Recreation Specialist - Cactus Yards

Town of Gilbert; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of Gilbert is seeking a Recreation Specialist – Cactus Yards to plan and implement programs, supervise staff, and manage registrations and marketing for community recreation facilities. This on-site role requires strong customer service, budgeting, and leadership skills within the Town’s recreation division.

Responsibilities include coordinating instructors and vendors, maintaining equipment, and serving as manager on duty to enforce policies and handle emergencies.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in recreation or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Two years of customer service experience.
• Two years of supervisory experience in recreation, with program oversight.
• One year of marketing, cash handling, and clerical experience.
• Knowledge of planning, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating recreation classes, programs, and events.
• Knowledge of contract employee management and supervisory principles.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement facility programs and events, including curriculum, staffing, and vendors.
• Oversee registrations, cancellations, and fee proration; monitor programs and respond to complaints.
• Maintain and inspect equipment; identify facility repair needs.
• Develop marketing materials and advertising for classes and facility information.
• Supervise assigned staff, including scheduling and training.
• Handle cash deposits, refunds, and reporting in financial systems; manage petty cash.
• Act as manager on duty, enforce policies, and respond to emergencies.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Conflict resolution

Emergency response

Education

Associate's degree in recreation

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Team Gilbert has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated professional to fill the position of Recreation Specialist – Cactus Yards.

Cactus Yards is located at 4536 Elliot Road.

Hours for this position will be Thursday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, and Saturday through Sunday, 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Hours are subject to change.

Recreation Specialist reports to the Recreation Coordinator.

The primary job duties of this position include:

• Plan and implement facility programs and events to include preparing activities and curriculum, purchasing supplies, staffing, contract instructors and vendors, soliciting donations, marketing and evaluating programs and events.
• Recommends and/or implements changes to improve and optimize programs; oversees registrations, cancellations, overrides, and proration of fees; monitors programs, responds to and resolves complaints.
• Maintain and inspect equipment. Identify and communicate facility repair needs.
• Develop marketing materials for classes, programs, events and facility information by creating flyers, brochures, social media posts and advertising slides for facility TV's.
• Oversee assigned staff to include scheduling and training staff and resolving conflicts.
• Cash handling and management to include preparing daily cash deposits, processing refunds and recording data in Cash Balance Report and Monthly Income Revenue Reports. Process petty cash, cash reconciliation/reimbursements, distribute invoices, and process refunds.
• Manager on duty to include enforcement of policies and procedures, responding to emergency situations and securing facility.

• View the full job description here.

At Team Gilbert, we hire innovative, forward-thinking problem-solvers who love what they do! In addition to possessing the ability to live out our core and functional values daily, candidates must possess the following requirements

• Associate's degree in recreation or a related field, or equivalent experience in recreation
• Two years of customer service experience
• Two years of supervisory experience, including program oversight, in a recreation setting
• One year of marketing, cash handling, and clerical experience
• Knowledge of planning, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating recreation classes, programs, and events
• Knowledge of contract employee management as well as supervisory principles, practices, and techniques
• Valid Arizona Driver's License
• Skill in Microsoft Office
• Skill in management and conflict resolution, and emergencyresponse
• Skill in customer service, communication and interpersonal skills

Gilbert is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If any reasonable accommodation is needed while participating in the application and interviewing process, please contact our People Team (Human Resources) at 480-503-6823. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Gilbert provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Anticipated Recruiting Timeline:

Posting Closes: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Virtual Interview Invites Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Virtual Interview Submission Deadline: Monday, October 5, 2026

Interview Invites Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2026

In-Person Interviews: Thursday, October 15, 2026

New Hire Start Date: Monday, November 9, 2026

*Subject to change and for planning purposes only