Recreation Center Coordinator - City of Seattle, WA : Job Details

New Year, New Job, New You. Are you looking for a new opportunity in 2025 to continue or advance your career in Parks and Recreation? Are you passionate about community-led recreation programming? Do you enjoy working with diverse community partners? Do you want an important role as a front line staff supervisor with an organization that shares your values and provides opportunities for growth and development? If you answered Yes to these questions, the Recreation Center Coordinator might be the right job for you!

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.

Traditionally, we have provided recreation opportunities through our network of community centers, pools, and other facilities. We are building our capacity to bring recreation programs to the people-not just in our facilities, but also in parks, in streets, and through partners, with goals of reducing racial health disparities and empowering historically underserved communities.

SPR commits to the City of Seattle's Workplace Values and Expectations, and Racial Equity and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We support and hold ourselves accountable by striving to eliminate barriers to access and provide employees with equitable opportunities for professional growth and advancement. We are committed to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs and facilities.

The Recreation Division inspires all people to reach their full potential through recreation programs and activities. We operate over 50 recreation facilities (community centers, teen centers, pools, school-based learning centers, environmental learning centers, and boating and sailing centers) and provide opportunities for people to play, learn, and lead healthy, active lives. Our programs and events include fitness and athletics, licensed childcare and preschool, swimming and boating, youth development and job preparation, academic enrichment, and more -- including programs designed for older adults and people with disabilities, as well as grant and partnership programs designed and implemented with immigrant and refugee communities. With nearly 300 regular employees and a budget of nearly $40 million annually, Recreation is a major operation with significant impact on the communities we serve. In addition to our current operations, we also strive to constantly improve the ways we serve Seattle's residents, specifically through implementation of the SPR Strategic Plan, innovation in our facility staffing and programming approaches, and learning from national best practices and quality standards.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is seeking to fill 2 full-time, benefited Recreation Center Coordinator positions based out of our Community Centers. The Community Centers are the connecting agents for our neighborhoods and residents, offering programming 7 days a week for all ages. These positions will manage building operations, facility supervision, staff performance, community engagement, and scheduling solutions to maintain our guaranteed operating hours to the public. This is a public-facing job with high levels of customer service and engagement. If selected for an interview, you will be notified by invitation to select an interview time during our interview days. Interviews may be in-person or virtual.

This position requires a knowledge of recreation programming, multipurpose facility supervision, budgetary practices and the use of recreation equipment. Work in this position also requires skill in analyzing community and group recreational needs, in selecting and adapting programs to meet those needs, in procuring the materials and resources necessary for implementing recreation programs, and in making the most effective use of the facilities and staff. The work is performed within established departmental and Citywide ordinances, guidelines, policies and procedures; but requires considerable judgment in applying and interpreting them in order to resolve unusual problems. This position performs daily activities without immediate access to a supervisor/manager and is responsible for developing, recommending and implementing new policies and procedures to meet program needs. The work requires maintaining personal contacts with the subordinate staff, community groups, personnel in other departments and the general public for the purpose of coordinating program activities, resolving conflicts and disseminating information.

* Coordinate the daily operations of the community center and its associated programs and facilities.

* Develop and implement a broad range of recreational and cultural programs in partnership with internal SPR work units, Associated Recreation Council (ARC), partner organizations, and service providers which meet the needs of the diverse communities.

* Supervise all regular, temporary staff and volunteers assigned to the community center and its associated facilities. This includes staff development, implementation of work plans, and engaging in corrective action.

* Provide leadership, model excellent workplace values and behaviors, build teamwork and ensure compliance with all policies and procedures.

* Supervise and develop personnel and volunteers and build a successful team reflective of the diversity of the community.

* Assure a high standard of customer service with the public, local businesses, school-districts, and internal work teams.

* Promote and market Seattle Parks and Recreation programs, facilities, and services in cooperation with the Associated Recreation Council.

* Recruit, develop and organize a functional advisory council, providing leadership in meeting baseline standards and community representation.

* Prioritize developing community partnerships and implementing partnership contracts, maximizing limited resources, and strengthening the neighborhood.

* Manage and oversee programs ensuring achievement of all specified outcomes and measurements.

* Supervise and maintain advisory council finances and budgets by regularly forecasting, monitoring, and managing resources while meeting City and State Auditor requirements.

* Implement policies and procedures and establish administrative systems for paperwork, communication, and assignments to meet applicable deadlines, auditor/legal requirements, and Department/Association Recreation Council standards.

* Coordinate the use of the facility through rentals and cooperative ventures.

* Performs related duties as required.

Requires two years' experience in a multipurpose recreation facility or program and a Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Physical Education or Recreation Administration (or combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

* Experience supervising and/or managing a busy recreation facility.

* Experience planning, organizing, and implementing community programming.

* Experience with budget preparation and oversight.

* Experience creating partnerships with community-based organizations, contract management, including tracking data-driven outcomes.

* Experience working in an urban environment with diverse people from a broad range of backgrounds.

* Sensitivity and great communication skills to work with people who may have complex needs.

* Experience safely resolving crisis situations and respond nonjudgmentally to problematic behavior.

* Demonstrated experience with conducting stakeholder analyses and engaging in effective community outreach and demonstrating measurable outcomes for both.

* Demonstrated experience with managing seamless customer service systems in a large organization.

* Experience working in a Windows based environment and with registration and facility booking software systems.

* Bilingual skills, in languages such as Spanish, Chinese, Somali, Vietnamese, Oromo, Russian, etc.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

* Outside work may be required in all types of weather.

* Work involves occasional exposure to hostile program participants.

* Work requires occasional long periods of standing or walking.

* Frequently required to lift up to 50 pounds.

License, Certification and Other Requirements:

* Will be required to work evenings, weekends, and special events.

* Current Washington State driver's license.

* First Aid Certificate and CPR Certificate required within six months of hire.Please submit the following with your online application:

* A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement

* A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle Parks and Recreation values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle Parks and Recreation encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of?color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities,?veterans,?and those with diverse life experiences.

This position will report to the Zone Operations Manager.

This position requires on-site work during assigned shifts, and does not offer remote work options.

The full salary range for this position is $43.93 - $51.23 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:

SPR's Core Competencies:

Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making, and promoting high quality standards.

Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.

Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.

Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.

Teamwork: Leading as an engaged member of a team to build a cohesive team and facilitate the achievement of work group goals.

Aligning Performance for Success: Collaboratively guiding and engaging the team to accomplish defined work goals.

Direction and Delegation: Sharing authority and responsibilities with others to distribute decision-making and accountability throughout the organization; enabling individuals to stretch their capabilities; and accomplishing the organization's strategic priorities.