From dawn to dusk help the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department @ Camp Mather create memories that last families a lifetime and throughout the generations!

The Recreation Division of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department needs experienced Recreation Leaders to lead or assist with exciting outdoor/administrative  activities at Camp Mather located in the High Sierras near Yosemite National Park.  Camp Mather operates for fourteen weeks from mid-May through mid-September, serving approximately 500 guests a week. 

In a setting unparalleled in the West, you can work, live and explore one of the Bay Area’s premier family camp.  Crystal clear lakes, surging streams and quiet mountain forests surround Camp Mather and offer unlimited recreation to visitors. Help us create an enriching, safe, fun-filled outdoor  environment at our swimming pool, natural Birch Lake and Lake Lawn.

Come join us as we are seeking qualified individuals as Recreation Leaders who will either provide excellent programming or assist with events/programs (including seasonal Day Camp programs)  at Camp Mather, our weekly family camp located in the beautiful Sierra (4 hours (180 miles) away from SF)..  You will become a team member of a group of dedicated recreational professionals who seek to INSPIRE SF Residents at Camp Mather to Get Out and Play!

If you are hired, you will have full shared room and board (generally three meals @ day) - you may work a six (6) day work week depending on the operations. You will have to work at least twelve weeks of the season.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The three levels are summarized below:

Under supervision of Recreation staff, 

Recreation Leader  I performs facility monitoring work, light office tasks, customer service duties, and occasional janitorial tasks; assists with program delivery based upon interest and skills, etc.  The Mather assignment will work in the office and assist with Recreation activities (children's activities, camp fire, etc).

Recreation Leader  II delivers exciting recreation programs and activities in group settings.  Programs may range from Arts, Sports to Expanded Learning.  At Mather, this may include office administration, camp recreation and Challenge (Ropes) Course (see below).

Recreation Leader III is responsible for the delivery of all Certified recreation, leisure and sport programs and activities where we believe a certificate/advanced expertise is necessary.   This will be the Naturalist Trails Guide assignment.

The Mather Challenge (Ropes) course staff facilitates guest participation on both high and low ropes course elements. The staff member will assist or provide guidance and instruction to camp patrons on multiple aspects ( safety, equipment, course element progress, overcoming challenges, building confidence, and personal development). Staff members will work with participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Work environment is outdoors with inclement weather conditions. Staff work approximately 40 hours over the course of 6 days per week. Work includes all aspects of preparing, maintaining, and operating a high ropes challenge course.   Note - due to operational circumstances, the Ropes assignments will be only at the Recreation Leader 2 level.  Training on this course will be conducted the week of May  14, 2023 at Camp.

Distinguishing Feature: The Recreation Leader I performs program assistance and facility monitoring, while Leaders II and III are responsible for direct instruction of recreation, leisure and sport programs and activities. Recreation Leaders III provides program instruction at the higher level of skill/expertise as deemed necessary by the Department.

Common and essential job duties - May also be responsible for the set up and take down of facility tables and chairs and occasional janitorial tasks, perform other related duties as required, etc.

Everyone must already possess

a High School Diploma/GED (verified by either an official/unofficial institutional transcript or diploma/certificate. AND have minimum hours of experience for each level outlined below:

Recreation Leader I  $20.575
* 500 hours of recreation experience delivering instructions/programs

Recreation Leader II  $23.775
* 1,000 hours of direct experience delivering recreation, cultural or athletic instructions/programs.

Recreation Leader III   $31.6625
* 1,000 hours of direct experience delivering recreation, cultural or athletic instructions/programs AND hold a certificate in the specific area of expertise issued by a recognized professional organization (substitutions subject to approval) required by our department.

*if hired, the Department will determine your level of Recreation Leader based on our operational need, your experience/potential and your verification of your qualifying experience.  The amount of hours that you do obtain will not be the sole measure.  

License and Certification: at a future point, all employees must possess a certification for First Aid/CPR.

