Recreation Supervisor

City-of-Santa-Cruz,-C; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department seeks an experienced Recreation Supervisor to lead youth and teen programs, oversee the Santa Cruz Teen Center, and coordinate summer camps and the community gardens program.

This role emphasizes leadership in program development, staff supervision, budgeting, outreach, and community engagement to keep programs accessible, inclusive, and impactful for families and youth across Santa Cruz.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in recreation, sociology, public administration, or related field.
• Two years of responsible administrative experience coordinating community programs or events.
• One year of supervisory responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Plan, promote, and supervise recreational programs and events for assigned areas.
• Manage the Santa Cruz Teen Center and oversee summer camp operations.
• Coordinate facilities, budgets, staff, and volunteers; ensure safety and quality.
• Develop marketing plans and promotional materials; build community partnerships.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Project management

Computer proficiency

Interpersonal & communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in recreation, sociology, public administration, or related field

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Recreation Supervisor to lead a diverse portfolio of youth and teen-focused programs that enrich the lives of young people and strengthen community connections. This position plays a vital role in planning, developing, promoting, and supervising high-quality recreation services, with primary responsibility for management of the Santa Cruz Teen Center, oversight of seasonal summer camp operations, and the coordination of the community gardens program.

Working closely with staff, community partners, families, and volunteers, the Recreation Supervisor fosters safe, inclusive, and engaging environments where youth and teens can build skills, explore interests, develop leadership, and create meaningful connections to their community. The Recreation Supervisor provides leadership in program development, staff supervision, outreach, budgeting, and community engagement to ensure programs remain relevant, accessible, and impactful.

Why Join Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation?

For over 150 years, Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation has been a cornerstone of community life, connecting residents of every age through parks, open spaces, recreation programs, cultural activities, and welcoming gathering places. Rooted in a mission to provide quality public spaces and experiences that build a healthy community, foster equity, and enhance the environment, the department serves as a trusted steward of some of the City’s most cherished public resources.

Each year, our parks, programs, and facilities welcome more than 2.7 million visitors and provide recreation opportunities to over 110,000 participants. This work spans 32 neighborhood parks, 6 community parks, a public pool, community center, teen center, senior center, the Municipal Wharf, and a major concert venue—the Civic Auditorium—each offering unique ways for people to connect, learn, play, and grow.

From youth programs and summer camps to community events, environmental stewardship, and neighborhood engagement, Parks and Recreation helps shape the vibrant, inclusive character of Santa Cruz. Joining our team means becoming part of a department with a proud legacy of public service, collaboration, and innovation—and contributing to experiences that inspire lifelong recreation, personal growth, and the next generation of community leaders.

Basic Function

Under direction, plans, organizes, promotes, and supervises recreational programs, activities, and events within assigned programmatic areas or the operations, maintenance, and programs of a public facility; performs related work as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This classification is distinguished from the next lower-level classification of Recreation Coordinator which is the support classification responsible for assisting with organization and implementing programs and activities related to the area of assignment. This classification is distinguished from the next higher classification of Recreation Superintendent which manages the City’s recreation operations, including the planning, development, promotion, and evaluation of recreational programs.

(May include but are not limited to those duties listed below).

• Coordinates recreational events, programs, and activities; develops new programs and events; evaluates program proposals submitted by instructors and/or sponsors and contractors; plans and schedules program and event timing and logistics.
• Develops individual program budgets and annual section budgets; recommends appropriate fee levels; forecasts revenues and program costs; monitors expenditures and revenues throughout the fiscal year.
• Solicits and hires, or contracts with, instructors, promoters and sponsors, performers, and technicians; recruits and hires temporary program coordinators, leaders, aides, and volunteers; trains, schedules, directs and evaluates regular and temporary staff.
• Monitors compliance agreements and ensures compliance.
• Locates and schedules facilities for programs and events; obtains required permits; coordinates logistics with participants, other outside agencies, organizations and community groups and other City departments as needed.
• Develops and implements marketing plans; designs promotional and social media campaigns for programs; writes and distributes promotional material including press releases, public service announcements, advertisements, and flyers; designs and orders special promotional materials such as t-shirts, posters, buttons, etc.; conducts promotional meetings with and makes promotional presentations to special interest groups.
• Develops and implements donation campaigns, performs grant work.
• Prepares and schedules staff and safety training.
• Purchases and maintains supplies and equipment for programs and events.
• Receives and responds to questions, suggestions, complaints, and problems from the public; resolves problems as appropriate.
• Compiles regular reports on program performance; evaluates program effectiveness in terms of both qualitative and quantitative criteria; prepares written evaluations of program results as required; makes written and verbal recommendations on significant program changes.
• Writes various letters, memos, reports, agendas, and proposals as required; maintains records on projects, activities and/or issues; supervises the collection of funds.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with community groups, event promoters, other agencies and organizations, staff, and members of the public.
• Develops, implements, and monitors procedures and policies for assigned programs.
• Conducts informal assessments and surveys to determine recreational needs and interests of the community.
• May plan and supervise the maintenance and repair of facilities, grounds, and equipment.
• Attends commission, departmental and public meetings and provides staff reports and support as necessary; may prepare agenda and minutes; and may act as liaison for partner organizations, such as Friends of Parks and Recreation (FOPAR).
• Solicits and contracts with event participants including community groups, food and beverage vendors, artisans, staff, and volunteers.
• Orders and sets prices for promotional items to be sold at events.
• Performs other related duties that may be reasonably expected as part of this classification.

Working Conditions

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboards. Additionally, the position requires far and near vision when reading and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal service. Depending on the area of assignment, the nature of the work may require the incumbent to work outdoors, work at heights, lift, carry and push equipment and materials weighing up to 50 pounds and work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

The minimum qualifications for Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities are the following:

Education and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in recreation, sociology, public administration, or a related field; and
• Two (2) years of responsible administrative experience in coordinating community programs or events and,
• One (1) year of supervisory responsibility.

OR

• High School Graduation or tested equivalent and,
• Five (5) years of responsible administration experience in coordinating community programs or events and,
• One (1) year of supervisory responsibility.

Knowledge

• Principles and practices of planning, promoting, coordinating, and supervising recreation programs and events.
• Basic techniques of needs assessment and program evaluation.
• Budget development and control.
• Contract development, negotiations, and administration.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service.
• Marketing, media, and advertising.
• Effective coaching, mentoring, and training techniques, and evaluation of staff.
• Facility operations, maintenance, safety, and long-range planning.

Skills

• Strong organizational skills to effectively coordinate and schedule programs and events and logistics with individuals and groups.
• Project management in the coordination of multiple projects and events.
• Computer proficiency, use of relevant software and technology.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral and presentation and communication skills.

Abilities

• Coordinate multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Effectively utilize computers and relevant software and technology.
• Understand, interpret, and apply regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Research relevant information and data.
• Develop and maintain administrative procedures, records, and budgets.
• Effectively hire, train, supervise and evaluate staff.
• Establish, maintain, promote, and foster positive and effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals and organizations.
• Develop creative and effective promotional materials.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession at time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver’s license.
• If assigned to Aquatics, possession of a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) or Aquatics Facility Operator (AFO) credential within six (6) months of hire.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Desirable Qualifications

Community Events & Classes

• Knowledge of interests, trends, and needs for recreational programming, activities, and classes.

Youth and Teen Programs

• Knowledge of specialized recreational interests, trends and needs of youth and teen communities.
• Knowledge of teen community engagement practices, programming, and social empowerment.

Civic Auditorium

• Knowledge of ticket systems, procedures, and software applications.
• Knowledge of event booking and contracts.

Community Center

• Knowledge of producing and promoting community events.
• Knowledge of inter-generational programming.

Sports and Beaches

• Knowledge of the principles and practices used in designing and implementing adult and youth sports programs.
• Knowledge of the rules and equipment used in various sports.

Aquatics

• Knowledge of pool and aquatics operations, including maintenance and pool chemistry.

Positions

• Director of Parks and Recreation
• Recreation Superintendent
• Recreation Supervisor
• Recreation Coordinator