Recreation Coordinator/Specialist

Recreational Specialist

The Recreational Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing recreation programs and supervising recreational activities for the program residents.

Through the employee's own efforts, the employee accomplishes the following essential functions:

1. Consult with and report daily to the Program Director to design an effective recreation program.
2. Liaison with the Department of Education.
3. Plan a recreational program for residents, assess the needs and interests of residents.
4. Supervise volunteer staff, instruct, and lead recreational activities (team games, arts and crafts, dances, etc.)
5. Organize and promote special events, holiday's festivals, and pageants.
6. Issues and collects arts and crafts supplies and equipment safety on a regular basis.
7. Attends in service programs for staff; conducts training sessions for volunteers.
8. Develops and maintains contacts with museums, theatres, sporting events, and other cultural programs.
9. Works with public and private organizations, coordinate outings and field trips for residents.
10. Maintain up to date records and statistics and document all incidents.

1. Assist in the implantation of the childcare and parenting program to include recreation and educational activities for the children and their mother, demonstrating effective child rearing techniques. Ensure the timely commencement and closure of daily nursery activities.
2. Participate effectively in the implementation of the childcare program that will provide sound educational goals that is appropriate to the age and development level of children, which will enable them to make the most of future educational opportunities.
3. Assist with the cooperative childcare schedule that will encourage the parents to be involved in the childcare program. Develop and maintain positive working relationship with the parents residing in the facility. Respect the confidential nature of all information about parents residing in the facility. Respect the confidential nature of all information about the parents and children making sure to relay all pertinent information to supervisors.
4. Ensure safety and proper care of the children during program hours of operation. Teach children personal hygiene and ensure that children's needs are being met regarding hygiene. Provide a constant learning atmosphere for all children. Engage the children in educational and recreational activities both indoors and outside the program.
5. Regularly inspect recreational areas and all equipment for safety inspections. Oversee the ordering of supplies and equipment. Plan and supervise the appropriate arrangement of classroom equipment and furniture to endure the safety of all children involved in the program.
6. Daily inspection, observation, and documentation of possible injuries of children prior to entering the program, documentation of any medical problems. Participate wherever feasible in relater training opportunities as they become available. Attend all staff meeting and participation and work.
7. Perform other job duties and special projects assigned by management.

Additional job functions include:

1. Adheres to all policies and procedures, including those prescribed in the Highland Park CDC Employee Handbook.
2. Maintain confidentiality and do not disclose information learned through the course of the job with people other than those who need to know including employee information, financial information, client information, etc.

Competencies:

1. Customer Service Orientation: Manages difficult or emotional situations with internal and external stakeholders; Responds promptly to customer needs; Responds to request for service and assistance. Maintains and communicates a positive "can do" attitude with internal and external stakeholders.
2. Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Uses reason when dealing with emotional topics.
3. Systems Thinking: Demonstrates an ability to (a) see how organizational systems ( e.g., internal/external conditions, processes, people ) interact and influence each other, and (b) how these systems create and contribute to specific issues ( e.g., high voluntary turnover ) and strengths ( e.g., strong customer focus ).
4. Planning / Organization: Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently: Plans for additional resources; Develops realistic action plans. Leverages tools to manage workflow and reprioritizes accordingly.
5. Service and Teamwork - Understands the needs and wants of the organization, customers, co-workers, and supervisors in order to provide accurate, complete and timely service and to further the mission, values and goals of the organization.
6. Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification.
7. Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
8. Ethics: Treats people with respect: Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
9. Dependability: Follows instructions; Responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments.
10. Initiative: Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Qualifications:

1. Minimum Required Education & Experience:
   • Associates Degree in Child Care related field
   • CPR certification
   • Food Handlers Certification
   • NYS Driver's License
2. Preferred Experience:
   • Proven skills in music, sports, applied arts, dance, art & Crafts, etc. required.
3. Computer Skills:
   • Proficient in computer software programs (Word, Excel, Power Point, CARES, etc.)
4. Language skills:
   • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Reads and comprehends simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos; Writes simple correspondence; Presents information in one-on-one and small groups situations outside stakeholders, clients and other employees.

General Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

1. General Working Hours: Generally, this position is Monday through Friday, days and hours may include weekends based on the need of the recreational scheduled activities.
2. Working From Home: Most essential functions of this job cannot be completed working from home.
3. Travel: May be required to travel about 5% of the time to purchase items or to attend a training or go to the post office as needed.
4. Physical Requirements: The physical activity for the Recreational Specialist is:
1. Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
2. Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks and has an ability to navigate from one location to another.
3. Lifting. Must raise objects from a lower to a higher position or move objects horizontally from position to-to-position.
4. Feeling. Must be able to perceive attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips. Assesses potential safety threats, such as by exposure to chemicals and heat from malfunctioning equipment.
5. Talking and hearing. Able to express and exchange ideas by means of the spoken word. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make the discrimination in sound.
6. Repetitive motions. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and and/or fingers.
5. Physical requirements for the Recreational Specialist:
   • Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and / or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, with walking and standing required only occasionally.
6. The visual acuity requirements for the Recreational Specialist (including color, depth perception and field vision):
   • Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work.
7. The Recreational Specialist will be subject to the following conditions in this position:
   • The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions, protected from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.