Recreation Therapist

RWJBarnabas Health; Mountainside (NJ); On-site; USD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Medical Insurance

Dental and Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

FSAs (Health/Dep Care)

Wellness Programs

Discounts

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health’s Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside seeks a Recreation Therapist to develop and lead adaptive recreation for children and teens with special healthcare needs. You’ll collaborate with families, schools, and community partners to deliver engaging programs across aquatics, camps, and activities that promote physical and social development.

The role requires CTRS certification, BLS, a NJ driver’s license, and a 40-hour week including evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, or Recreational Therapy from an accredited program with emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation.
• Certification: CTRS via NCTRC and BLS Provider Certification; WSI/Aquatics Instructor preferred.
• Licensure: Valid New Jersey Driver's License.
• Experience: Pediatric clinical affiliation or experience with pediatric populations; developing adapted recreation programs preferred.
• Skills: Adapt activities for various disabilities; proficient in Microsoft Office; strong interpersonal and time management; initiative and judgment; able to collaborate with families, volunteers, and partners; Spanish a plus.
• Schedule: 40 hours/week including evenings, weekends, and community-based hours as needed.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Manager of Community Programs to coordinate adapted recreation for children and adolescents.
• Plan and lead therapeutic recreation programs including aquatics, martial arts, camps, and community activities.
• Adapt activities, equipment, and spaces to meet diverse abilities and needs.
• Prepare materials, equipment, and spaces to ensure safe, engaging delivery.
• Support participant registration, scheduling, attendance tracking, and logistics.
• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers and student interns.
• Coordinate with the Foundation to identify grant funding for community recreation services.
• Liaise with families, schools, healthcare providers, and organizations to identify opportunities for program expansion.
• Ensure safety and compliance with hospital policies and standards.
• Contribute to program evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.

Job description

Recreation Therapist - Children's Specialized Hospital, RWJBarnabas Health

Job Title: Recreation Therapist

Location: Mountainside (MTN)

Department Name: Camps

Req #: 0000266153

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $53,900.00 - $67,500.00 per year

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Recreation Therapist - Children’s Specialized Hospital, RWJBarnabas Health

At Children’s Specialized Hospital, part of RWJBarnabas Health, Recreation Therapists become part of a collaborative, family-centered environment where compassion, innovation, and community engagement come together to help children with special healthcare needs build confidence, independence, and meaningful social connections. This Recreation Therapist role offers opportunities to develop and lead innovative adapted recreation programs that promote physical, emotional, social, and developmental well-being for children and adolescents across community settings. As a Recreation Therapist, you will collaborate with the Manager of Community Programs to coordinate and facilitate therapeutic recreation opportunities while partnering with families, volunteers, community organizations, and the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation to expand access to inclusive programming. Joining Children’s Specialized Hospital means becoming part of a team dedicated to enriching the lives of children through recreation while empowering every Recreation Therapist to make a lasting impact in the communities we serve.

A typical day for a Recreation Therapist may include:

• Collaborating with the Manager of Community Programs to coordinate and facilitate adapted recreation programs for children and adolescents with special healthcare needs.
• Planning, organizing, and leading therapeutic recreation programs, including aquatics, martial arts, camps, evening recreation activities, and other community-based programs.
• Adapting activities, equipment, and environments to meet the individual abilities and needs of participants with a variety of physical, developmental, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities.
• Preparing program materials, equipment, and activity spaces to ensure safe, engaging, and successful program delivery.
• Assisting with participant registration, scheduling, attendance tracking, and program logistics to support efficient operations.
• Recruiting, coordinating, training, and providing direction to volunteers and student interns participating in community recreation programs.
• Collaborating with the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation to identify, secure, and support grant funding opportunities that enhance community recreation services.
• Serving as a liaison with families, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to assess community needs and identify opportunities for new or expanded adapted recreation programs.
• Promoting participant safety by maintaining compliance with hospital policies, regulatory requirements, and established therapeutic recreation standards.
• Participating in program evaluation, quality improvement initiatives, and department projects that support organizational goals and the mission of Children’s Specialized Hospital.
• Completing accurate and timely documentation, reports, and program records while maintaining effective communication with team members and community partners.

This role might be for you if:

• You are passionate about helping children with special healthcare needs participate in meaningful recreation and community experiences.
• You enjoy creating engaging, inclusive activities that promote confidence, independence, and social participation.
• You thrive in community-based settings and enjoy building relationships with families, volunteers, schools, and community organizations.
• You have strong organizational and time management skills and enjoy coordinating multiple programs and events simultaneously.
• You communicate effectively and collaborate well with interdisciplinary team members, community partners, and families.
• You are creative, adaptable, and enjoy developing new recreational opportunities that meet the evolving needs of the community.
• You are committed to providing compassionate, family-centered care while supporting the mission of Children’s Specialized Hospital.

To Be Considered:

To be considered for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, or Recreational Therapy from an accredited program with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation.
• Certification: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) are required. Water Safety Instructor (WSI) or Aquatics Instructor Certification is preferred.
• Licensure: Valid New Jersey Driver's License required.
• Experience: Completion of a pediatric clinical affiliation or previous experience working with pediatric populations is required. Experience developing and facilitating adapted recreation programs for children with disabilities is preferred.
• Skills: Demonstrated ability to adapt activities for individuals with a variety of disabling conditions, proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, excellent interpersonal and time management skills, strong initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to build collaborative relationships with families, volunteers, and community partners. Fluency in Spanish is a plus.
• Schedule: Ability to work a 40-hour per week schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and community-based program hours as needed.

At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees physical, emotional, social, and financial health.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plans
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Life & Accidental Death Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer