Senior Recreation Leader - Adaptive Recreation

City of West Sacramento; West Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 18,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of West Sacramento is seeking a compassionate Senior Recreation Leader for the SPARK Adaptive Recreation program. This part-time role supports participants with developmental or physical disabilities through structured games, arts, fitness, and community outings in a safe, inclusive environment.

Under supervision of Recreation Coordinators, you will assist in planning activities, supervise groups with a 1:8 staff-to-participant ratio, and help volunteers and staff deliver engaging

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals with developmental or physical disabilities or in adaptive recreation settings.
• Patience, empathy, and a passion for inclusion and community connection.
• Ability to lead small group activities and support participants with varying abilities.
• Teamwork and communication skills, with a proactive approach to solving problems.
• Friendly, flexible, and professional attitude.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise recreational activities including arts & crafts, games, light fitness, and community outings.
• Support participants in social engagement, ensuring safety, respect, and inclusion at all times.
• Assist with planning, set-up, and cleanup of program activities and spaces.
• Model appropriate behavior and help manage group dynamics in a kind and respectful manner.
• Communicate regularly with program supervisors about participant needs, incidents, and progress.
• Maintain accurate attendance records, activity reports, and incident logs.
• Help orient and guide volunteers or newer staff.
• Ensure that program supplies are organized and available as needed.
• Serve as a positive role model and help build a sense of community and belonging among participants.

Skills

Experience with disabilities

Patience and empathy

Leadership

Teamwork and communication

Proactive problem solving

Friendly, flexible, professional

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

20 semester units of related college education preferred

Job description

Do you believe in the power of recreation to build confidence, connection, and joy? The City of West Sacramento’s Parks & Recreation Department is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and enthusiastic Senior Recreation Leader to support our SPARK Adaptive Recreation Program—a social, community-based program designed for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The SPARK program is all about Social Participation, Active Recreation, and Kindness. This is not a therapeutic program but a structured and inclusive opportunity for participants to engage in games, arts, fitness, and community outings in a supportive, supervised setting. If you're looking to make a meaningful impact while bringing energy and care to your role, this is the opportunity for you.

Position Summary:

The Senior Recreation Leader – SPARK Adaptive Recreation provides front-line support to participants, facilitates activities, and helps ensure a safe, respectful, and engaging program environment. Working under the guidance of Recreation Coordinators, this role assists in planning and delivering structured recreation activities and supervising participants in group settings with a staff-to-participant ratio of 1:8. This position requires reliability, patience, leadership, and an ability to foster positive social experiences while supporting individual needs and abilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise recreational activities including arts & crafts, games, light fitness, and community outings.
• Support participants in social engagement, ensuring safety, respect, and inclusion at all times.
• Assist with planning, set-up, and cleanup of program activities and spaces.
• Model appropriate behavior and help manage group dynamics in a kind and respectful manner.
• Communicate regularly with program supervisors about participant needs, incidents, and progress.
• Maintain accurate attendance records, activity reports, and incident logs.
• Help orient and guide volunteers or newer staff.
• Ensure that program supplies are organized and available as needed.
• Serve as a positive role model and help build a sense of community and belonging among participants.

Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Experience working with individuals with developmental or physical disabilities or in adaptive recreation settings.
• Patience, empathy, and a passion for inclusion and community connection.
• Ability to lead small group activities and support participants with varying abilities.
• Teamwork and communication skills, with a proactive approach to solving problems.
• A friendly, flexible, and professional attitude in all situations.

DEFINITION:

The Senior Recreation Leader plans, coordinates, implements and supervises departmental programs, projects and activities at various sites, including but not limited to: parks, school sites, recreational facilities and administrative offices.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Receives general direction from the Recreation Supervisor I/II or designee. No direct supervision of staff is exercised.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a part time, extra help position in the Parks & Recreation Department. The Senior Recreation Leader is distinguished from the Recreation Leader by the performance of more complex and difficult tasks requiring greater independence and judgment in completing assigned programs, projects or activities. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Key Tasks:

• Plans, coordinates, implements, promotes, evaluates and supervises a variety of department programs, projects and activities.
• Supervises assigned staff and volunteers.
• Provides instruction and in-service training for subordinate staff.
• Inspects assigned facilities and/or equipment and recommends any necessary repair, maintenance and/or supplies.
• Promotes and practices safety procedures in assigned programs.
• Completes written reports and records as required.
• Performs a variety of clerical/administrative work as necessitated by the assignment.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and skill. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; a minimum of twenty (20) semester units of related college education preferred.

Experience:

One (1) year of increasingly responsible related experience, including supervisory experience.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES:

Possession of a valid California driver's license; and current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Multi-Media and/or Standard First Aid certificates prior to placement at worksite. Depending upon assignment, may be required to obtain a Class "B" California driver's license within thirty (30) days of employment.