Recreation Leader I

Recreation Leader I

Salary

$18.34 - $21.07 Hourly

Location

City of San Diego, CA

Job Type

Varies by Position

Job Number

JR-T11726-202610

Business Area

1714 - Parks & Recreation

Opening Date

10/02/2026

Closing Date

10/26/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

JOB INFORMATION

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT(S):

• Recreation Aide
• Recreation Leader II

Recreation Leader I positions plan, organize, and teach recreation classes; plan and organize special activities/events; prepare publicity; distribute and maintain equipment; maintain discipline; enforce regulations; open and close recreation centers and related facilities; ensure the safety of recreation center patrons; administer first aid; supervise the use and ensure the security of the facility; provide information to the public; register participants in classes; maintain records; assist in the preparation of reports; perform general maintenance work; collect fees; process program registration; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees 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

• Recreation Leader I positions are available on a part-time and/or limited, hourly basis and may average up to 19 hours per week, primarily during afternoon, evening, and weekend hours. Staff working with older adults typically work between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. During holidays, school breaks, and summer, hours are generally increased.

• Recreation Leader I positions may be utilized at recreation centers and teen centers and in programming for older adults. Most positions require that you be available to work between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. during weekdays and between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekends.

• Recreation Leader I positions may require bilingual skills for which they may receive additional pay.

• In accordance with California Public Resources Code section 5163, all persons holding Recreation Leader I positions must get tested for tuberculosis (TB) when hired and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.

• Recreation Leader I employees who obtain and maintain a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential or Recreation Therapist Certification (RTC) are eligible for 10% additional pay.

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

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

AGE: 16 years of age or older.

NOTES:

• Applicants less than age 18 must obtain a work permit prior to starting work.
• Work permits may be obtained through the school system.
• Applicants who are age 17 and are high school graduates, or have passed the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) or General Education Development (GED) examination, are not required to have a work permit; however, they must submit a copy of their high school diploma, CHSPE or GED results with their application.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

• 150 hours of recreation leadership experience.
• 12 semester/18 quarter units of college-level coursework in recreation management, tourism and hospitality, child and family studies, physical education, and/or a related field.

NOTES:

• Recreation leadership refers to planning, organizing, teaching, and/or leading typical recreation center or school activities such as arts and crafts, games, sports, day camps, tiny tots, dance and music. This does NOT include babysitting, working as a personal fitness trainer, weight training, bowling, golf instructor, etc.
• Qualifying physical education courses MUST consist of participation in typical recreation center sports (e.g., football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, tennis, softball). Physical education "theory" courses will only be accepted if they are part of a completed Bachelors or other college degree in Physical Education.
• 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). NOTE: Qualifying organized team sports participation MUST be at or above the high school level.
• Volunteer hours are qualifying, but MUST be confirmed and documented by the agency where you acted as a volunteer.
• 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.

SCREENING PROCESS

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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

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, which may include a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All of these processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test 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 be 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. 5 - October 2, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)

City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

Flexible Benefits Plan Options for Employees Represented by Municipal Employees Associate (MEA) or review the Benefits Summary for MEA Employees.

01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Résumés are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.

04

The minimum age for this job is 16. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

Specify which ONE of the following options you are using to meet the age requirement.

• 16 years of age or older.
• Less than 18 years of age and must obtain a work permit prior to starting work.
• 17 years of age and a high school graduate or achieved a passing score on the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) or General Education Development (GED) examination.
• None of the above.

06

Do you have at least 150 hours of recreation leadership experience?

• Yes
• No

07

Describe your recreation leadership experience in each of the following areas: a. Arts & crafts; b. games; c. sports; d. day camps; e. tiny tots; f. dance and music. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."

08

I understand that if I am using volunteer hours to qualify, I must submit documentation (indicating dates and hours) from the agency where I acted as a volunteer.

• Yes
• No

09

I understand that if I am using organized team sports participation hours to qualify, I must submit documentation (indicating dates and hours) from the coach of the team or athletic director where I participated. NOTE: Qualifying organized team sports participation MUST be at or above the high school level.

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have at least 12 semester/18 quarter units of college-level course work in recreation management, tourism and hospitality, child and family studies, physical education, and/or a related field?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of San Diego

Address 1200 3rd Ave., Suite 300, MS 51P

San Diego, California, 92101

Phone (619) 236-6400

(619) 236-6358

Website http://www.sandiego.gov/empopp/