Recreation Specialist II, PT (Continuous) Salary $30.37 - $37.28 Hourly Location Oakland, CA Job Type Part Time (include Trainee) Job Number 25-PP139-11 Department Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development Opening Date 11/26/2025 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.
Summer 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 strived 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, 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. Oakland's Parks, Recreation, and Youth Development (OPRYD) Department believes that communities thrive when they play with a purpose. Our purpose is to Expose, Enlighten, Empower, and Encourage Educational Excellence through recreational experiences.
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 advanced-level 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 Obtaining and setting up recreation equipment, supplies, and props for program activities and events Inspecting and maintaining equipment and supplies for safe use Overseeing patron use of recreation equipment facility in compliance with City rules and regulations Coordinating special events and programs Writing descriptions of classes offered
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
The competencies required to be a successful Recreation Specialist II are:
• Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication • Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results • 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.
Education: Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in recreation or a related field.
Experience: A minimum of two (2) years professional level experience, paid or volunteer, and demonstrated ability to teach advanced skills in the specialized area of interest. Specialized areas can include art, dance, drama, music, nature, and sports.
Candidates must be at least eighteen (18) years old to apply.
Additional Qualifications: Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin are highly desirable for certain positions.
License/Other Requirements: Candidates who receive conditional offers of employment will be required to submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance and 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. Applications received by the dates below will be reviewed for any vacancies open at that time. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee further consideration, only the candidates whose skills and experience match the needs of the department 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.
Round 1: Applications submitted by 1/5/2026 Round 2: Applications submitted by 3/5/2026 Round 3: Applications submitted by 5/7/2026
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
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: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm. 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 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 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 Jasmine Bellow at jbellow@oaklandca.gov.
The City of Oakland is an EEO/ADA Employer. The City complies with all Federal, State, and local laws mandating Equal Employment Opportunities. All qualified applicants will be considered in accordance with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 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? Yes No
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 bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in recreation or a related field? Yes No
09 Do you have a minimum of two (2) years professional level experience, paid or volunteer, and demonstrated ability to teach advanced skills in the specialized area of interest? Specialized areas can include art, dance, drama, music, nature, and sports. Yes No
10 Please provide your experience in OPRYD or other recreation programs including participant, volunteer, or paid