Senior Recreation Leader, Bilingual English/Vietnamese Preferred - Prns

Are you ready to join a team that is "Building Community Through Fun?"

Are you ready to make a difference?

The City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San José a better place to live. Our mission is to connect people through parks, recreation and neighborhood services for an active San José. ActivateSJ, PRNS' latest strategic work plan, is committed to establishing healthy communities that inspire belonging by following the guiding principles of stewardship, nature, equity & access, identity and public life.

The Department creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn, which include 48 community centers, 10 regional parks, 203 neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 290 playgrounds and almost 63 miles of trails, programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families in our community. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public's trust. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative. We are a fast-paced organization that takes decisive action after thoughtful planning.

For more information, please visit activatesj.org.

The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department is recruiting for one (1) full-time Senior Recreation Leader to join our Recreation Division. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate's qualifications and experience.

Vietnamese-American Cultural Center (VACC) - The City of San José has the largest Vietnamese population of any city outside of Vietnam, making up more than 10% of its population. Under direction of the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Supervisor, this position is responsible for developing a variety of recreation activities and community service programs at the Vietnamese-American Cultural Center. Program activities include, but are not limited to, senior exercise, homework help, and summer camps. The Senior Recreation Leader will be responsible for supervising recreation staff, planning and conducting activities, acting as the point of contact for families and City staff, registering participants, and training staff. The position will also work closely with service providers on site to meet the needs of the surrounding community and will assist in planning special events.

The Senior Recreation Leader is the highest class in the Recreation Leader series responsible for organizing, conducting, and coordinating a variety of recreation activities. Incumbents regularly work on tasks that require discretion and independent judgment. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to deliver services.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supervises or leads part-time recreation staff and coordinates volunteers.

• Provides information and referrals to participants and the community regarding activities and services available, including developing and disseminating publicity.

• Schedules the use of facilities and may assume responsibility for a facility.

• Ensures the provision of optimal customer service; receives and responds to issues, concerns and other comments or questions from customers.

• Allocates budget hours to various activities, monitors expenditures for activities, prepares routine reports, and as appropriate provides refunds.

• Assists in identifying recreation needs of a target population by participating in meetings with community groups and surveying participants and others.

• Plans and conducts special events and activities such as clubs, trips, dances, shows, and drop-in programs for youth.

• Monitors and tracks program staff and expenditure costs; provides information on budget variances to supervisor; makes purchases for programs, as needed.

• Participates in co-sponsorships and fund raising by obtaining cooperation and donations from local agencies and community groups to support and increase recreation activities.

• Assists Recreation Program Specialist with submitting and tracking work orders.

• Provides facility access to contractors and others as needed.

• Ability to work nights and weekends.

Education and Experience:

Completion of high school or equivalent (General Education Development [GED] Test or California Proficiency Certificate) AND one (1) year (equivalent to 2080 hours) of full-time recreation experience planning programs, scheduling classes, lesson plan development, leading recreation activities, or performing recreational support services.

OR

Completion of high school or equivalent (General Education Development [GED] Test or California Proficiency Certificate) completion of a minimum of two (2) years of college (equivalent to 60 semester units/90 quarter units) AND six (6) months (equivalent to 1040 hours) of full-time recreation experience planning programs, scheduling classes, lesson plan development, leading recreation activities, or performing recreational support services.

Required Licensing (such as driver's license, certifications, etc.):

• A valid First Aid certificate is required and must be maintained. Must provide proof of a valid certificate or will need to obtain a certificate within one (1) year of hire.
• A valid CPR certificate is required and must be maintained. Must provide proof of a valid certificate or will need to obtain a certificate within six (6) months of hire.

Desirable Qualifications:

Ability to effectively communicate and interact with children, youth, seniors and/or special populations. Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing in both English and Vietnamese.

Competencies:

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

• Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

• Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

• Computer Skills: Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, MS Excel, and Canva.

• Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

• Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.

• Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

• Supervision: Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.