Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

City of San Diego • San Diego, CA

13h

About The Position

Therapeutic Recreation Specialists plan, organize, promote, and evaluate community programs and special events for children, teens, and adults with disabilities. They implement behavior management; train and supervise part-time and full-time recreation leaders, interns, and volunteers; and serve as liaisons with public and private agencies, community groups, school districts, businesses, parents, and the general public. The role also assists with fundraising, makes presentations to organizations, writes reports, prepares budget estimates for programs and events, and performs other duties as assigned.

Employees may be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds and must be available to work evenings and weekends. Tuberculosis testing is required at hire and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment. Employees who obtain and maintain a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential or Recreation Therapist Certification (RTC) are eligible for 10% additional pay. Employees in classifications represented by the Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled for general wage increases of 3.5% effective July 1, 2027, 2% effective July 1, 2028, and 2% effective January 1, 2029. Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, are automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

Applicants must meet one of the stated education and experience options. Required American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certificates must be obtained within one year of hire, and a valid California Class C Driver License is required at hire. Employment offers are conditional on applicable pre-employment screening, which may include work-eligibility confirmation, a medical review and exam, drug and alcohol testing, reference checks, and fingerprinting. Successful candidates may be placed on an eligible list used to fill vacancies during the following 180 days.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following education and experience options: (1) a bachelor's degree in Recreation Therapy, Adaptive Physical Education, Special Education, Recreation, Physical Education, Psychology, Rehabilitation, or Medical/Nursing, plus one year of full-time experience leading a variety of recreation activities for persons with disabilities; or (2) a bachelor's degree in any other field or equivalent education (at least 120 semester or 180 quarter units), plus two years of full-time recreation administration experience, including one year of full-time experience leading a variety of recreation activities for persons with disabilities.
• Qualifying recreation administration experience must include planning, directing, and implementing a variety of recreation programs and special events.
• Additional qualifying experience may substitute for education lacking on a year-for-year basis; one year of full-time experience equals 30 semester or 45 quarter college-level units.
• Volunteer hours may qualify if confirmed and documented by the agency, including dates and hours.
• City of San Diego employees relying on Out-of-Class Assignment experience must provide documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist that details the work performed, dates, and total qualifying hours.
• Obtain American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certificates within one year from the date of hire.
• Have a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of hire.
• Be available to work evenings and weekend hours.
• Undergo tuberculosis testing when hired and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.
• May be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Lead or supervisory experience.
• Public relations experience.
• Certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and/or Recreation Therapist Certified (RTC) from the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification (CBRPC).
• Experience using a variety of computer programs, such as SAP, Word, Excel, and ActiveNet.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, promote, and evaluate community programs and special events for children, teens, and adults with disabilities.
• Implement behavior management.
• Train and supervise part-time and full-time recreation leaders, interns, and volunteers.
• Serve as a liaison with public and private agencies, community groups, school districts, businesses, parents, and the general public.
• Assist in fundraising.
• Make presentations to organizations.
• Write reports.
• Prepare budget estimates for programs and events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, are automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Employees who obtain and maintain a CTRS credential or RTC certification are eligible for 10% additional pay.
• MEA-represented employees are scheduled to receive general wage increases: 3.5% effective July 1, 2027; 2% effective July 1, 2028; and 2% effective January 1, 2029.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level