Job Details
Recreation Specialist I, PT (Continuous)
2026-02-04 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 Specialist I are:
Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!
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
Additional 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.
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
Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?
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)?
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 hold any certifications in the martial arts areas you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
18
Do you have any experience in health and fitness? (e.g., spin, fitness instruction, boot camp, yoga, tumbling, etc.)
19
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)
20
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"
21
Please select the types of watercrafts (boating) you have experience in:
22
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"
23
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"
24
Do you have experience in supporting inclusive recreation or educational environments for participants with disabilities?
25
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"
26
Do you have experience in leading or teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities?
27
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"
28
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?
29
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"
30
Do you hold any certifications in any of the art activities you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
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
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"
33
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"
34
Please select all Nature areas you have experience in:
35
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"
36
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"
37
Do you have any experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture?
38
Do you have any experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture? (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"
39
Do you hold any certifications in the Gardening/Urban Agriculture areas you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
Required Question
Salary: $23.54 - $28.90 Hourly
Location : Oakland, CA
Job Type: Part Time (include Trainee)
Job Number: 25-PP137-11
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 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.
- 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
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 I are:
- 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.
Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!
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
Additional 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.
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
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
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 hold any certifications in the martial arts areas you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
18
Do you have any experience in health and fitness? (e.g., spin, fitness instruction, boot camp, yoga, tumbling, etc.)
- Yes
- No
19
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)
20
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"
21
Please select the types of watercrafts (boating) you have experience in:
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Rowing
- Sailing
- Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP)
- None
22
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"
23
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"
24
Do you have experience in supporting inclusive recreation or educational environments for participants with disabilities?
- Yes
- No
25
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"
26
Do you have experience in leading or teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities?
- Yes
- No
27
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"
28
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
29
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"
30
Do you hold any certifications in any of the art activities you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
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
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"
33
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"
34
Please select all Nature areas you have experience in:
- Outdoor Recreation
- Leading Hikes
- Fishing Experience
- None
35
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"
36
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"
37
Do you have any experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture?
- Yes
- No
38
Do you have any experience with Gardening/Urban Agriculture? (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"
39
Do you hold any certifications in the Gardening/Urban Agriculture areas you've listed? If so, please list them below.If you do not have relevant certifications, please type "None"
Required Question