Recreation Program Specialist

Recreation Program Specialist

Salary

$21.71 - $27.11 Hourly

Location

Ontario, CA

Job Type

Part-Time

Job Number

090926 Rec Prog Specialist

Department

Recreation & Community Services

Opening Date

09/29/2026

Closing Date

10/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

PT

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The Position

Calling all visionary leaders! Are you ready to elevate your career and step into the dynamic role of a Recreation Program Specialist? The Community Life & Culture Agency is seeking individuals to seize this opportunity and shape the future of our vibrant communitys programs. This position will assist with the coordinating of lively recreation programs, overseeing the efforts of volunteers and other part-time staff members, while also fostering a harmonious and productive team environment.

There are two (2) current vacancies in the areas of Recreation Marketing and Community Center Operations.

NOTE: The Recreation Program Specialist classification is used in a variety of City departments within the Community Life & Culture Agency. The eligibility list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies and any vacancies that occur within one year from the established date.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Demonstrated exceptional leadership and customer service skills.
• Strong communication skills and a passion for community outreach.
• A high level of readiness, initiative, and motivation.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make thoughtful, effective decisions.
• Previous experience overseeing or managing specialized programs.

Additionally, the successful candidate will embody the qualities of a "Five Tool Player" - Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant - and the principles of the Citys Customer Service Philosophy - Empathy, Respect, and Problem Solving.

Part-time/Temporary positions are scheduled to work no more than 29 hours per week and are not eligible to participate in the Citys health insurance or retirement plans.

The following procedures will apply:

• The Eligibility List will consist of both internal and external applicants who meet the qualifications and successfully complete any required selection processes.
• The hiring department has the discretion to consider internal applicants on the Eligibility List prior to considering external candidates on the Eligibility List.
• The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below.
• Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

Community Life and Culture Agency

The City of Ontarios Community Life & Culture Agency endeavors to meet the Ontario City Council goal to "encourage, provide or support enhanced recreational, educational, cultural and healthy city programs, policies and activities." Community Life & Culture does this through a comprehensive array of programs, activities, services and events available through the Housing Services, Library, Museum, Arts & Culture, and Recreation & Community Services Departments.

The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including, but not limited to: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.

The City's vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario's 2026 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:

State of the City The Ontario Plan

Smart Ontario Downtown Ontario

When assigned to the Recreation & Community Services Department, the position will provide opportunities for wholesome, year-round public recreational services for every age group in the City of Ontario. Candidates may be assigned to any one of the program areas listed below and work at one of the Department's six community centers, Senior Center, or outdoor programming in City parks. To learn more about the Recreation & Community Services Department, please visit their website here.

Please see the table below for the program areas and tentative work hours the Recreation Program Specialist may be assigned. Assigned program area may change based on departmental operational needs.

Area/Description

Tentative Work Hours

Administration

Assists with departmental administration tasks. Experience using computers and knowledge of CivicRec and Workday is desirable.

Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm

Youth/Adult Sports

Coordinates adult sports programming, including leagues, leading team manager meetings, creating game schedules, promoting tournaments, and planning special events.

Sunday - Thursday, 4pm - 9pm

Camps

Coordinates seasonal recreation camps under the supervision of the Recreation/ Community Services Coordinator. Provides training and support to support staff.

Monday - Friday

Hours May Vary

Marketing

Supports the marketing team by creating promotional materials for departmental programs and events. Responsibilities may include coordinating social media content, updating the City website, , completing photography and videography assignments, and designing and preparing flyers.

Monday - Friday, 9am - 5:30pm

Some evenings and weekends

Reservations - Facilities

Coordinates facility reservations at the Anthony Munoz facility. Will work collaboratively with the Anthony Munoz and Aquatics staff.

Friday - Sunday, hours vary

Reservations - Logistics

Assists the Facility Reservations Division with application processing, CivicRec updates, and scheduling. Responsibilities may also include managing logistics, inventory, and training new staff, as well as supporting special projects and events.

Monday - Friday, 7am - 3pm

Saturdays, as needed

Senior Center

Holds a crucial role as a programmatic, administrative and center lead. In tandem with the centers two other Program Specialists, this position will require attention to detail, effective communication, organization and problem-solving, and the ability to direct, coach, and support staff.

Monday - Friday, 2pm - 8pm

Saturdays, 8am - 12pm

Community Center

Lead daily operations at a Community Center and will be responsible for youth, adaptive, and senior programming, and maintaining inventory. This position requires the ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with parents and staff, ensuring adherence to program policies.

Tuesday - Friday, 8am - 6pm

Saturdays (Required), 8am - 4pm

Examples of Essential Functions

The essential functions typically performed by the Recreation Program Specialist include the following:

• Coordinates, promotes, implements, and evaluates recreation programs and activities.

• Trains, oversees, and provides significant input toward evaluation of the work performance of part-time staff.

• Assists with scheduling officials, part-time staff and volunteers.

• Assists with the recruiting and selection of part-time staff.

