Recreation Program Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $21.41 - $28.82 Hourly
Location : City of Palm Springs, CA
Job Type: Part Time - Regular 0.75 FTE
Job Number: Recreation - 0626
Department: Recreation
Opening Date: 06/22/2026
Closing Date: 7/6/2026 4:00 PM Pacific
Position Summary
Salary Note: Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are made at the range minimum.
THE CITY: Palm Springs, located in the Coachella Valley, is known for its luxurious yet relaxed lifestyle. Picture waking up to fresh air, surrounded by palm trees, and enjoying stunning mountain views. This city offers a perfect blend of nature and modern living for both residents and visitors. Palm Springs is ideal for families, offering numerous parks, gardens, and nature reserves for leisurely activities and wildlife encounters. With a wide range of attractions and events, there's always something fun for everyone in the family. To see the exciting things going on visit the website. The City of Palm Springs is committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, from policies to inclusive healthcare, and making people of various backgrounds feel welcome and supported. To view our recent Human Rights Campaign, visit the website.
THE POSITION: This position is a member of the Palm Springs Parks & Recreation Department and assists, coordinates, and implements a variety of recreational programs, activities, and special events, including youth and adult sports leagues, cultural and special events, childcare and after-school programs; and performs a variety of administrative and technical tasks in support of assigned area of responsibility.
Part-time positions available:

• .5 FTE part-time position which works approximately twenty (20) hours per week
• .75 FTE part-time position which works approximately twenty (30) hours per week

Examples of Essential and General Responsibilities
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist with the coordination and implementation of a variety of recreational programs, activities, and special events; including youth and adult sports leagues, childcare and after-school programs, youth trips, recreation programs, and field trips.
• Assist with the preparation for recreation programs and events; set up facility and perform clean-up duties before and after events.
• Assist with the supervision of game room, gymnasium, playground, and community center activies.
• Assist with the computer lab programs and activities.
• Transport program participants as needed.
• Provide first aid; maintain and prepare related records and reports as required.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Minimum and Preferred Requirements
Minimum requirements must be clearly demonstrated on the application to be considered, however, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to compete further in the selection process. Experience requirements must be demonstrated in the "Work Experience" section of the application, other sections of the application will not be used to determine experience qualifications. (One year of work experience is the equivalent of 12 months of full-time work. "Full-time work" means at least 36 hours of work over a period of one week or 1,872 hours of work over a period of at least 12 months.) Qualifications noted as "desirable" or "preferred" are not included as part of the minimum requirements.
Experience:

• Six (6) months of increasingly responsible recreation program work experience is required.
• Experience working with various age groups including toddlers, school-aged children, and teens, is preferred.
• Experience assisting with the coordination, implementation, and development of recreational programs, activites and events, including youth and adult activities, is preferred.

Education and Training:

• High School Diploma or equivalent education is required.
• Supplement training in recreation, physical education, or a related field is preferred.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Class "C" Commerical Driver License with a satisfactory driving record (a driving record may be deemed unsatisfactory for any of the following reasons: three or more moving violations or reportable accident within the last three years; conviction of driving under the influence within the last five (5) years) is required.
• Possession of, and ability to maintain, a first aid/CPR certificate at time of appointment is required.

Special Requirements:

• Must be willing to work at various Recreation Center locations or divisions, including, Demuth Community Center, James O Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, Palm Springs Leisure Center and Special Events/VillageFest .
• Must be willing and able to work various hours including early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Incumbents are enrolled in the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Pull Notice Program and must meet Department of Transportation (DOT) Guidelines. The DMV Pull Notice Program provides information on the incumbent's driving record and driving record status on a periodic basis to the City.
• Must successfully complete a pre-employment background investigation, fringerprints, drug screen, and physical.

