Recreation Leader - San Francisco (including 2026 Seasonal Day Camps - Arts, Sports, Community Services (Neighborhood Camps), Outdoor Rec, Waterfront (3279 TEX As-Needed)

Company Description

About Us

Amid a dynamic and ever-evolving urban landscape, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department stewards one of the premier urban park systems in America.  In 2017, San Francisco became the first city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city Learn More. Considered by San Franciscans to be one of the City’s most popular and effective public agencies, our Department currently manages more than 230 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.  Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced.

More than 2,000 talented individuals are part of our team, from gardeners, foresters, and recreation leaders to park rangers, custodians, electricians, painters and more. Our core mission, as it has been throughout our history, is to provide opportunities for San Francisco residents and visitors alike to gather, play, learn, relax, and enjoy nature in the city.

Job Description

Come join us as we are seeking qualified individuals as Recreation Leaders who will either provide quality programming or assist with events/programs (including seasonal Day Camp programs) at our various facilities throughout the City. You will become a team member of a group of dedicated recreational professionals who seek to INSPIRE SF residents and visitors to Get Out and Play! 

POSITION DESCRIPTION: There are three levels of the Recreation Leader position. All levels are under the supervision of Recreation and Park Operation Staff.  A description of the levels are summarized below:

Recreation Leader I: Assists with program delivery based upon interest and skills; performs facility monitoring work, etc.

Recreation Leader II: Delivers exciting recreation programs and activities in group settings. Programs may range from arts to sports to expanded learning. 

Recreation Leader III: Responsible for the delivery of all certified recreation, leisure and sport programs and activities where we believe a certificate/advanced expertise is necessary. 

Distinguishing Feature: The Recreation Leader I performs program assistance and facility monitoring, while Recreation Leaders II and III are responsible for direct instruction of recreation programs and activities. Recreation Leader IIIs provide program instruction which requires certification. 

Essential job duties across all levels may also include responsibility for the set up and take down of facility tables and chairs, occasional janitorial tasks, and performing other related duties as required.

There are seven (7) areas of available assignments:

• Community Services Programming -  Includes Early Childhood Recreation, Out of School Time programs (Afterschool & Summer Camps), Teen programs, programming for Adults 55 and Up, Health and Wellness programming, and Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion Services.
• Cultural Arts Programming - Provides programming in the Visual, Performing and Digital Arts.
• Aquatics Programming - Includes swim lessons for all ages, Water Exercise programs, and Waterfront Sports such as kayaking.
• Sports & Athletic Programming - Includes the following activities and camps: baseball, softball,  basketball, boxing, flag football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, volleyball, etc.
• Outdoor Recreation Programming - Includes skateboarding, archery, rock climbing, ropes courses, and other outdoor and nature-based programming. 
• Peace Parks & Pathways - Provides teen-focused programming including safe-space activations, recreation and enrichment, summer camps, employment opportunities, and access to supportive resources. Programming is designed to promote belonging, wellbeing, and positive pathways for teens and transitional-aged youth across the city. 
• Supports Services - Support Services is the business division of Recreation. Recreation Leaders may be used for office tasks and customer service.
• Permits and Reservations -