Youth Development Lead Recreation Assistant

CITY OF GROVE CITY; Grove City (OH); On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Part time

Job summary

Grove City Parks and Recreation is seeking a Youth Development Lead Recreation Assistant to oversee afterschool and camp programs. The role involves guiding staff, building relationships with students and families, and serving as the main liaison with school partners.

Hours run during the school year 2:15 pm–6:15 pm, Monday–Friday, with up to 28 hours/week in summer. Starting pay is $23.00/hour, with opportunities to mentor and lead a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• At least two years' experience working with children.
• Must maintain reliable and punctual attendance.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with public officials, civic leaders, and the public.
• Ability to follow directions and enforce rules.
• Plan age-appropriate activities and understand child development.
• Must be physically active with children for extended periods.
• College degree in related field preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license and maintain insurability.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible leadership by delegating tasks and supporting staff during shifts.
• Ensure policies, safety procedures, and attendance expectations are followed.
• Make informed decisions to maintain smooth program flow.
• Communicate clearly with supervisors, coworkers, and participants.
• Create a safe, inclusive environment and engage with families.
• Deliver excellent customer experience and address questions and concerns.
• Keep program spaces and equipment clean and organized.
• Report incidents or unsafe conditions immediately.
• Use timekeeping, scheduling, and communication tools accurately.

Skills

Staff leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Teamwork

Flexibility

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

College degree preferred

Tools

Civic Rec

City View

GBS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Grove City Parks & Recreation

Make Memories | Build Community | Start Your Career

Job Title: Youth Development Lead Recreation Assistant

Job Family: Program & Service Delivery

Part Time (up to 28 hours per week) starting at $23.00/hour

This is more than a job

As a Youth Development Lead Recreation Assistant, you'll be the leader responsible for the daily success of an afterschool and camp program site, guiding staff, building strong relationships with students and families, and serving as the primary connection between the program and school partners. Your leadership will set the tone for the entire site, helping create a positive, safe, and engaging experience where children can learn, grow, and build confidence each day. You'll have the unique opportunity to mentor staff, solve challenges, make important decisions, and ensure smooth daily operations while creating a program families trust and children look forward to attending. If you're passionate about leading others, taking ownership, building strong community relationships, and making a meaningful impact through youth development, you'll find this role both empowering and incredibly rewarding.

Details

• School year work hours: 2:15 pm to 6:15 pm, Monday-Friday when South-Western City Schools are in session
• Summer work hours: Up to 28 hours per week, Monday-Friday between 7 am and 6 pm.
• Program locations: Buckeye Woods, J.C. Sommer, Highland Park, Monterey, and Richard Avenue Elementary Schools.
• Maximum hours scheduled per week: 28
• Starting salary: $23.00 per hour

Why You'll Love Working at Grove City Parks and Recreation

At Grove City Parks and Recreation, you'll be part of a team that values people, positivity, and purpose. We foster a supportive and collaborative work culture where employees are encouraged to bring their ideas, learn from one another, and make a meaningful impact in the community. We're committed to lifelong learning and professional growth, providing opportunities to develop new skills, gain valuable experience, and grow both personally and professionally. Best of all, Parks and Recreation is a genuinely fun field to be part of. Every day brings new experiences, community connections, and the chance to create memorable moments for others. If you're looking for a workplace where you can make a difference, build lasting relationships, continue learning, and enjoy what you do, you'll feel right at home with our team.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for people who are passionate about serving their community and bringing energy, positivity, and a team-first mindset to everything they do. Ideal candidates demonstrate our core values of Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Vibrancy, and Excellence, helping create welcoming and memorable experiences for residents of all ages and abilities. We value individuals who are reliable, adaptable, and comfortable working flexible daytime, evening, and weekend hours as needed. Successful team members are clear communicators who work well with others, approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset, and maintain a positive attitude in a variety of situations. They take initiative, embrace opportunities to learn and grow, and consistently follow through on their commitments. If you're excited to contribute to a fun and purpose-driven team, build meaningful connections, and make a positive impact in your community, we'd love to meet you.

