Job Details
Recreation Leader I, PT (Continuous)
2026-01-05 City of Oakland Oakland,CA
Description:
Read the complete job description by clicking
A few reasons you might love this job:
A few challenges you might face in this job:
The competencies required to be a successful Recreation Leader I are:
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: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
Experience: One (1) year of experience participating in a wide variety of recreation activities in sports, arts and crafts, and/or other organized activities or one (1) year as a Recreation Aide with the City of Oakland.
Candidates must be at least eighteen (18) years of age 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, complete a tuberculosis (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.
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:
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) ###-#### 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) ###-#### for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Jasmine Bellow at ...@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: Current MOUs may be reviewed here:
01
Do you confirm that the address on your application matches your current residency?
02
Are you a current full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City or Port of Oakland employee?
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?
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?
08
Is your education equal to completing 12th grade?
09
Please select the OPRYD Recreation Center location(s) at which you are interested in working.Please see link in posting for location details.
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
List the activities and level(s) of experience (e.g. paid or volunteer teaching or leading activities and club or program experience, etc.) and a sample activity or event for each area that you have participated 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.)
12
Please select the activities/sports you have experience in:
13
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.)
14
Do you hold any certifications in the activity/sports you've selected? If so, please list them below:
15
Do you have any experience with Martial Arts? (Karate, Tai Chi, etc.)
16
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"
17
Do you have any experience in health and fitness? (e.g., spin, fitness instruction, boot camp, yoga, tumbling, etc.)
18
From each area you have with health and fitness, describe your level of experience. (such as paid or volunteer instruction, leading activities, or personal participation)
19
Do you hold any certifications in health and fitness activities you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
20
Please select the types of watercrafts (boating) you have experience in:
21
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"
22
Do you hold any certifications in the watercraft (boating) activities you've selected? If so, please list them below:If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
23
Are you comfortable in water? (Able to support youth in the pool during free swim or swim lessons)
24
List your experience and comfort level in water (e.g. not a swimmer, but comfortable where I can stand, basic swimmer, strong swimmer, lifeguard, etc.) If you are not comfortable in water type "None"
25
Do you have experience in supporting inclusive recreation or educational environments for participants with disabilities?
26
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"
27
Please list all Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) areas you have experience in. (e.g. high school biology and chemistry, 3 years of elementary school science fair entries, and robotics club 8th and 9th grade).If you do not have any, please type "None"
28
Do you have experience in leading or teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities?
29
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"
30
From each area you have experience in with Performing Arts, describe your level of experience. (e.g. Ballet 6 years of classes, 2 years assistant teacher for 8-11-year-olds)
31
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.
32
Do you hold any certifications in Performing Arts activities you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
33
Please select all Nature areas you have experience in:
34
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"
35
Do you hold any certifications in the Nature areas you've selected? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
36
Do you have any experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture?
37
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) and provide any related certifications.If you do not have any Gardening/Urban Agriculture, please type "None"
Required Question
Salary: $20.08 - $24.42 Hourly
Location : Oakland, CA
Job Type: Part Time (include Trainee)
Job Number: 25-PP132-11
Department: Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development
Opening Date: 12/08/2025
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: SI1
The Position
***Continuous Recruitment***Recruitment may close at any time. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply immediately.
2026 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 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 looking for someone who is:
- A team player
- Enthusiastic
- Excited to play an active role in the Oakland community
- Leading and supporting activities in areas such as arts and crafts, games, sports, music, drama, and nature study
- Instructing participants in a positive manner regarding rules and methods of playing indoor and outdoor games
- Ensuring that activities operate in accordance with general department philosophy, objectives, and guidelines
- Coaching sports programs
- Enforcing safety rules and regulations; maintaining orderly participant conduct
- Admitting patrons to recreation facilities, programs, and events
- Opening, securing, and cleaning program areas before and after program use; preparing program areas for scheduled recreational activities and events
- Overseeing participant's use of recreation equipment & facilities in compliance with City rules and regulations
- Building and maintaining positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees, and the public, using principles of good customer service
- Inspecting the condition of equipment and supplies for safety standards and maintenance needs. Reporting hazards and repairs needed to appropriate parties
- Scheduling and coordinating leisure education programs and activities
- Coordinating special events, programs, and field trips
- Completing forms and reports, preparing incident reports and related documentation, as needed
Read the complete job description by clicking
A few reasons you might love this job:
- You will be part of a fun team working with Oakland's youth
- You will 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 expected to engage with a lot of kids
- You will be dealing with complex situations
- You may have to travel to multiple/various sites/recreation centers
The competencies required to be a successful Recreation Leader I are:
- Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication
- Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
- Building and Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
- Presentation Skill: Formally delivering information to groups
- Delegating: Sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability
- Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
- Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
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: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
Experience: One (1) year of experience participating in a wide variety of recreation activities in sports, arts and crafts, and/or other organized activities or one (1) year as a Recreation Aide with the City of Oakland.