Working Conditions:
The following work environment and physical conditions described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.
This position works in an indoor and outdoor recreational environment; exposure to heat, cold, noise, wind, dust, and other extreme weather conditions; work on slippery or uneven surfaces; noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud and may require maintaining physical condition necessary to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms; sitting for prolonged periods; heavy, moderate or light lifting and carrying; bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling; climbing and lifting; drive from site to site.
Application and Exam Information
A completed application and supplemental questionnaire are required by the closing date and time. As a candidate for the position, you will want to be sure your application accurately reflects your skills and abilities as they relate to the position to achieve maximum opportunity. Applications will be reviewed carefully and only those who appear to have the best qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process.
Minimum requirements must be clearly demonstrated on the application to be considered as this information will be used to determine minimum qualifications. Experience requirements must be demonstrated in the "Work Experience" section of the application, other sections of the application will not be used to determine experience qualifications.
Resumes and other documents may be submitted, however, they will not be used to determine minimum qualifications, please do not use phrases such as "see attached" or "see resume" as they will not be considered. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to compete further in the process. Minimum requirements must be met at the time of application submission unless stated otherwise.
The selection process - for this position may include one or more of the following: application review, qualification review, written exam, practical exam, oral panel exam and department interview.
Candidates must successfully pass each stage of the selection process above in order to continue to the next step. This process may be modified or changed depending on the number of qualified candidates.
Please remember to submit all your application materials by the closing date and time. Incomplete or applications received after the closing date and time cannot be considered. All information on the application is subject to investigation and verification.
For more information on completing your application materials click
If you are ready to join the exciting Team Palm Springs and you meet the requirements detailed above, please click the apply button. For more information contact Human Resources at:
The City of Palm Springs
3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-323-8215
Applications must be received by 4:00pm, July 06, 2026, in order to be considered for this opportunity. The City of Palm Springs reserves the right to accelerate or extend the "Closing Date" of open positions at any time, dependent upon the number of applications received.
The City of Palm Springs is an equal employment opportunity employer and we encourage all persons to file applications. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, family or marital status, disability, medical condition or pregnancy, genetic information, religious or political affiliation, or veteran status.
Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, City of Palm Springs Employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
The City of Palm Springs provides a comprehensive benefit program for employees including:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Retiree Health Savings Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Plan
• Employee paid Supplemental Insurance Programs
• Employee paid Deferred Compensation Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Retirement Plan through California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
• Benefit program details vary by work unit and bargaining contracts. Click to view additional information and bargaining unit contracts.
• The City does not participate in the Social Security program, except for the mandatory 1.45% Medicare contribution for all regular positions.

01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and may be used to further evaluate your experience and education to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from the information included in the Work Experience and Education sections of your application?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have the required High School diploma or equivalent education?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain (within the first 6 months of employment) a valid California Class "C" commerical driver license with a satisfactory driving record? Note: if a driving record reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation (such as DUI) within the past 36 months it would not be considered satisfactory.

• Yes, I currently have my California Class "C" commerical driver license with a satisfactory driving record.
• Yes, I have the ability to obtain and maintain a California Class "C" commerical driver license with a satisfactory driving record within the first 6 months of employment.
• No

04
Do you have the required current First Aid/CPR certificate?

• Yes
• No, I have the ability to obtain a First Aid/CPR certification at the time of appointment (performed at the City's expense).
• No, I am unable to obtain the First Aid/CPR certificate.

05
Do you have the required six (6) months of increasingly responsible recreation program work experience?

• Yes
• No

06
Please describe your recreation program work experience and identify the company/agency/organization where you gained your experience.Note: Entering "N/A" or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response. If none, enter "None".
07
Please select the tasks below that you have had experience performing in a recreation or similar environment. Please check all that apply.

• Assist with the implementation of a variety of recreational programs, activities, and special events; including youth and adult sports leagues, childcare and after-school programs, youth trips, recreation programs, and field trips.
• Assist with the preparation for recreation programs and events; set up facility and perform clean-up duties after events.
• Assist with the supervision of game room, gymnasium, and playground.
• Assist with the computer lab programs and activities.
• Principles and practices of recreation and leisure services program development and implementation.
• Methods and techniques of organizing and directing recreation, day camp, and youth programs.
• Rules and equipment used in various sports, games, and other recreational activities.
• None.

08
Please describe your recreation experience in each of the areas you checkmark in question #7 and where you gained that experience and exercised independent judgment. Note: Entering "N/A" or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response. If none, please indicate "None".
09
Do you have the preferred experience working with various age groups including toddlers, school-aged children, and teens?

• Yes
• No

10
Please describe your experience working with various age groups including toddlers, school-aged children, and teens.Note: Entering "N/A" or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response.