Recreation Leader - Education - 6751
City of Gainesville
Job Description
Salary Range: $19.13 - $29.85
Closing Date: 03/23/2026
Job Details:
The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Youth Services and Education Programs Division is seeking a full-time Recreation Leader. This position is responsible for supporting a holistic approach to youth development and engagement by providing administrative and supervisory work developing full-time and part-time staff across multiple recreational facilities. The Recreation Leader’s primary focus will be on overseeing daily operations and supervision of staff and children during out-of-school, after-school, summer camp, preschool programs, and youth resiliency programming.
SUMMARY
This is responsible administrative and supervisory work developing, implementing, and coordinating a variety of recreational programs and events and in oversight of City recreational facilities. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its varied and specialized responsibilities for supervision, development and coordination of recreational events and activities.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Depending on the area of assignment:
• Create contracts and permits associated with facility rentals and events
• Develops, plans and oversees social media and website content, posts and responses
• Tracks facility inventory and oversees supplies orders
• Schedules meetings, prepares meeting agendas and minutes
• Oversees and coordinates facility calendars
• Creates staff schedules
• Creates time sheets and oversees payroll processes
• Assists in the coordination of facility events with events of building tenant(s) and property lessee(s).
• Prepares contracts and agenda items and assists in monitoring of facility programs, repairs, inspections, operations, and maintenance.
• Assists coordination with outside groups and businesses in facility activities designed to benefit the City.
• Oversees, plans and assists in the coordination and implementation of recreational activities such as special events, sports leagues, instructional programs, special population programs, dances, general recreation programs and other related activities.
• Performs site program criteria evaluations, takes notes, provides feedback to assigned staff and follow-ups with supervisor.
• Performs timely, fair and non-discriminatory evaluation of performance of employees under their supervision.
• Develop new programs and classes.
• Answers about public inquiries about programs. Receives and records complaints and documents that corrective action is taken. Assists manager in responding to requests for services from the public and other agencies.
• Oversees and instructs various athletic, sports, aquatic and recreation programs and classes, including training volunteers and coaches in sportsmanship and team building.
• Assists in the evaluation of programs and makes recommendations for modifications and improvements.
• Opens and closes park and recreation facilities and buildings, according to schedule.
• Schedules for the use of park and recreation facilities and oversees patrons on proper use of such facilities.
• Assists in coordination and implementation of special events.
• Maintains registration, participation, inventory and expenditure records for recreation programs.
• Collects registration and other applicable fees and charges for special events, leagues, camps, programs, trips, activities, special populations, and other recreation programs. Supervises employees who handle cash.
• Completes, processes, and maintains appropriate work orders, reports and forms. Oversee facility and program safety and risk management. Coordinates maintenance and upkeep of all assigned facilities.
• Assists in marketing recreational programs including developing program guides, interaction with media, meeting with community groups and developing and implementing new concepts such as computerized program registration.
• Schedules and coordinates assigned staff. Supervises assigned staff in absence of a Supervisor.
• Maintains facility, equipment and supply inventory; keeps all equipment and supplies in good working condition; and / or cares for livestock.
• Assists with selection, promotion, discharge, and recommends other appropriate personnel actions. Assists with pre-employment testing and training of staff.
• Attends work on continuous and regular basis.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in recreational programming, instruction, management or related activities; or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES
Licenses Depending on the area of assignment:
Valid State of Florida Driver License within (30) days of appointment.
Certifications General (all areas):
• National Recreation and Parks Association certification as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is required within 18 months of appointment.
• American Red Cross certification (or equivalent) in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and First Aid is required within six (6) months of appointment.
Aquatics:
• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Trainer (WSIT) is preferred.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard (LG) is required upon appointment.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) is preferred.
• Certified Pool Operator (CPO) or Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) is required within 18 months of appointment.
Athletics:
• National Alliance for Youth Sports certification as a Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA) is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
Nature:
• Environmental Education Certification (or equivalent) OR the Florida Master Naturalist Course is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• Basic Certification by the National Alliance for Interpretation (NAI) (or equivalent) is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• Youth Services & Education Programs:
• If assigned to a Department of Children’s and Families Licensed Program (DCF):
• Must be at least 21 years old at the time of appointment.
• Successfully complete or have a current valid American Red Cross certification (or equivalent) in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Pediatric CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and First Aid.
• Must successfully complete the Department of Children and Families (DCF) 40-hour Introductory Child Care Training within 15 months of hire, take additional specialized DCF training courses, or have an education exemption. Must successfully complete annual In-service trainings.
• Must obtain a CDL with a passenger endorsement.
• Assists with DCF compliance (implementation, monitoring, training)
• Must be able to pass DCF required employment screenings (all Youth Services and Education Programs staff).
