Recreation Leader II, PT (Continuous)

City of Oakland; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Oakland is seeking part-time recreation staff to lead diverse youth programs and manage recreational activities across multiple sites. You will organize games, arts and crafts, sports, and special events while ensuring safety and high-quality service for the community.

The role requires interaction with the public, strong teamwork, and the ability to coordinate with schools and neighborhoods. Candidates must be 18+, with relevant coursework and recreation experience.

Qualifications

• Two years of college coursework toward a recreation/physical education/kinesiology/dance/art-related degree.
• Two years of full-time experience in recreation activities such as sports, arts and crafts, or organized programs.
• Must be at least eighteen years old to apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead games, free-play, and activities including youth development, arts and crafts, dance, music, or drama.
• Coach and teach sports programs, promote sportsmanship, and enforce rules; ensure safety compliance.
• Prepare facilities and equipment for activities; admit patrons and oversee facility usage per City rules.
• Inspect equipment and supplies for safety and maintenance; report issues.
• Administer CPR and First Aid as needed.
• Schedule and coordinate leisure education programs and events; assist with field trips and special events.
• Take attendance and complete forms and reports on attendance, safety, and activities.
• Provide program information to community members; design, prepare, and distribute flyers/marketing materials.
• Perform routine admin duties using office software and manage patron registration data.
• Provide direction and training to other staff and volunteers.

Skills

Team player

Enthusiastic

Community involvement

Education

Two years of college coursework toward a related degree

Job description

2027 OAKLAND PARKS, RECREATION & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Apply by: 10/25/2026 for Spring or Summer 2027 start dates

Apply by: 2/7/2027 for Summer 2027 start dates

Apply by: 8/8/2027 for Fall or Winter 2027 start dates

Why Join the Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development Department?

With an emphasis on Oakland’s youth, Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development (OPRYD), and its partners will provide best-in-class, relevant, and equitable programs and services, while meeting the specific needs of people and communities both 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. Reimagine, recreate and reinvent OPRYD with us!

We are looking for someone who is:

• A team player.
• Enthusiastic.
• Excited to play an active role in the Oakland community.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Developing and leading games, free-play, and special activities which may include youth development, arts and crafts, dance, music, or drama; coaching and teaching sports programs, sportsmanship, and rules of conduct to participants; and ensuring that safety rules are observed.
• Preparing facilities and setting up equipment for scheduled recreational activities/events; admitting patrons to recreation facilities, programs, and events; and overseeing the use of recreation equipment and facilities in compliance with City rules and regulations.
• Inspecting the condition of equipment and supplies for safety, proper operation, and maintenance needs, and reporting any repair or maintenance issues to the appropriate personnel.
• Administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid as needed.
• Scheduling and coordinating leisure education programs and activities; assisting with scheduling, coordinating, and promoting special events, programs, and field trips.
• Taking attendance regularly; completing and maintain forms and reports relating to attendance, safety, and activities.
• Providing community members with information on various programs and activities; designing, preparing, and distributing flyers and marketing materials to promoting program activities.
• Performing routine administrative duties utilizing a variety of office equipment; using software applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail, and database software in performing work assignments; utilizing automated recreation programs for patron registration, data collection, and analysis.
• Providing direction and training to other recreation staff and volunteers.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be part of a fun team working with Oakland’s youth.
• You can make a difference in the community.
• Your work will result in real-life impacts.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You may be responsible for a lot of kids with a lot of public interaction.
• You will be dealing with complex situations.
• You may have to travel to multiple/various sites/recreation centers.

Competencies Required:

• Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication.
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue.
• Building and Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships.
• Presentation Skill: Formally delivering information to groups.
• Delegating: Sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability.
• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards.

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:

Completion of two (2) years of major college coursework from an accredited college or university leading to a degree in recreation, physical education, kinesiology, dance, art, or a closely related field.

Must submit your unofficial transcripts to determine qualifications. Be sure to scan a copy of your transcripts and attach it to your online application.

Experience:

Two (2) years of full-time experience (equivalent to 4160 part-time hours) participating in a wide variety of recreation activities including sports, arts and crafts, and/or other organized activities.

Candidates must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to apply.

Desirable Qualifications:

Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin are highly desirable for certain positions.

License/Other Requirements:

Successful incumbents in this job are expected to operate an automotive vehicle in the performance of the assigned duties. Due to the nature of the assignment and the hours worked, public transportation may not be a cost-effective method for traveling to the various locations required. 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 or transport equipment in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.

Possession of a valid Basic First Aid certificate and a valid CPR certificate may be required.

Candidates who receive conditional offers of employment will be required to submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance, and a tuberculosis (TB) screening.

The Selection Process

This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to the Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development Department for further consideration. Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. All invitations to interview will be sent through governmentjobs.com, and may be received weeks or months after the initial application date, based on OPRYD seasonal programming. Please ensure that you are routinely checking for emails from governmentjobs.com. Applications received by the dates below will be reviewed for any vacancies open at that time.

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.