Therapeutic Recreation Leader

City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 27,552,000 - 38,573,000; Part time

Job summary

City of San Diego seeks a part-time Therapeutic Recreation Leader to plan and guide activities for children and adults with disabilities, including physical and social events. You will assist participants with daily needs during programs and help train interns and volunteers.

Expect to lift up to 50 pounds and maintain equipment and records. The role requires 300 hours of recreation leadership with 200 hours with disabilities, a required First Aid/CPR certification within one year, and a valid

Qualifications

• 300 hours of paid or unpaid recreation leadership experience, including 200 hours with persons with disabilities.
• First Aid and CPR certificates from American Red Cross required within one year of hire.
• Valid California Class C Driver License at time of hire.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate recreation and leisure activities for participants.
• Work with participants on daily living activities during program attendance.
• Assist in training interns, volunteers, and coworkers; complete reports and paperwork.

Skills

Recreation leadership

Disabilities experience

Interpersonal skills

Public service mindset

Education

College coursework in recreation management

College coursework in recreation therapy/psychology

Job description

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Therapeutic Recreation Leader positions plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate recreation and leisure activities for children and adults with disabilities including physical activities, social activities, classes, and special events; work with individual participants in their daily living/personal needs during program attendance (e.g., feeding, changing diapers, lifting); work with individual participants with challenging behaviors during program attendance; assist in the training of interns, field workers, volunteers, and coworkers; complete necessary reports and paperwork relating to programs and participants; maintain equipment, supplies, and storage areas; represent the agency at public relations events; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employee Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Therapeutic Recreation Leader employees may be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Therapeutic Recreation Leader positions are available on a part-time and/or limited, hourly basis, including evening and weekend hours. During holidays, school breaks, and summer, hours are generally increased.
• In accordance with California Public Resources Code section 5163, all persons holding Therapeutic Recreation Leader positions must get tested for tuberculosis (TB) when hired and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.
• Therapeutic Recreation Leader employees who obtain and maintain a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential or Recreation Therapist Certification (RTC) are eligible for 10% additional pay.

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EXPERIENCE

300 hours of paid or unpaid (volunteer) recreation leadership experience which MUST include 200 hours of experience working with persons with disabilities.

NOTES

• Recreation leadership refers to implementing or assisting with the planning, organizing, teaching, and/or leading typical recreation center activities such as arts and crafts, games, sports, and field trips. This does NOT include babysitting, working as a personal fitness trainer, or weight training, bowling, golf instructor, etc.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities refers to such jobs as Teacher's Aide, Respite Care Provider, Personal Care Provider, Recreation Leader for persons with disabilities, and related work.
• Volunteer hours are qualifying, but MUST be confirmed and documented by the agency where you served as a volunteer.
• Satisfactory completion of college-level course work in recreation management, tourism and hospitality, child and family studies, physical education, or a closely related field may be used to substitute for lack of recreation leadership experience. One semester unit = 60 hours experience; One quarter unit = 40 hours experience.
• Satisfactory completion of college-level course work in recreation therapy, special education, psychology, child development, adaptive physical education, and/or medical/nursing may be used to substitute for lack of experience working with persons with disabilities. One semester unit = 60 hours experience; One quarter unit = 40 hours experience.
• Qualifying physical education course work must consist of participation in typical recreation center sports (e.g., baseball, football, softball, soccer, volleyball). Physical education "theory" course work will only be accepted if they are part of a completed Bachelor's or other college degree in Physical Education (theory course work in Adaptive Physical Education is qualifying).
• Participation in organized team sports is qualifying, but hours of participation MUST be confirmed and documented by the coach of the team or athletic director where you participated. Organized team sports refer to those typically played at a recreation center (e.g., football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, tennis, softball). Qualifying organized team sports participation MUST be at or above the high school level.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

CERTIFICATE

American Red Cross First Aid Certificate and American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate are required within one year from date of hire. Courses for these certificates are offered by the City of San Diego for City employees.

NOTE

• For information on certificate requirements, you may contact the Parks and Recreation Department staff at [phone] or American Red Cross staff at [phone] (ask for health and safety).

LICENSE

A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Possession of a valid American Red Cross First Aid Certificate, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Certificate (CTRS) from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Recreation Therapist Certified (RTC) from the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification (CBRPC), or American Sign Language Interpreter Certificate.
• Bilingual communication skills.
• College-level course work in recreation, physical education, recreation therapy, special education, psychology, child development, adaptive physical education, and/or medical/nursing.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION)

• Proof of transcripts showing completion of the required course work, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of documented volunteer hours, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of documented organized team sport participation hours, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: [phone]; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 7 – September 18, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)