Recreation Aide

Statement of Duties

The Recreation Laborer Aide is responsible for the oversight of recreational activities year-round. This includes activities for children, adults, seniors, and other special citizens of Somerville. Works with various populations of the Somerville community in connecting them to the appropriate resources. Includes setting up and breaking down the up facilities after use for special events, including weekends, holidays, and evenings. Works collaboratively with Parks & Recreation team in providing quality programing.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Work with Somerville Parks and Recreation Counselor and Supervisor to guide youth in a variety of Parks and Recreation activities specifically but not limited to sports, arts and crafts, drama, music, DJ programs, STEM programs, Recreation special events and teen center programs.
• Under the P&R Supervisor’s guidance help set up areas for special events and programs.
• Works one on one with youth participants and assists them during program activities.
• Assist P&R Counselors with cleaning, setting up and breaking down program materials, storing supplies, and putting away all equipment etc.
• Reports any issues or concerns that may arise to the P&R Supervisor or Program Coordinator.
• Explain principles, techniques, and safety requirements to activity participants to prevent injury.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• 0-1+ years of experience interacting with people of various ages with diverse backgrounds; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Must be 16+ to apply.

Special Requirements: First Aid/CPR and AED (training will be provided to incoming employees)

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

Knowledge: Knowledge of rules, practices, techniques and equipment used in a wide range of recreation activities.

Ability: Ability to work within a team. Ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing with a wide variety of stakeholders; ability to maintain confidential information.

Skill: Strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Excellent conflict resolution and communication skills.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments. Work in the field involves regular exposure to outside elements.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Minimal physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. Work requires some agility such as moving in or about athletic fields, ice rinks, or over rough terrain. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as recreational equipment, office equipment or photocopy paper (up to 30lbs.).

Motor Skills

Duties are both mental and physical, the job may occasionally require motor skills for activities such as moving objects, interacting in recreational activities, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, excel, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours: Part-Time/Seasonal
Salary: $17.09 hourly; no benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Date Posted: February 21st, 2024

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Please Note: The below details do not apply to any Mayor Student Jobs programs OR youth workers with the city.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.