Abilities and Skills with this Job -  Ability to investigate and analyze situations, plan and organize research; ability to speak and write effectively; ability to follow instructions and to maintain working relations with fellow employees and the public. Each individual assignment may require different knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.

Steps to (hopefully) get the job

Step 1.  Complete your application and attach your resume on the smart recruiter platform

Step 2:  Go to this link to describe your qualifying recreation experience and certify to us that you are fully vaccinated (prior to the interview).

Rec Leader Mather Supplemental

Note - we want to ensure that we are using everyone's time and effort as efficiently as possible.  The City and County of San Francisco is requiring that all our employees be fully vaccinated (14 days after the final dosage) - for Camp Mather, the supplemental form will ask you to certify that if offered the job, you will be fully vaccinated prior to accepting a job at Camp Mather.

- we will accept  experience where you either assisted, coordinated, instructed, led or implemented activities for other people.  This experience does not include being a private instructor for a sole individual or family (no private yoga instructor or nanny). Please also verify your education (must possess a high school degree/equivalent ged) experience and availability.

Step 3: Request written verification of that experience.  Please note that the written documentation  (emails are ok) must meet the City's written verification requirements - it must include your name, agency/employer, dates and/or approximate hours of involvement (a paid job or being a volunteer time counts) and if possible, a brief description of duties.  The verification must be signed or authorized by an individual with that agency/employer.  Note it cannot be a letter of recommendation.  Please refer to the verification checklist.

3279 Rec Leader SF Verification checklist

Important information

-These positions work as-needed, and are temporary exempt, as-needed/seasonal appointments without city employee benefits.

-Exempt employees under Charter category 16 are considered to be “at will” and serve at the discretion of the General Manager.

-Employees may only be scheduled to work certain quarters/semesters depending on the operational needs of the Department. 

-Work assignments may vary depending on the needs of the Department. Some positions may require working rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

-These as-needed/seasonal, temporary exempt seasonal appointments cannot exceed six (6) months or 1,040 hours (note: an internal departmental threshold of 960 hours may be applied).

- Successful candidates may NOT be guaranteed specific job placements, work site locations or fixed hours.

- The Department may determine that some candidates must call for daily assignments based on business operational needs.

-All  As-needed/seasonal vacancies in this class will include this pool of applicants.

-Your application will remain active for one (1) year from the date that you applied with the understanding that you can periodically update your application with key relevant information such as the possession of additional certifications, experience, etc. 

You may also submit additional information via email to [email protected]

Application Opening -  Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Application Status - Apply before April 1, 2023 for the best opportunity of an assignment.  This is an on going recruitment for a TEX As Needed Civil Service appointment -  This job does not have any City health or retirement benefits since it is temporary in nature.   This particular announcement may be subject to temporary closure/suspension for screening and hiring purposes.

If you are interested in a temporary as needed  appointment/position as a Recreation Leader in San Francisco, please go back to the City's recruitment page and look for Recreation Leader - San Francisco. 

Appointment Type
This recruitment is for a Temporary Exempt (TEX), as-needed appointment. This position is exempt from the Civil Service examination process pursuant to the San Francisco Charter Section 10.104 and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

Selection Procedures

The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited for an interview.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this announcement and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. 

Verification of Education and Experience:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

Verification Guidelines: http://www.sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=20#verification     
Education Verification: https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Notes:

• 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.
• Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Contact: For questions about this position or how to apply, please contact Katherine Dere - [email protected] - work phone (415)831-2705

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Conviction History - further information 

As a finalist for a job, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction (or arrest, in limited circumstances) conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you are a finalist. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances, such as:

• Candidates applying for positions with the Unified School District and the Community College District may be disqualified from consideration should their conviction history not meet the standards established under the California Education Code.
• Candidates applying 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.

Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with the City.

If you are selected as a finalist, the hiring department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

ver 1 2/6/23 5164

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

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.