Company Description
Application Opening: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Application Deadline: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through July 31, 2026, and will close any time thereafter.
Appointment Type: Temporary Exempt As-Needed. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process, is considered "at will" and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. This appointment is as-needed and not to exceed six (6) months or 1040 hours.
Contact: If you have questions regarding this recruitment or application process, you may contact Recruitment Analyst, Dorothy Young at [email protected].
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
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is seeking applicants for Temporary Exempt As-Needed 3279 Recreation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) for the upcoming Fall 2026 Season in the following recreation areas:
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Community Services – After-School Program; Therapeutic Recreation
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Cultural Arts – Programming in the Visual, Performing and Digital Arts
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Additional recreation areas may be added at a future date
The Department will determine your level of Recreation Leader based on our operational needs, your experience, and verification of your qualifying experience.
The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:
Recreation Leader I (Program Assistant): Set up and break down for courses including tables, chairs, audio-visual equipment and other related material and equipment; incorporate core recreation values into the activities in a developmentally appropriate manner; keep equipment, binder, and supplies in order, well maintained, and in the proper location; complete and submit paperwork accurately (timesheets, lesson plans, certifications, materials & supply requests, etcetera).
Recreation Leader II (Program Provider) and Recreation Leader III (Certified Program Provider): Teach age-appropriate skills in a progressive sequence by running organized and well executed classes (e.g. participants not idle or in long lines); account for all participants in program, take attendance regularly and enter into database system, and follow check in/out procedures; plans classes and secures materials and equipment for participants to use.
Distinguishing Features: The Recreation Leader I performs program support, while Recreation Leaders II and III are responsible for direct instruction of recreation programs and activities. Recreation Leader IIIs are responsible for direct instruction of programs and activities that require certification.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent (GED or High School Proficiency Examination)
Experience:
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Recreation Leader I requires 500 hours of recreation experience delivering instructions/programs;
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Recreation Leaders II and III require 1,000 hours of recreation experience delivering instruction/programs.
License and Certification:
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Recreation Leader III requires possession of certification required by the Recreation and Park Department and issued by the professional organization in the specific programming field.
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At a future point, all employees must possess a certification for First Aid/CPR.
Substitution: 12 units of college course work or certified recreation related (including cultural arts) certificate course work may be substituted for 250 hours of experience.
Desirable Qualifications
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.
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Ability to analyze situations, plan, organize, and research
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Ability to speak and write effectively
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Ability to follow instructions and to maintain working relations with fellow employees and the public
Verification of Experience and/or Education
Applicants are required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at the time of application filing. Information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.
Verification of qualifying experience must be documented on the employer's business letterhead and must include the name of the applicant, job title(s), dates of employment, type of employment (as-needed; full/part time), number of hours worked in each position, description of job duties performed, and signature of the employer or the employer's authorized representative. Experience claimed in self-employment will only be accepted if supported by documents verifying income, earnings, business license, and experience comparable to minimum qualifications above. Copies of income tax papers or other documents listing occupation and total earnings must be submitted.
Failure to provide the required verification may result in rejection of the application.
Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Selection Process
Applications will be screened for relevant and qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented to determine candidate's qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the department will be invited to participate in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to an interview.
Additional Information
Steps to Apply
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Complete your application with as much detail as possible in the experience section. Be sure to include all relevant training and experience in your application. It is essential that you provide complete information. A resume will not substitute for a completed application. If you write "see resume" on your application, your application may be rejected. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility and disqualification.
- Indicate the Recreation Area(s) and Program(s) that you are applying for in the “Message to the Hiring Team” section of the application. (Example: "I am applying for Community Services - Therapeutic Recreation")
- Attach verification documents to your application. Submit verification documentation of qualifying education and recreation experience. Please refer to the “Verification of Experience and Education” section above for the City's written verification requirements. We will also accept emailed verification from official business email addresses (i.e., @sfgov.org). We do not accept letters of recommendation.
Where to Apply
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.
Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.
Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
Important Information
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This announcement may be subject to temporary closure/suspension for screening and hiring purposes.
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This position is a temporary exempt, as-needed or seasonal, appointment without health or retirement benefits.
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This position will not result in a permanent civil service appointment.
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Exempt employees under Charter Category 16 are considered at will and serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.
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Employees are scheduled according to the Department’s operational needs and may only be scheduled to work certain quarters or seasons of the year.
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Work assignments vary on the Department’s needs and some positions may require working rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
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TEX As-needed appointments cannot exceed six (6) months (1,040 hours). An internal departmental threshold of 960 hours will be applied.
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Candidates are not guaranteed specific job placements, worksite locations, or fixed hours.
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The Department may determine that some candidates must call for daily assignments based on business operational needs.
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
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Information About The Hiring Process
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Conviction History
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Employee Benefits Overview
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Equal Employment Opportunity
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Disaster Service Worker
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ADA Accommodation
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Veterans Preference
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Right to Work
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Copies of Application Documents
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Diversity Statement
Candidates for positions with the Recreation and Park Department may be disqualified from consideration should their conviction history not meet the standards established under California Public Resources Code 5164.
Contact: If you have questions regarding this recruitment or application process, you may contact Recruitment Analyst, Dorothy Young at [email protected].
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Race and Social Equity Statement
We believe that parks and open space in San Francisco provides the opportunity to model equitable access for all. With this belief, San Francisco became the first city in the United States for which 100% of its residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park. The Recreation and Park Department’s goal is to close the gaps and improve equity and access to quality parks and open space, and recreation activities for historically marginalized communities.
We envision a department that proactively infuses racial and social equity in its internal operations. With a multi-disciplinary team of talented individuals - gardeners, recreation leaders, park rangers, custodians, craft shop personnel, park and recreation managers and more, the department is committed to doing its part to provide equitable access to parks and programs for all the communities we serve to enjoy, as well as foster a work environment where our differences are celebrated, and everyone has what they need to thrive regardless of their race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or country of origin.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
