Recreation Leader I (Part-Time, 19 Hours or Less/Week)

City of Hercules; Hercules (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Hercules is seeking a part-time Recreation Leader I to supervise children, support youth and childcare programs, and model positive behavior in a safe, friendly environment. You will engage in activities, manage routines, and help create a welcoming atmosphere for families and staff across several recreational settings.

You will assist with lesson planning, daily operation tasks, reporting, and coordinating with parents and City teams.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One year of experience in Preschool or youth programs preferred.
• 12 units in early childhood education, child development, recreation, elementary education, or a related field may substitute.

Responsibilities

• Supervises clients in their program and children in the childcare program; participates in activities with children.
• Demonstrates leadership and effectively communicates with participants, parents, and staff.
• Assists with classroom activity assignments, cleaning duties, and attending field trips.
• Attends staff meetings and prepares basic incident or monthly reports.
• Maintains health, welfare, safety and supervision of all children enrolled in programs.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Recreation Leader I (Part-Time, 19 Hours or Less/Week)

Are you a positive role model who enjoys working with children and making a difference in your community? The City of Hercules is seeking enthusiastic Part-Time Recreation Leaders to support youth and childcare programs in a fun, structured, and supportive environment.

As a Recreation Leader I, you will actively participate in programs, supervise children, and serve as a positive role model in a safe and supportive environment. You will demonstrate leadership and creativity while building meaningful connections with participants, parents, and staff. This position offers valuable hands‑on experience in recreation, child development, communication, customer service, and creative activity planning.

Selection Process

This is a continuous recruitment. Applications will be reviewed and screened as they are received, and the recruitment may close at any time once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. The selection process may include, but is not limited to, an application screening, oral panel interview, and final selection. The City reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary to meet business needs.

Job Description

Under supervision, the Recreation Leader I supervises clients in their program and/or children in the childcare program; participates in all activities with the children; demonstrates leadership skills, is a positive role model, has a genuine interest in working with clients, the public, children, parents, and supervisors and has effective communication, interpersonal and customer service skills; demonstrates organization and creativity with class projects; demonstrates a clear understanding of child care problem solving techniques in dealing with any discipline situation involving the children; reads, understands, and adheres to all policies and procedures in the staff handbook; and performs related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised

The Recreation Leader I may receive lead direction from the Recreation Leader II and/or Recreation Leader III.

• Responds to inquiries, provides information and assists customers in person and by telephone.
• Ensures customers receive complete information about programs and activities and any applicable policies and regulations.
• Assists in monitoring and supervising the activities of patrons of all ages at various sites.
• Prepares incident, accident, and monthly reports for various sites.
• Assists with city-wide events.
• Attends regular staff meetings.
• Performs related duties as required.

When Assigned to the Children’s Programs

• Plans and implements projects and activities with children.
• Proactively anticipates and de‑escalates potential behavioral issues to prevent incidents.
• Communicates with parents/guardians regarding absences, illnesses, behavior concerns, and other matters via phone, written notices, and in person.
• Provides lead direction and assists lower-level staff with classroom activity assignments and cleaning duties including washing dishes, vacuuming, trash disposal, sweeping, mopping, and cleaning bathrooms.
• Attends all local, off site field trips.
• Participates in aquatic activities with children at the Community/Swim Center as needed.
• Ensures proper health, welfare, safety and supervision of all children enrolled in assigned programs; remains on site at assigned location(s); resolves various behavioral problems as they arise.
• Tutors and assists children with homework as needed.
• Drives City vehicles with children to designated sites (Leader II only).
• Maintains and submits necessary attendance records and accident and incident reports.
• Ensures efficient use and proper care of materials and supplies. Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of

• Operations, services, and activities of recreation programs, including childcare programs.
• Correct English usage, including spelling and grammar.
• Safety principles and practices related to childcare programs and activities.
• City policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices of child development.
• Methods and techniques of classroom management.
• Working with children with special needs and teens with behavior issues.
• methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.

Ability to

• Prepare adequate lesson plans in advance of the scheduled activity.
• Handle all disciplinary or inappropriate behavior situations.
• Work cooperatively and communicate with the public and employees in an enthusiastic and constructive manner.
• Ask questions and takes interest in learning more.
• Take direction in a positive way.
• Respond to children/teens/seniors in an appropriate manner.
• Exercise flexibility regarding working with varying personalities, age groups, and work schedules.
• Acknowledge individuals when an issue arises and respect the concerns that are shared.
• Assess situations and prevent issues before they occur.
• Exercise good communication and customer service skills.
• Be a positive role model for staff and children and exercise good appearance, attitude, speech and body language.
• Remain calm during emergencies.
• Lead and interact with large groups of children/teens/seniors on a daily basis with various activities such as organized games, art projects, homework, and outdoor play.
• Demonstrate problem solving skills.
• Perform daily chores, including mopping spills, sweeping, vacuuming, carry out the trash, wash dishes and tables as needed.
• Wear proper attire which includes uniform, badge, and safe, comfortable shoes at all times. (Open toed shoes are not allowed.)
• Stay current with trends of assigned recreation programs.
• Improvise and multi-task.
• Administer first aid, CPR and/or artificial respiration.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Skills and Personal Attributes: Demonstrates strong attention to accuracy, thoroughness, and detail, and communicates clearly and effectively in both oral and written forms.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of experience and education/training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience

One year of experience working in a Preschool. Experience in working effectively with children and/or youth programs and in a recreational environment is desired.

OR

A combination of relevant experience and 12 units in early childhood education, child development, recreation, elementary education, or a related field.

Certificates / Licenses / Special Requirements

• Possession, or ability to obtain, current Pediatric First Aid and Infant/Child/Adult CPR certificates.
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Must be fingerprinted for submission to the California Department of Justice in order to work for the City of Hercules.

Environmental Conditions

Indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and office environment; occasional travel from site to site; exposure to computer screens and noise; exposure to heavy public contact.

Physical Conditions

Essential and marginal functions require the ability to walk, stand, or sit for prolonged periods of time in an indoor and outdoor environment; frequently sit, stand, walk, run, jump, climb, reach, turn, bend, squat, stoop, hop, kneel, crouch, crawl, grasp, push, pull and make repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties and in interactions with children in their daily play; interact with children through sports, physical education, swimming, aerobics, dance and other activities; lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight; hearing and speaking ability sufficient to communicate in person, by telephone, and to speak loudly in a noisy setting; visual ability sufficient to clearly distinguish objects and persons at a distance and to read and produce printed material and information displayed on a computer screen; ability to raise arms above shoulder height; manual dexterity sufficient to grasp objects, use fine manipulation, write and operate office machines and equipment; operate a vehicle; competency to write, spell and relay accurate information on behavior, discipline, and incident and accident reports, as needed; may occasionally work evenings and weekend hours to attend events. Position requires working in a high-noise environment with frequent interruptions and elevated sound levels.