Recreation Specialist

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New York's Department of Correction seeks Recreation Specialists to help develop and implement Enhanced Recreation activities for people in custody across city jail facilities. You will facilitate sports, movement, wellness programs, and engagement strategies to support positive group dynamics.

Under supervision, you will assess needs, propose programming ideas, connect with community partners, and ensure proper equipment and data recording.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree with 24 credits in recreation or related fields, including at least 18 credits in recreation/physical education/dance/applied arts.
• Associate degree plus one year of full-time paid recreation planning/supervision experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent plus three years of full-time paid recreation planning/supervision experience.
• Substitution with education, with 30 credits per one year experience; must have at least one year or 24 credits in recreation-related fields.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Enhanced Recreational programming for men and women in the Department’s care and custody, on housing units and in communal spaces, including sports, movement, fitness and tournaments.
• Build the DOC capacity to provide Enhanced Recreational programming by determining needs, presenting ideas, and encouraging people in custody to engage in organized activities that promote health, wellness, teamwork and collaboration.
• Assist leadership in identifying and connecting with additional community partners.
• Conduct periodic inspections of equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Complete and input daily data collection of the enhanced recreation programming.
• Participate in supervision (individual and team) as scheduled, and complete assigned trainings as required.
• Assist with special projects as needed and perform related duties as assigned

Skills

Group leadership

Community engagement

Program development

Partnership collaboration

Education

Baccalaureate degree with 24 recreation credits

Associate degree + 1 year recreation experience

High school diploma + 3 years recreation experience

Equivalent combo of education and experience

Job description

Job Description

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards the smallest jail system possible without compromising public safety. The DOC is solely responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff, visitors, volunteers, and people in custody inside our jails. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to providing people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with over 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledge experts.

The DOC seeks to recruit Recreation Specialists that will assist with the development and implementation of appropriate Enhanced Recreation activities. Selected candidates will participate in organized group activities that develop positive group dynamics, while productively occupying persons in custody with activities of interest. Under supervision of Recreation Supervisor, these Recreation Specialists will be responsible for following:

• Conduct Enhanced Recreational programming for men and women in the Department’s care and custody, on housing units and in communal spaces, in city jail facilities (including but not limited to facilitating sports and games, movement, fitness and conditioning, basketball and other tournaments) and engagement strategies for people in custody;
• Build the DOC capacity to provide Enhanced Recreational programming by determining the needs of targeted groups, presenting programming ideas, and encouraging people in custody to engage in organized activities, which contribute to increased health and wellness , decreased stress and promote teamwork and collaboration;
• Assist leadership in identifying and connecting with additional community partners;
• Conduct periodic inspections of equipment, materials, and facilities;
• Complete and input daily data collection of the enhanced recreation programming;
• Participate in supervision (individual and team) as scheduled, and complete assigned trainings as required;
• Assist with special projects as needed and perform related duties as assigned

RECREATION DIRECTOR - 60430

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college including or supplemented by 24 credits in recreation, physical education, dance, applied arts (including therapy), group work, group dynamics, and community organization, at least 18 credits of which must be in recreation, physical education, dance, and applied arts (including therapy); or

2. An associate degree from an accredited college plus one year of full-time paid experience in planning, coordinating and supervising recreation programs; or

3. A high school degree, or its equivalent plus three years of full-time paid experience in planning, coordinating and supervising recreation programs; or

4. A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience. College education leading to a degree may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of 30 credits for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience or 24 credits in recreation, physical education, dance, fine arts, applied arts (including therapy), group work, group dynamics, and community organization, at least 18 credits of which must be in recreation, physical education, dance, fine arts and applied arts (including therapy).

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.