Qualifications:

• At least 18 years of age and has a high school diploma or equivalent.
• At least two years' experienceworking with children.
• Must maintain reliable and punctual attendance.
• Has proven ability in oral and written communications.
• Has the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, civic leaders and the public in general.
• Has the ability to follow direction, provide necessary services and enforce stated rules and regulations.
• Has the ability to plan and provide appropriate school age activities and have a basic understanding of child development and group management.
• Can remain physically active (stand, walk, crouch, kneel, bend, play games) with children for three or more hours in varying weather conditions.
• College degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development, Education, Recreation, or another related field preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license and maintain insurability under the City's vehicle insurance policy.
• The City of Grove City is a Drug Free Workplace. All candidates who receive an offer of employment will be required to undergo testing for commonly used drugs, including marijuana.

Grow With Us

At Grove City Parks and Recreation, we're committed to helping our team members grow, both within our department and beyond. Many of our full-time staff members began their careers in part-time positions, gaining valuable experience, developing new skills, and taking advantage of opportunities to advance into leadership and specialized roles. Whether your goal is to build a long-term career in Parks and Recreation or use this experience as a stepping stone to another profession, we'll provide the training, mentorship, and real-world experiences to help you succeed. We believe in lifelong learning and are dedicated to equipping our employees with the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to achieve their goals, wherever their career journey may lead.

What you’ll do:

• Provide visible, engaged leadership by delegating responsibilities and tasks to staff, serving as the primary point of contact during shifts, and offering reliable guidance and support throughout programs and activities.
• Hold staff accountable by ensuring policies and safety procedures are followed, upholding attendance, professionalism, and performance expectations, and modeling dependable, trustworthy conduct.
• Demonstrate strong judgment by anticipating operational needs, making confident and informed decisions, applying planning, foresight, and attention to detail to maintain smooth program flow.
• Communicate early and clearly with supervisors, coworkers, and program participants.
• Create a safe, inclusive, and positive environment by engaging with participants and families.
• Provide excellent customer experience through effective engagement, including addressing operational questions and concerns.
• Responsible for maintaining clean, organized program spaces, supplies and equipment.
• Report incidents, injuries, concerns, or unsafe conditions immediately.
• Use required technology systems (timekeeping, scheduling, communication tools) accurately and consistently.
• Monitor participant behavior and facility use while preparing, supervising, and actively engaging in high-quality program activities.
• Support a unified department culture by collaborating across programs and sections and exhibiting department values.
• Obey and promptly execute the orders of the administrative assistant.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

The employee has exposure to chemical compounds found in an office environment (e.g., toner, correction fluid, etc.); ascends and/or descends stairs; has contact with potentially violent or emotionally distraught persons; routinely required to stand, walk, stoop kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Note:In accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor physical demands strength ratings, this is considered light work.

The following are examples only and are not intended to be all inclusive:

Personal computer, computer software (e.g., Civic Rec, City View, GBS, Microsoft Office), printer, copy machine, fax machine, and other standard business office equipment.

Knowledge of:Appropriate early education and childcare practices; office practices and procedures; English grammar and spelling; records management; *City/department goals and objectives; *City/department policies and procedures; *workplace safety practices and procedures; *personnel rules and regulations; public relations.

Skill in:typing; word processing; computer operation; calculator operation; use of modem office equipment; use of telephone/mobile phone.

Ability to:carry out simple instructions; carry out instructions in basic written, oral, or picture form; interpret a variety of instructions in basic written, oral, picture, or schedule form; deal with problems involving several variables within a familiar context; read, copy, and record figures accurately; complete routine forms; prepare routine correspondence; prepare accurate documentation; compile and prepare reports; respond to routine inquiries from public and/or officials; communicate effectively; instruct others; understand a variety of written and/or verbal communications; arrange items in numerical or alphabetical order; sort items into categories according to established methods; *maintain records according to established procedures; work alone on most tasks; answer routine telephone inquiries; develop and maintain effective working relationships; demonstrate manual dexterity; travel to and gain access to work site.(*indicates developed after employment).

Current adult, child and infant CPR and first aid certifications preferred, but not required to apply.

The City of Grove City s an Equal Opportunity Employer