prior experience.
• South Carolina Class “D” Driver’s License is required.
• CPR and First Aid certifications or ability to obtain within six months.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement park programs and events for youth, adults and seniors.
• Monitor safety and rules compliance.
• Instruct groups and individuals in recreational activities.
• Maintain activity schedules and calendars.
• Monitor attendance and maintain records.
• Perform basic building and grounds maintenance as needed.
• Prepare reports and correspondence; assist with clerical tasks.
• Participate in marketing and public relations efforts.
• Respond to inquiries, concerns and requests for assistance.
• Perform general clerical work and attend meetings.

Skills

Mathematics basics

Data gathering & analysis

Guiding groups & instruction

Office equipment operation

Clerical tasks

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Computers for data entry

Job description

This position assists in coordinating and implementing recreational and social programs and activities for youth, adults and seniors with varying interests and abilities at assigned Park Center or recreational facility; and performs related work as required. The incumbent works within a general outline of work to be performed, and develops work methods and sequences under general supervision.

The work is considered light-to-medium in nature and involves walking or standing virtually all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis, or considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving close tolerances or limits of accuracy.

Work environment may involve exposure to bright/dim light, dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, fumes and/or noxious odors, traffic, toxic/caustic chemicals, violence; and is relatively safe, secure, and stable.

• Assists in coordinating and implementing Park Center and/or recreational facility programs and events for youth, adults and senior citizens with varying interests, recreational needs, and abilities, including but not limited to after-school programs, summer camps, field trips, cultural arts programs, club activities, leisure activities, sports activities, tournaments, etc.;
• Monitors participant compliance with established rules and regulations, and standards of safety;
• Instructs groups and individuals in recreational activities as appropriate;
• Assists in maintaining activity schedules and calendars;
• Monitors attendance and maintains related records;
• Performs basic building and grounds maintenance work as necessary;
• Prepares records and reports concerning assigned activities and operations;
• Participates in department marketing and public relations efforts;
• Receives and responds to inquiries, concerns, complaints and requests for assistance regarding areas of responsibility;
• Performs general clerical work as required, including preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, attending meetings, answering the telephone, etc.;

• Attends meetings, workshops, conferences, training, etc., as appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills; and

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• High school diploma or GED;
• Six (6) months relevant prior experience;
• Valid South Carolina Class “D” Driver’s License;
• CPR and First Aid certifications or be able to obtain within six (6) months from date of hire.

• Knowledge of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, and/or calculating ratios, rates and percentages;
• Ability to gather, organize, analyze, examine or evaluate data or information and may prescribe action based on such data or information;
• Ability to provide information, guidance or assistance to people to directly facilitate task accomplishment; may give directions or assignments to helpers or assistants;
• Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers for data entry, fax machines, copiers, telephones or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner;
• Ability to perform semi-skilled work involving set procedures and rules but with frequent problems;

• Ability to read routine sentences, instructions, regulations, procedures or work orders; writing routine sentences and completing routine job forms and incident reports; speaking routine sentences using proper grammar;
• Ability to perform clerical, manual or technical tasks prescribed by standard practices but which may require computation, the use of several procedures, and the use of independent judgments with obvious choices; requires normal attention for accurate results; and
• Ability to guide others, requiring frequent decisions affecting co-workers and others who depend on the service or product; works in a somewhat fluid environment with rules and procedures but with many variations from the routine.