Recreation Specialist I, PT (Continuous)

Recreation Specialist I, PT (Continuous)

Salary

$23.54 - $28.90 Hourly

Location

Oakland, CA

Job Type

Part Time (include Trainee)

Job Number

26-PP137-09

Department

Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development

Opening Date

09/08/2026

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

SI1

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The Position

• Continuous Recruitment*

Recruitment may close at any time. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply immediately.

The hiring process takes several months to complete.

Apply by:

10/25/2026 for Spring or Summer 2027 start dates

2/7/2027 for Summer 2027 start dates

8/8/2027 for Fall or Winter 2027 start dates

2027 OAKLAND PARKS, RECREATION & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why Join the Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development Department?

With an emphasis on Oakland's youth, Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development (OPRYD), and its partners will provide best-in-class, relevant, and equitable programs and services, while meeting the specific needs of people and communities both at the neighborhood level and regionally throughout the City of Oakland. We achieve this mission through intentional engagement and by removing the barriers that prohibit equitable opportunities for all. Reimagine, recreate, and reinvent OPRYD with us!

We are currently hiring for our Youth Summer programs in the following areas:

Nature: Naturalists and Field Biologists

Fitness: Personal Trainers, Water Aerobics Instructors, Nutritionists, Yoga Instructors, and Sports Coaches

Visual Arts: Photography, Digital Arts, Jewelry Design, Glass Arts, and Ceramics

Performing Arts: Drama and Dance

Aquatics: Boat Operators, Aquatics Specialists

Culinary Arts: Chefs and Cooks

We are looking for someone who is:

• A team player.
• Enthusiastic.
• Excited to play an active role in the Oakland community.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Teaching and/or leading programs and classes in the field of expertise; providing staff training in specialized fields as required.
• Designing and planning curriculum and activities that promote citizen participation in community-based recreation settings.
• Ascertaining and interpreting group interests, evaluating equipment and facilities, and adapting activities to meet participant needs.
• Obtaining and setting up recreation equipment, supplies, and props for program activities and events; explaining principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants, and demonstrating the use of materials and equipment; inspecting and maintaining equipment and supplies for safe use.
• Overseeing patron use of recreation equipment/facility in compliance with City rules and regulations.
• Performing routine administrative duties utilizing a variety of office equipment; scheduling and coordinating leisure education programs and activities; and coordinating special events, programs, and field trips.
• Completing and maintaining time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
• Conferring with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.
• Writing descriptions of classes offered.
• Administering first aid according to prescribed procedures and notifying emergency medical personnel when necessary.

Read the complete job description by clicking the link below

Recreation Specialist I, PT

Click on the link below to see a video on what its like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be part of a fun team working with Oakland's youth,
• You can make a difference in the community,
• Your work will result in real-life impacts,

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You may be responsible for a lot of kids and public interaction,
• You may deal with complex situations,
• You may have to travel to multiple/various sites/recreation centers,

Competencies Required:

• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards.
• Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication.
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue.
• Building and Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships.
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination.

Minimum Requirements for Application

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable.

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience:

A minimum of one (1) year of professional level experience, paid or volunteer, and demonstrated teaching skills in some specialized area of interest. Areas can include art, dance, drama, music, and sports.

Candidates must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to apply

Desirable Qualifications:

Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin are highly desirable for certain positions.

License/Other Requirements: Depending on the nature of the assignment, candidates who receive conditional offers of employment will be required to submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance, and have a physical examination including a TB screening.

Supplemental Information

The Selection Process

This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to the Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development Department for further consideration.

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

All invitations to interview will be sent through governmentjobs.com, and may be received weeks or months after the initial application date, based on OPRYD seasonal programming. Please ensure that you are routinely checking for emails from governmentjobs.com. Applications received by the dates below will be reviewed for any vacancies open at that time.

Applications Submitted byTentative Interview DatesStart DatesRound 110/25/202611/16/2026 - 11/20/2027Spring or Summer 2027Round 22/7/20273/1/2027 - 3/12/2027Summer 2027Round 38/8/20279/6/2027 - 9/13/2027Fall or Winter 2027

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oaklandca

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by Government Jobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact Government Jobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system.

