Therapeutic Recreation Leader

Salary : $44,283.20 - $53,393.60 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: AG-T11806-202511
Business Area: 1714 - Parks & Recreation
Opening Date: 11/14/2025
Closing Date: 12/1/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION
Therapeutic Recreation Leader positions plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate recreation and leisure activities for children and adults with disabilities including physical activities, social activities, classes, and special events; work with individual participants in their daily living/personal needs during program attendance (e.g., feeding, changing diapers, lifting); work with individual participants with challenging behaviors during program attendance; assist in the training of interns, field workers, volunteers, and coworkers; complete necessary reports and paperwork relating to programs and participants; maintain equipment, supplies, and storage areas; represent the agency at public relations events; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Therapeutic Recreation Leader employees may be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Therapeutic Recreation Leader positions are available on a part-time and/or limited, hourly basis, including evening and weekend hours. During holidays, school breaks, and summer, hours are generally increased.
• In accordance with California Public Resources Code section 5163, all persons holding Therapeutic Recreation Leader positions must get tested for tuberculosis (TB) when hired and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.
• Therapeutic Recreation Leader employees who obtain and maintain a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential or Recreation Therapist Certification (RTC) are eligible for 10% additional pay.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.
EXPERIENCE: 300 hours of paid or unpaid (volunteer) recreation leadership experience which MUST include 200 hours of experience working with persons with disabilities.

NOTES:

• Recreation leadership refers to implementing or assisting with the planning, organizing, teaching, and/or leading typical recreation center activities such as arts and crafts, games, sports, and field trips. This does NOT include babysitting, working as a personal fitness trainer, or weight training, bowling, golf instructor, etc.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities refers to such jobs as Teacher's Aide, Respite Care Provider, Personal Care Provider, Recreation Leader for persons with disabilities, and related work.
• Volunteer hours are qualifying, but MUST be confirmed and documented by the agency where you served as a volunteer.
• Satisfactory completion of college-level course work in recreation management, tourism and hospitality, child and family studies, physical education, or a closely related field may be used to substitute for lack of recreation leadership experience. One semester unit = 60 hours experience; One quarter unit = 40 hours experience.
• Satisfactory completion of college-level course work in recreation therapy, special education, psychology, child development, adaptive physical education, and/or medical/nursing may be used to substitute for lack of experience working with persons with disabilities. One semester unit = 60 hours experience; One quarter unit = 40 hours experience.
• Qualifying physical education course work must consist of participation in typical recreation center sports (e.g., baseball, football, softball, soccer, volleyball). Physical education "theory" course work will only be accepted if they are part of a completed Bachelor's or other college degree in Physical Education (theory course work in Adaptive Physical Education is qualifying).
• Participation in organized team sports is qualifying, but hours of participation MUST be confirmed and documented by the coach of the team or athletic director where you participated. Organized team sports refer to those typically played at a recreation center (e.g., football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, tennis, softball). Qualifying organized team sports participation MUST be at or above the high school level.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

CERTIFICATE: American Red Cross First Aid Certificate and American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate are required within one year from date of hire. Courses for these certificates are offered by the City of San Diego for City employees.

NOTE:

• For information on certificate requirements, you may contact the Parks and Recreation Department staff at (619) 525-8284 or American Red Cross staff at (858) 309-1200 (ask for health and safety).

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Possession of a valid American Red Cross First Aid Certificate, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Certificate (CTRS) from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, Recreation Therapist Certified (RTC) from the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification (CBRPC), or American Sign Language Interpreter Certificate.
• Bilingual communication skills.
• College-level course work in recreation, physical education, recreation therapy, special education, psychology, child development, adaptive physical education, and/or medical/nursing.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of transcripts showing completion of the required course work, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of documented volunteer hours, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of documented organized team sport participation hours, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 6 - November 14, 2025 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have at least 300 hours of recreation leadership experience?

• Yes
• No

06

Indicate in which of the following areas you have recreation leadership experience.

• Arts and crafts
• Games
• Sports
• Field trips
• None of the above

07

Describe your recreation leadership experience in the following areas: a. Arts and crafts; b. games; c. sports; d. field trips. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
08

If you are using education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education in recreation management, tourism and hospitality, child and family studies, physical education, recreation therapy, special education, psychology, child development, adaptive physical education, and/or medical/nursing? NOTE: Attach transcripts showing completion of the required course work to your application.

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester/89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

09

How many hours of recreation leadership experience do you have working with persons with disabilities?

• None
• Less than 200 hours
• 200 hours to less than 400 hours
• 400 hours to less than 600 hours
• 600 hours to less than 800 hours

10

Indicate in which of the following areas you have experience working with persons with disabilities.

• Teacher's Aide
• Respite Care Provider
• Personal Care Provider
• Recreation Leader
• None of the above

11

Describe your experience working with persons with disabilities in the following areas: a. Teacher's Aide; b. respite care provider; c. personal care provider; d. recreation leader. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
12

If you are using education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education in recreation therapy, special education, psychology, child development, adaptive physical education, and/or medical/nursing? NOTE: Attach transcripts showing completion of the required course work to your application.

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester/89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

13

Indicate which of the following valid certificates you possess.

• American Red Cross First Aid Certificate.
• Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Certificate (CTRS) from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
• Recreation Therapist Certified (RTC) from the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification (CBRPC).
• American Sign Language Interpreter Certificate.
• None of the above.

14

List all languages other than English in which you can communicate fluently. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
Required Question

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