Summary

About our Opportunity:
The City of Asheville is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Therapeutic Recreation
Program Leader in the Parks and Recreation Department. This position engages in providing
direct therapeutic recreation programming to individuals with different abilities and developing
partnerships that support the community. The Program Leader is motivated and energetic and
can use their creativity to create programs and positive experiences.
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the
duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a
logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
What you’ll be doing:

• Oversee youth and young adult programming, including on-site and off-site recreation
• Provide organization, administrative assistance, and direct leadership
• Assist in recreation center operations by opening and/or closing the facility
• Develop, implement, and lead programs, activities, and special events
• Develop partnerships with external organizations to enhance community programming
• Participate in staff meetings to share program information
• Perform administrative duties such as answering telephones, scheduling facility activities, providing information to the public on recreation programs, preparing and maintaining records on attendance and participation, and others as needed
• Drive City vehicles for activity groups

• Paid First Aid/CPR/AED training and certification
• Staff uniform shirts are provided
• Membership in State and National Parks & Recreation associations
• Passionate co-workers
• Great working environment, including department all-staff celebrations
• Variety of the work

• Motivation, enthusiasm, and passion for creating and implementing programs
• Enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds
• Interest in developing positive programs and experiences
• Good communication skills
• Fun!

• Valid Driver’s License.
• Associate degree in Recreation Therapy or a related field required; supplemented by three years of experience in implementing therapeutic programs for special populations, or a related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

SKAs/Performance Aptitudes

• General knowledge of learned procedures, practices, and routines to work with youth
• General understanding of community resources and how to build collaborative relationships with individuals and groups
• Understands how to reach out to the community to identify and fill gaps in programming services
• Understands and is committed to goals of equity and brings an equity mindset to the organization’s work and workplace
• Ability to plan and lead program activities for youth and adults
• Ability to successfully communicate with participants and the public, while maintaining positive relationships
• Ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written form
• Ability to think creatively about work practices, programs, and policies
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Ability to research program documents and narrative materials, and develop reports from information gathering
• Ability to analyze situations to pinpoint problems and assist with solving problems or identifying sources of obstacles
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships as required by work assignments
• Ability to analyze and interpret policy and procedural guidelines and to apply this understanding to tasks
• Ability to bring resources together to resolve a problem or provide a solution
• Ability to conduct research on existing, internal policies and procedures
• Ability to read, summarize and/or compare general workplace data and graphics, such as flow charts, maps, tables, etc.

• Frequent physical effort is required

• Frequent outside work or exposure to unpleasant conditions and/or hazards