For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Joy Ho at jho3@oaklandca.gov or Sarah Herbelin at sehernelin@oaklandca.gov.

The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions. Benefits may include*:

• CalPERS Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Medical Waiver Plan - Cash-In-Lieu
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
• Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
• Pension Benefits
• Deferred Compensation
• Specific benefits may vary depending on the assigned specific bargaining unit. Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Employee Benefits Information Current MOUs may be reviewed here: City of Oakland Labor Agreements

01

Do you confirm that the address on your application matches your current residency?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City or Port of Oakland employee?

• Yes
• No

03

If you are a current City or Port of Oakland employee, what is your job title and employee ID number? If you are not a City or Port employee, type "N/A"

04

Have you previously been employed by the City of Oakland?

• Yes
• No

05

If you have previously been employed by the City of Oakland, please enter the dates and titles of the jobs you previously held at the City of Oakland below. If not applicable, type "N/A"

06

If you have previously been employed by the City of Oakland, please enter any other name(s) used below. If not applicable, type "N/A"

07

Are you 18 years of age or older?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have a minimum of one (1) year of professional level paid or volunteer experience with demonstrated teaching skills in a specialized area (e.g., art, dance, drama, music, or sports)?

• Yes
• No

10

Please provide your experience in OPRYD or other recreation programs including participant, volunteer, or paid experience and list the location (e.g. 5 years as a camper and 4 years in afterschool programs, CIT summer 2023 and 2024, Recreation Aide summer 2025 at Franklin Recreation Center). You must also list the experience in the experience section of your application to meet the minimum qualifications.

11

Please select the activities (General Recreation Skills) that you have experience in:

• Outdoor Play Activities (organized group games, jump rope, double dutch, kickball, 4-square, etc.)
• Arts and crafts (painting, drawing, chalking, fuse beads, yarn activities, seasonal crafts, etc.)
• Indoor games (able to be done in a gym or multipurpose room)
• Cooking (healthy snacks, seasonal projects, etc.)
• Homework help (reading help, math help, etc.)
• Special Events (community events, festivals, camp carnivals, camp Olympics, open houses, fundraisers, etc.)
• Field Trips (bus, public transit, or walking to cultural institutions, waterparks, pools, sporting events, boating, etc.)
• Other

12

For each activity (general recreation skill) you have selected, please provide your level of experience (e.g paid or volunteer teaching or leading activities and club or program experience, etc.) and a sample activity or event.

13

Do you hold any certifications in the activities (general recreation skills) you have selected? If so, please list them below: If you do not have any relevant certifications, please write "none"

14

Please select the activities/sports you have experience in:

• Archery
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cheer
• Flag Football
• Golf
• Lacross
• Pickle Ball
• Skating
• Skateboarding
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• Volleyball
• None
• Other

15

For each activity/sport you selected in question 11, please provide your level of experience. (e.g. Soccer played 3 years high school, coached 2 years high school, etc.)

16

Do you hold any certifications in the activity/sports you have selected? If so, please list them below:

17

Do you have any experience with Martial Arts? (Karate, Tai Chi, etc.)

• Yes
• No

18

For any martial arts area you have experience in, what is your level of experience? (e.g. paid or volunteer teaching or leading activities and personal hobby, classes, club, or program experience, etc.) If you do not have any experience with martial arts, please type "None"

19

Do you hold any certifications in the martial arts areas you have listed? If so, please list them below. If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

20

Do you have any experience in health and fitness? (e.g., spin, fitness instruction, boot camp, yoga, tumbling, etc.)

• Yes
• No

21

List the area(s) and level of experience in health and fitness that you have (such as paid or volunteer instruction, leading activities, or personal participation)

22

Do you hold any certifications in health and fitness activities you have listed? If so, please list them below. If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

23

Please select the types of watercrafts (boating) you have experience in:

• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP)
• None

24

For each watercraft (boating) activity you have selected, please provide your level of experience. (e.g. sailing 3 years as a camper, 1 year CIT). If you do not have any watercraft experience, please type "None"

25

Do you hold any certifications in the watercraft (boating) activities youve selected? If so, please list them below: If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

26

Do you have experience in supporting inclusive recreation or educational environments for participants with disabilities?

