SENIOR RECREATION SPECIALIST

City-of-Signal-Hill,-C; Signal Hill (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Signal Hill is seeking a Senior Recreation Specialist for the Community Services Division to plan, develop, and oversee programs and events for senior citizens and support city-wide special events.

Under the direction of the Recreation Coordinator, you will organize and implement a wide range of activities, coordinate permits, manage staff, and assist with budgets to deliver inclusive programs for the community.

Qualifications

• Associate of Arts degree with 15 completed units in gerontology, recreation, social services, or related field.
• Two (2) years increasingly responsible experience in providing recreation programming for Senior Citizens and implementing community-wide special events.
• Valid Class C California driver license, acceptable driving record, and evidence of insurance are required. Red Cross First Aid and CPR certificate required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, organize programs; promote and implement programs and/or special events within the Parks, Recreation, Library Services Departments.
• Organize and schedule a wide range of recreation programs including excursions and activities for youth/adults.
• Perform administrative duties to support department operations, including filing, records, reports, and payments.

Skills

Child care basics

Program development

Budgeting

Purchasing

Computer skills

Staff supervision

Program effectiveness

Stakeholder relations

Safety compliance

Public relations

Education

Associate of Arts degree (gerontology/recreation)

Two years of related recreation programming experience

Driver license; First Aid & CPR certification

Tools

Word processing

Computer terminals

Job description

The City of Signal Hill is looking for a Senior Recreation Specialist for the Community Services Division to join the Parks, Recreation, Library Services team!

The first review of applications will take place on September 24, 2026.

This recruitment is opened until filled and may close at any time once sufficient qualified applications have been received.

Our City

The City of Signal Hill is a desirable place to live and work because of its safe neighborhoods, abundant business opportunities, inclusive culture, and beautiful green spaces. With its central location, the community takes great pride in its recreational amenities which include 11 City parks and open space area covering over 29 acres, an extensive walking trail system, abundant recreation and library programs, and an array of annual events.

The City of Signal Hill, with a population of 11,500 and covering 2.2 square miles, is located in Los Angeles County within four miles of the Pacific Ocean. Signal Hill was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after the discovery of a vast oil field. Known for its beautiful setting, Signal Hill claims the only accessible high ground for miles around with an impressive hilltop park which provides spectacular panoramic views.

The Position

Under the direction of the Recreation Coordinator of the Community Services Division, plans, develops, organizes and oversee programs and events for the senior citizens and supports the city-wide special events.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position is distinguished from the Recreation Specialist part-time position by its increased responsibility in a broader range of recreation activities and services.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include, but are not limited to the following characteristic duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Depending on assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Community Services Division (Active Adults, Permits & Special Events)

• Plan, develop, organize programs; promote and implement programs and/or special events within the Parks, Recreation, Library Services Services Department (Community Services Division, Library Division, and Recreation Division).
• Organize and schedule a wide range of recreation programs including assisting excursions (youth/adult). Programs may include, but are not limited to: Animal Control, Park Patrol, Community Garden, Active Adults Programs & Excursions, Food Distribution Program, the City’s Transportation Programs, Facility and Permits (facility rentals, film, special events, etc.).
• Perform a wide variety of routine administrative duties to support department operations, including, but not limited to, filing, preparing records and basic reports, submitting documents to accounts payable, and receiving and processing payments.
• Process permits, Facility Rental Applications, and Film Applications in coordination with other City departments.
• Effectively respond to requests and inquiries from the participants, parents, general public and City staff. Foster close working relationships with school officials and City staff.
• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise part-time staff and volunteers.
• Monitor budget expenditures and purchasing. Assist in the budget planning process as necessary.
• Draft promotional materials and correspondence.
• May provide back up for other department or division office administrative support staff as needed.
• Perform various related duties as required.

Any combination of education, training, and work experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to possess:

EDUCATION

Associate of Arts degree with 15 completed units in gerontology, recreation, social services, or related field.

EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years increasingly responsible experience in providing recreation programming for Senior Citizens and implementing community-wide special events.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION

Valid Class C California driver license, acceptable driving record, and evidence of insurance are required. Red Cross First Aid and CPR certificate required.

Knowledge of:

• Essentials, methods, and techniques in providing child care services.
• Methods and techniques of developing, planning and organizing group recreational activities to include special events, excursions and daily program activities.
• Budget, principles and practices.
• Purchasing procedures.
• Skilled in the operations a computer terminal and word processing.
• Ability to assist in effectively recruiting, selecting, training, scheduling, supervising and evaluating the work of recreational staff.
• Ability to identify methods to maximize the effectiveness of services and programs being provided.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, participants and parents.
• Communicate and ensure adherence with safety standards, practices and requirements.
• Perform community and public relations.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to coordinate, eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing slightly skilled movements, such as pressing, cutting or mixing.
• Ability to exert moderate physical effort in sedentary to light work, typically involving some combinations of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, carrying, pushing and pulling.
• Ability to maneuver and steer equipment and machinery requiring simple, but continuous adjustments, such as operating a motor vehicle.
• Ability to lift, push and pull 15 pounds.
• Ability to work weekend and evening hours.

Supervisorial Responsibilities

• Ability to assign, review, plan, and coordinate the work of other employees
• Ability to provide instruction and guidance to staff.
• Ability to assess the work of employees and write performance appraisals.

Mathematical Ability

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
• Ability to calculate decimals, ratios, percentages and fractions.

Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability

• Ability to use functional reasoning and apply rational judgment in performing diversified work activities.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and/or judgmental data.
• Ability to classify, compute and tabulate data information, following a prescribed plan requiring exercise of some judgement; ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure and sort information; ability to assemble, copy, record and transcribe data and information.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

• Communicate clearly and precisely with parents, staff and children.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and participants.
• Ability to advise and interpret to others how to apply department policies, procedures and services based on community recreational needs and interests.
• Ability to persuade, convince and/or train others including the ability to act in a lead worker capacity.
• Ability to maintain records, prepare reports and schedules.

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work under moderately safe and comfortable conditions with exposure to environmental factors may cause discomfort and where there is a risk of injury, requiring minimal recovery.