• Attends and represents department at required meetings as directed.

• Coordinates event publicity, including news releases, pamphlets and brochures.

• Maintains records and prepares reports concerning new and on-going programs.

• Tracks expenditures and recommends the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies.

• Assists and leads in the completion of special projects.

• May assist in leading assigned programs, as needed

• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualification Guidelines

Education

High school diploma or recognized equivalent.

Experience

Two years of experience assisting with the coordination of recreation and/or community services programs or a related field.

Desirable

Experience in supervising adapted programs, special events, marketing, youth/adults sports, senior programming, aquatics, volunteers, tiny tots, youth/teen programs, parks programs or other special programs in a municipal setting.

Licenses

• Valid Class C California drivers license at time of appointment.

• Acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.

Certification

Ability to obtain American Red Cross certification in CPR, AED, and/or First Aid within 6 months of employment.

Special Requirement

This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule which may include evenings, holidays and weekends. May be required to return to work during non-business hours in an emergency situation. May be required to perform work on a scheduled stand-by assignment.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com, you will be prompted to create a new user account, otherwise, log in with your username and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:

• List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.

• List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).

• Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.

A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.

NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit required certification(s) or other required documentation as outlined in the Qualifications Guideline section of this bulletin. Please use the attachment function found on the Citys online application to attach copies of the requested certification(s) or other documentation. Failure to attach required documentation may result in the rejection of your application. Please contact the Human Resources/Risk Management Agency if you have any questions regarding the application process.

Your application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. Failure to complete these sections may result in the rejection of your application.

Supplemental Questions

To complete your application for this position, you may be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.

Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.

Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.

Email Notices

Email is the primary way that the Human Resources/Risk Management or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the City of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.

The City of Ontario values the health and wellness of our employees and their families. We understand benefits are an important part of your total compensation and we take pride in offering a comprehensive benefit package. Please check out our excellent benefit packages here www.ontariocityemployees.org.

Employees in this classification are under the Part-Time Compensation and Benefits Profile. For a list of benefits for part-time employees please click here: https://content.ontarioca.gov/sites/default/files/migrated-files/Part-Time%20Compensation%20and%20Benefits%20Profile%20FINAL%20Signed.pdf

01

INSTRUCTIONS: The information on your application and the following supplemental questionnaire will be a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility and to further identify those applicants who are best qualified to continue in the selection process for this position. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, partial information or AI-generated responses may result in disqualification from the selection process. Resumes may be attached, but they will not be accepted in lieu of completing the job experience section of the application or the supplemental questions. Responses to the supplemental questions that indicate "see resume" are considered incomplete. By checking the Yes response below, I indicate that I have read the job bulletin and these instructions for completing the supplemental questionnaire. Additionally, I certify that my application and supplemental answers accurately reflect my training, education and experience; and I understand that my responses are subject to verification.

• I understand the above statement.

02

Which of the following best describes your highest related level of education?

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate Degree
• None of the Above

03

Please indicate your total years of experience assisting with the coordination of recreation and/or community services programs. Note: Your experience must be clearly detailed within the work experience section of your application.

• Less than one year.
• One year to less than two years.
• Two years or more.
• No Experience.

04

Please describe your experience in supervising adapted programs, special events, marketing, youth/adults sports, senior programming, aquatics, volunteers, tiny tots, youth/teen programs, parks programs or other special programs in a municipal setting? If you do not possess any experience, please put N/A.

05

Please indicate which of the following valid American Red Cross certifications that you possess (select all that apply). Note: Proof of successful completion of the above certifications must be attached to your online application. Failure to provide the required documentation at time of application will result in disqualification.

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• First Aid Training

06

When assigned to the Recreation & Community Services Department, the position may support one or more of the programs listed below. Please select the programs that interest you (select all that apply).

• Logistics/ Reservations (must be available Weekdays, 7am - 3pm and Saturdays, as needed)
• Adult Sports (must be available Sunday - Thursday, 4pm - 9pm)
• Tot Program (must be available Weekdays, 7am - 3pm and Saturdays, as needed)
• Munoz - Reservations (must be available Weekends, hours vary)
• Armstrong/ Reception (must be available Weekdays, 8am - 1pm or 12pm - 5:30pm)
• Marketing (must be available Weekdays, 7:30am - 5:30pm)
• Youth Sports (must be available Weekdays, 8am - 5pm and Saturdays (required), 8am - 4pm)
• Administration (must be available Weekdays, 8am - 6pm)
• Senior Center (must be available Monday - Friday, 2pm - 8pm, Saturdays, 8am-12pm)
• Camps (must be available Monday-Friday, Hours May Vary)
• Community Center (must be available Monday-Friday, Hours May Vary)

07

Do you currently possess a California Class C Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

08

This position requires you to work nights and weekends as required. Is this something you are able and willing to do?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Ontario

Address 200 North Cherry Avenue

Ontario, California, 91764

Phone 909.395.2455

909.395.2000

Website http://www.ontarioca.gov