• Yes
• No

27

Please describe your experience supporting inclusive recreation or educational environments for participants with disabilities. Explain the strategies or approaches you used to ensure that all participants were able to engage meaningfully in the activities. If you do not have any, please type "None"

28

Do you have Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) experience?

• Yes
• No

29

Please list all Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) areas you have experience in and the experience level. (e.g. high school biology and chemistry, 3 years of elementary school science fair entries, and robotics club 8th and 9th grade).

30

Do you hold any certifications in the areas of (STEM) that you have selected? If so, please list them below: If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

31

Do you have experience in leading or teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities?

• Yes
• No

32

Please list your experience in leading or teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities? If you do not have any experience in leading or teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities, please type "None"

33

Do you hold any certifications in the areas of leading or teaching (STEM) that you have listed? If so, please list them below: If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None".

34

Do you have any experience in Arts such as: Ceramics, Sculpture, Painting and Drawing, Textile Arts, Print Making, Metal Jewelry, Black and White and Digital Photography, Coding, Graphic Arts, Videography, Glass Making (Fused Glass, Stained Glass, and Flamework Beadmaking, etc.), or Woodworking?

• Yes
• No

35

For each art area you have experience in, what is your level of experience? (e.g. Painting and Drawing- high school and college classes, assisted for 2 years and taught 1 year of summer art programs) If you do not have any experience with Performing Arts, please type "None"

36

Do you hold any certifications in any of the art activities you have listed? If so, please list them below. If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

37

Do you have any experience with Performing Arts such as: (Ballet, Tap, Modern, Hip Hop, Turf, Ballroom, African, Chicago Stepping, Belly Dance, etc.), Singers, Song Writers, Musicians, Conductors (for Civic orchestra and Community Orchestra), Drama, Educational Theater, Stage Rigging, Stage Lighting & Sound, Film Makers, Videographers, Audio Engineers, Music Producers, Photographers, etc.

• Yes
• No

38

For each performing arts area you have experience in, what is your level of experience? (e.g., Ballet - 6 years of classes, 2 years assistant teacher for ages 8-11.) If you do not have any experience with Performing Arts, please type "None"

39

Do you hold any certifications in Performing Arts activities youve listed? If so, please list them below. If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

40

Please select all Nature areas you have experience in:

• Outdoor Recreation
• Leading Hikes
• Fishing Experience
• None
• Other

41

For each Nature area you have selected, please provide your level of experience. (e.g. Outdoor Recreation, leading hikes for 8-10-year-olds for 2 years in summer program, personal fishing experience ages 5-15) If you do not have any Nature experience, please type "None"

42

Do you hold any certifications in the Nature areas youve selected? If so, please list them below. If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

43

Do you have any experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture?

• Yes
• No

44

Please list your education and level of experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture you have. (e.g., 5 years of home gardening, 1 year on an organic farm, 6 months running an elementary school garden program) If you do not have any Gardening/Urban Agriculture, please type "None"

45

Do you hold any certifications in the Gardening/Urban Agriculture areas youve listed? If so, please list them below. If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

46

Do you have any experience in Cooking and Culinary Arts?

• Yes
• No

47

List your education and level of experience (e.g. 5 years professional chef, 1 year working in a professional teaching kitchen, 2 years working at an elementary school leading the Culinary Arts program). If you do not have any relevant experience, please type "none".

48

Do you hold any certifications in the areas of Cooking/Culinary Arts that you have listed? If so, please list them below: If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

49

Do you have any experience with Early Childhood Education?

50

Please list your experience or educational background in Early Childhood Development and any experience you have working with children ages 0-5 in a professional setting, facilitating pre-school based classes or activities, and creating pre-school curriculum. If you do not have any relevant experience, please type "none".

51

Do you hold any certifications in the areas of Early Childhood Development that you have listed? If so, please list them below: If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"

52

The information you provide to the above supplemental questions will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Applicants are responsible for clearly, completely, and accurately identifying their qualifications. I have read and understand the statement above concerning submission of supplemental responses.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Oakland

Address 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza - 2nd Floor

Oakland, California, 94612

Phone (510) 238-3112

Website http://www.oaklandca.gov/