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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 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 here.
 
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! 

Working 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: 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.