Candidates must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to apply.
Additional Qualifications:
Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin are highly desirable for certain positions.
License/Other Requirements:
- Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.
- Possession of a valid Basic First Aid certificate may be required.
- Possession of a valid CPR certificate may be required.
Candidates who receive conditional offers of employment will be required to submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance, complete a tuberculosis (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:
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) ###-#### 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) ###-#### for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Jasmine Bellow at ...@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: Current MOUs may be reviewed here:
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
Is your education equal to completing 12th grade?
- Yes
- No
09
Please select the OPRYD Recreation Center location(s) at which you are interested in working.Please see link in posting for location details.
- Allendale
- Arroyo Viejo
- Brookdale
- Bushrod
- Carmen Flores
- Community Gardens
- Davie Tennis Stadium
- deFremery
- Dimond
- Discovery
- FM Smith
- Franklin
- Golden Gate
- Ira Jinkins
- Lincoln
- Manzanita
- Montclair
- Mosswood
- Rainbow
- Redwood Heights
- Rotary Nature
- San Antonio
- Sheffield Village
- Studio One
- Tassafaronga
- Willie Keyes
- No preference (open to all locations)
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
List the activities and level(s) of experience (e.g. paid or volunteer teaching or leading activities and club or program experience, etc.) and a sample activity or event for each area that you have participated 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.)
12
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
13
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.)
14
Do you hold any certifications in the activity/sports you've selected? If so, please list them below:
15
Do you have any experience with Martial Arts? (Karate, Tai Chi, etc.)
- Yes
- No
16
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"
17
Do you have any experience in health and fitness? (e.g., spin, fitness instruction, boot camp, yoga, tumbling, etc.)
- Yes
- No
18
From each area you have with health and fitness, describe your level of experience. (such as paid or volunteer instruction, leading activities, or personal participation)
19
Do you hold any certifications in health and fitness activities you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
20
Please select the types of watercrafts (boating) you have experience in:
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Rowing
- Sailing
- Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP)
- None
21
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"
22
Do you hold any certifications in the watercraft (boating) activities you've selected? If so, please list them below:If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
23
Are you comfortable in water? (Able to support youth in the pool during free swim or swim lessons)
- Yes
- No
24
List your experience and comfort level in water (e.g. not a swimmer, but comfortable where I can stand, basic swimmer, strong swimmer, lifeguard, etc.) If you are not comfortable in water type "None"
25
Do you have experience in supporting inclusive recreation or educational environments for participants with disabilities?
- Yes
- No
26
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"
27
Please list all Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) areas you have experience in. (e.g. high school biology and chemistry, 3 years of elementary school science fair entries, and robotics club 8th and 9th grade).If you do not have any, please type "None"
28
Do you have experience in leading or teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities?
- Yes
- No
29
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"
30
From each area you have experience in with Performing Arts, describe your level of experience. (e.g. Ballet 6 years of classes, 2 years assistant teacher for 8-11-year-olds)
31
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
32
Do you hold any certifications in Performing Arts activities you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
33
Please select all Nature areas you have experience in:
- Outdoor Recreation
- Leading Hikes
- Fishing Experience
- None
34
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"
35
Do you hold any certifications in the Nature areas you've selected? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
36
Do you have any experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture?
- Yes
- No
37
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) and provide any related certifications.If you do not have any Gardening/Urban Agriculture, please type "None"
Required Question