Recreation Coordinator

Familyres; Bethpage (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

A community support organization in Bethpage is looking for a Recreation Coordinator to manage and oversee recreational programs that enhance the physical and emotional well-being of community members. This role requires strong organizational and communication skills, creativity in designing activities, and experience working with diverse populations. The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and have at least one year of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year of experience in recreational programming.
• Minimum of two years of experience with individuals with varied abilities.
• CPR/FA certification required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and oversee recreational programs.
• Develop inclusive programs promoting physical and mental well-being.
• Manage logistics, staff, and resources for events and activities.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities

Creativity in planning events

Ability to work with diverse populations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management or related field

Tools

Recreation management software

Job description

Overview

Enjoy making a difference? Join the team at FREE, enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time. Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

Position Summary

The Recreation Coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing a variety of recreational programs and activities within the community for the OPWDD and OMH Programs. This role involves developing inclusive programs that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being through recreation activities tailored to the needs of participants. The Recreation Coordinator ensures the programs are effective, engaging, and meet both therapeutic goals and social goals while also managing logistical details, staff, and resources related to each event or activity. This includes designing and implementing sports leagues, fitness classes, youth and adult programs, special events, and more.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Essential Functions

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic recreation programs for individuals with disabilities, focusing on improving physical, mental, and social well-being.
• Plans and coordinates special events, vacations for persons served, festivals, tournaments, staff team events/leagues, and community gatherings.
• Tailors programs to meet the needs of individuals with various disabilities, including physical, cognitive, sensory, and developmental and emotional challenges.
• Ensures that programs align with therapeutic objectives and are based on best practices in therapeutic recreation.
• Develops schedules, outlines, and guidelines for activities to ensure smooth operation.
• Works with operations managers, vendors, partners, and volunteers to ensure event success.
• Oversees logistics of all events including setup, operation, and cleanup.
• Maintains accurate records for participant registrations, financial transactions, and staff schedules.
• Prepares reports on program participation, budget usage, and other key metrics.
• Builds relationships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and local agencies to enhance program resources.
• Advocates for the inclusion of individuals with varying disabilities in all community recreation opportunities.
• Represents the recreation program at community meetings, conferences, and other professional events.
• Attends meetings with senior management to discuss program performance and needs.
• Develops and maintains professional development opportunities for staff to ensure knowledge and skills align with current therapeutic trends and techniques.
• Fosters a collaborative and supportive team environment focused on delivering high-quality programs.
• Provides guidance, and support to ensure effective program execution.
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed/processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional duties

• Ensure all programs align with the community's interests and needs.
• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management, Sports Administration, or a related field required.

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in recreational programming, community events, youth services, or sports coordination; three (3) or more years preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience with people with varied abilities.

Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:

• Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) preferred
• CPR/FA certification required (provided upon hire if needed)

Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:

• Strong organizational and leadership skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Budgeting and scheduling knowledge
• Ability to work with diverse populations (youth, elderly, individuals with disabilities)
• Familiarity with recreation management software or databases
• Creativity in planning events and programs
• Conflict resolution and emergency response skills

Other Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license and satisfy criteria to be an agency driver
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required for programs and events.

Environment

This role is performed in-person; travel is required in both personal and agency vehicles. Ability to work in various outdoor and indoor environments, occasionally lifting and setting up equipment.

Physical Requirements

• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee is required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed.
• Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time.

Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.

Equal Opportunity

FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises’ affirmative action efforts related to protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are set out and described in our affirmative action plan for protected veterans and individuals with a disability. If you have any questions or would like to view the affirmative action plan, please visit our website www.familyres.org