Closing Date: 03/23/2026
Job Details:
The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Youth Services and Education Programs Division is seeking a full-time Recreation Leader. This position is responsible for supporting a holistic approach to youth development and engagement by providing administrative and supervisory work developing full-time and part-time staff across multiple recreational facilities. The Recreation Leader’s primary focus will be on overseeing daily operations and supervision of staff and children during out-of-school, after-school, summer camp, preschool programs, and youth resiliency programming.
SUMMARY
This is responsible administrative and supervisory work developing, implementing, and coordinating a variety of recreational programs and events and in oversight of City recreational facilities. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its varied and specialized responsibilities for supervision, development and coordination of recreational events and activities.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Depending on the area of assignment:
• Create contracts and permits associated with facility rentals and events
• Develops, plans and oversees social media and website content, posts and responses
• Tracks facility inventory and oversees supplies orders
• Schedules meetings, prepares meeting agendas and minutes
• Oversees and coordinates facility calendars
• Creates staff schedules
• Creates time sheets and oversees payroll processes
• Assists in the coordination of facility events with events of building tenant(s) and property lessee(s).
• Prepares contracts and agenda items and assists in monitoring of facility programs, repairs, inspections, operations, and maintenance.
• Assists coordination with outside groups and businesses in facility activities designed to benefit the City.
• Oversees, plans and assists in the coordination and implementation of recreational activities such as special events, sports leagues, instructional programs, special population programs, dances, general recreation programs and other related activities.
• Performs site program criteria evaluations, takes notes, provides feedback to assigned staff and follow-ups with supervisor.
• Performs timely, fair and non-discriminatory evaluation of performance of employees under their supervision.
• Develop new programs and classes.
• Answers about public inquiries about programs. Receives and records complaints and documents that corrective action is taken. Assists manager in responding to requests for services from the public and other agencies.
• Oversees and instructs various athletic, sports, aquatic and recreation programs and classes, including training volunteers and coaches in sportsmanship and team building.
• Assists in the evaluation of programs and makes recommendations for modifications and improvements.
• Opens and closes park and recreation facilities and buildings, according to schedule.
• Schedules for the use of park and recreation facilities and oversees patrons on proper use of such facilities.
• Assists in coordination and implementation of special events.
• Maintains registration, participation, inventory and expenditure records for recreation programs.
• Collects registration and other applicable fees and charges for special events, leagues, camps, programs, trips, activities, special populations, and other recreation programs. Supervises employees who handle cash.
• Completes, processes, and maintains appropriate work orders, reports and forms. Oversee facility and program safety and risk management. Coordinates maintenance and upkeep of all assigned facilities.
• Assists in marketing recreational programs including developing program guides, interaction with media, meeting with community groups and developing and implementing new concepts such as computerized program registration.
• Schedules and coordinates assigned staff. Supervises assigned staff in absence of a Supervisor.
• Maintains facility, equipment and supply inventory; keeps all equipment and supplies in good working condition; and / or cares for livestock.
• Assists with selection, promotion, discharge, and recommends other appropriate personnel actions. Assists with pre-employment testing and training of staff.
• Attends work on continuous and regular basis.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in recreational programming, instruction, management or related activities; or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES
Licenses Depending on the area of assignment:
Valid State of Florida Driver License within (30) days of appointment.
Certifications General (all areas):
• National Recreation and Parks Association certification as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is required within 18 months of appointment.
• American Red Cross certification (or equivalent) in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and First Aid is required within six (6) months of appointment.
Aquatics:
• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Trainer (WSIT) is preferred.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard (LG) is required upon appointment.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) is preferred.
• Certified Pool Operator (CPO) or Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) is required within 18 months of appointment.
Athletics:
• National Alliance for Youth Sports certification as a Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA) is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
Nature:
• Environmental Education Certification (or equivalent) OR the Florida Master Naturalist Course is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• Basic Certification by the National Alliance for Interpretation (NAI) (or equivalent) is required within twelve (12) months of appointment.
• Youth Services & Education Programs:
• If assigned to a Department of Children’s and Families Licensed Program (DCF):
• Must be at least 21 years old at the time of appointment.
• Successfully complete or have a current valid American Red Cross certification (or equivalent) in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Pediatric CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and First Aid.
• Must successfully complete the Department of Children and Families (DCF) 40-hour Introductory Child Care Training within 15 months of hire, take additional specialized DCF training courses, or have an education exemption. Must successfully complete annual In-service trainings.
• Must obtain a CDL with a passenger endorsement.
• Assists with DCF compliance (implementation, monitoring, training)
• Must be able to pass DCF required employment screenings (all Youth Services and Education Programs staff).
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