Recreation General Supervisor

City-of-Oakland,-Ca; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work/Life Balance: 37.5-hour weeks

15 paid holidays

Vacation: 2 weeks per year

CalPERS retirement plan

Health, dental, and vision benefits

Sick leave and retirement benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Training

Job summary

The City of Oakland is recruiting for two Recreation General Supervisors within the Parks, Recreation & Youth Development department. One role oversees Cultural Arts, Nature & Science, Sports, Aquatics & Boating, Youth Development, and more; the other manages 20 recreation centers citywide and related facilities.

You’ll supervise staff, manage facilities, and coordinate with Oakland Public Works. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years’ supervisory

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure services, public administration, physical education, or related field.
• A master's degree is highly desirable.
• Two years of progressively responsible work comparable to a Recreation General Supervisor in the City of Oakland.

Responsibilities

• Providing oversight to overall programmatic operations.
• Overseeing and managing facility and park assets in collaboration with partners from Oakland Public Works.
• Assisting with the recruitment, hiring, and training of staff.
• Assisting with budgetary planning and oversight.
• Overseeing community outreach and engagement.
• Overseeing multiple geographic or programmatic-based recreation units; reporting staff typically include Recreation Supervisors, Program Coordinators, and Recreation Program Directors.
• Ensuring effective communication flow throughout the organization; participating in meetings with various staff cohorts and committees; drafting various communications to internal and external stakeholders.
• Resolving issues arising from customers, members of the public, and elected officials.

Skills

Leadership

Cross functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Communication

Equity and inclusion

Project management

Budgeting

Staff development

Community engagement

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure services, public administration, physical education, or related field

Master's degree is highly desirable

Job description

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development?

With an emphasis on Oakland’s youth, Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development and its partners will provide best-in-class, relevant, and equitable programs and services while meeting the specific needs of people and communities at the neighborhood level and regionally throughout the City of Oakland. We achieve this mission through intentional engagement and by removing the barriers that prohibit equitable opportunities for all. Oakland’s Parks, Recreation, and Youth Development (OPRYD) Department believes that communities thrive when they play with a purpose. Our vision is to reimagine, recreate, and reinvent how OPRYD serves every neighborhood, creating inclusive spaces, innovative programs, and lasting memories for youth, families, and adults.

Recreation General Supervisors typically oversee multiple operational division/units. We are currently recruiting for two (2) Recreation General Supervisors. One will provide oversight to our Cultural Arts, Nature & Science, Sports, Aquatics & Boating, Youth Development, and Auxiliary Recreation Services & Programs Units. This position primarily includes the oversight of facilities and functions such as the Rotary Nature, Studio One Arts, and Discovery Centers; citywide youth and adult sports programs, six pools and two boating centers, playgroups, inclusion programs, citywide restroom & barrier closures, Oakland park stewards, citywide transportation coordination and fleet management, ‘stand‑alone’ parks & open space, including City stables and feather River Camp (city owned camp; Quincy, CA.); and aids with emergency operation/disaster preparedness. The other will provide oversight of our recreation center programs, including 20 recreation centers citywide, the Larry E. Reid Sports Center, and the East Oakland Arts Center.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Equitable: You will have the opportunity to use this understanding and orientation to ensure optimal accessibility of our programs and services.
• Community Engagement Oriented: You will help us progress towards developing or enhancing targeted community engagement strategies.
• A Connector/Team Builder: You will have the opportunity to inspire and bring people together to accomplish shared goals.
• Strategic: You will have the chance to share your skills and abilities to analyze and notice trends that help us enhance operations.
• Flexible: You must possess the ability to be flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Demonstrates Integrity: You will be dedicated to the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships to merit the respect and confidence of elected officials, of other officials and employees, and of the public.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Providing oversight to overall programmatic operations.
• Overseeing and managing facility and park assets in collaboration with partners from Oakland Public Works.
• Assisting with the recruitment, hiring, and training of staff.
• Assisting with budgetary planning and oversight.
• Overseeing community outreach and engagement.
• Overseeing multiple geographic or programmatic-based recreation "units" or divisions; reporting staff typically include Recreation Supervisors, Program Coordinators, and Recreation Program Directors.
• Ensuring effective communication flow throughout the organization; participating in meetings with various staff cohorts and committees; drafting various communications to internal and external stakeholders.
• Resolving issues arising from customers, members of the public, and elected officials.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will have the ability to serve and improve the quality of life for communities.
• You will have camaraderie with like‑minded colleagues.
• You will have the ability to expose youth/families to many resources and services.
• You will have the ability to create job opportunities for youth; community youth development, and professional development opportunities.
• You will have the ability to be active, outdoors, and engaged with the community.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will have broad responsibilities that necessitate the ability to prioritize competing tasks.
• You will need a high level of time management.

Competencies Required:

• Business Process Analysis: Defining, assessing, and improving operational processes and workflow
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high‑quality, timely, and cost‑effective results.
• Establishing Credibility: Doing what one commits to doing and respecting the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
• Industry Monitoring: Grasping the external political, economic, competitive, and social factors affecting the industry
• Leading Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working within and across divisions, functions, or teams
• Leveraging Technology: Applying technology for improvements in organizational efficiency and effectiveness
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Strategic Thinking & Perspective: Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objectives
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace

This recruitment will produce one eligible list. The open list will be for all applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable.

Education:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in recreation and leisure services, public administration, physical education, or related field. A master's degree is highly desirable.

Experience:

Two years of progressively responsible work comparable to a Recreation General Supervisor in the City of Oakland.

Desirable Qualifications: Certified Park and Recreation Professional

Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff review their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job‑related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the structured interview (sometimes referred to as an Oral Exam) (weighted 100%), which will be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. The structured interview will be conducted as a one‑way video interview, where you will record your responses to a set of questions. You will have 7 days from the time you receive the interview link to complete and submit your video responses. The tentative date of the structured interview is the week of September 7, 2026.

Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations for the examination process must request accommodations no later than one week before they are scheduled to take the exam; otherwise, it may not be possible to arrange accommodations for the selection process. Please complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Testing form by clicking on this link or by copying and pasting the link into your browser to open it: https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Request-for-Reasonable-Accommodation-in-Testing-2.9.22-Fillable.pdf. Send the completed form and any supporting documentation to the exam analyst: Christina Dennis at [e-mail].

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What’s in it for you:

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5-hour work weeks
• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre‑tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental:Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave:Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation:457(b) pre‑tax plan and an after‑tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker‑related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.