The City of Menlo Park is a great place to work! We are now accepting applications for Program Assistant - Recreation and Community Programs.
Program Assistants support a wide variety of programs including recreation centers, gymnasium and sports, youth camps, administrative offices, and senior center programs. This is an exceptional job opportunity for enthusiastic and skilled applicants to join the City of Menlo Park team and work with an outstanding local government.
The City of Menlo Park currently has one (1) full-time Program Assistant position available immediately with assignment focused on recreation center and sports programs. This full-time position offers interesting and rewarding work experience, a competitive benefits package, and potential advancement opportunities for highly skilled applicants who are committed to continuous improvement and professional excellence.
In addition to the current opportunity, this recruitment will be used to establish the eligibility list for Program Assistants. Interested candidates must apply now in order to be considered for placement in current and future positions in this classification. Additional full-time openings are anticipated to become available in the future to support additional programs including:
- Senior center programs
- Children and youth programs
- Community center operations
- Administrative office support
The Department
The Library and Community Services department is responsible for providing excellent customer service through recreational, educational, and cultural programs for children, adults and seniors. Our facilities include 221 acres of parkland distributed among 13 parks, two libraries, two community centers, two public pools, three childcare centers, two gymnasiums, and one gymnastics center. Included in the parks and recreation areas are tennis and pickleball courts, dog parks, softball diamonds, picnic areas, playgrounds, soccer fields, a skate park, shared use of a performing arts center and open space. The City of Menlo Park is preparing to open a state-of-the-art new facility that will incorporate a community center, gymnasium, aquatics center, senior center, youth center, and branch library in 2024.
Job Description URL:
https://menlopark.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/administrative-services/documents/human-resources/job-classifications/seiu/program-assistant.pdfIdeal Candidate
Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position include but are not limited to:
- Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
- Ability to learn and adapt to change environments
- Attention to detail
- Ability to communicate City policy verbally and in writing
- Accuracy in handling transactions (credit card, cash, check)
- Ability to learn customer relations management software platform data entry and reporting
- Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office programs
- Strong administrative skills including accounts payable and receivable
- Ability to successfully provide program and administrative support to the Recreation Coordinator and Library and Community Services Supervisor with recreation, sports, and other public services
- Ability to seamlessly balance day-to-day tasks with long-term and seasonal projects
Examples of typical job functions (illustrative only) - Participates in the day-to-day operations of assigned programs and services; plans, coordinates, and leads activities, classes, and special events; sets up and takes down tables, chairs, and equipment for classes, activities, events, and meetings; provides training, orientation, and guidance to program participants, staff, and volunteers.
- Serves as a liaison to participants, staff, and community organizations; provides presentations, information, and assistance regarding assigned programs and services; receives and responds to complaints and questions relating to assigned area of responsibility; communicates trends and issues to staff as appropriate.
- Acts as a program representative with external organizations to relay or obtain relevant information regarding program activities; coordinates department services and activities with other City departments, staff, and outside agencies.
- Serves as back-up for the program supervisor or coordinator in his or her absence.
- Prepares, assembles, copies, collates, and distributes a variety of program specific information, forms, records, and data as requested, including packets and other informational materials.
- Prepares, reviews, updates, and maintains a variety of program documents, records, reports, and files including updating the website; gathers and compiles information and data for reports; ensures proper filing of copies in program or central files.
- Maintains and updates program record systems and specialized databases; enters and updates information with program activity, program information, and report summaries; retrieves information from systems and specialized databases as required.
- Composes, types, edits, and proofreads a variety of documents, including forms, memos, and correspondence for program staff; checks draft documents for punctuation, spelling, and grammar; makes or suggests corrections.
- Responds to requests for information; assists in interpreting and applying regulations, policies, procedures, systems, rules, and precedents in response to inquiries.
- Prepares and processes forms and records, such as requests for payments, purchase orders, invoices, credit card statements, work orders, and timesheets.
- Verifies and reviews forms and reports for completeness and conformance with established regulations and procedures; applies program policies and procedures in determining completeness of applications, records, and files.
- May register participants, collect payments, deposit funds, and schedule activities or track usage of facilities, as well as ensuring all appropriate paperwork is on file and complete.
- May oversee temporary staff, contractors, and volunteers during special events, classes, programs, and recreational activities including hiring, scheduling, training, and day-to-day oversight.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
- Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade
- Two (2) years of experience working in a recreation, community services, library, and/or special education environment as well as administrative support experience. Bachelor's degree in recreation, social services, library services, child care or related field preferred.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.
- For certain positions in Community Services, ability to obtain American Red Cross First Aid Certificate and CPR Certificate. Must maintain and renew certification per the American Red Cross guidelines.
Benefits
The City offers an excellent benefit package consisting of:
- Health Insurance: City contribution up to $2,655 per month towards a Cafeteria Plan which can be used to purchase medical insurance and participate in a flexible spending account for health care and/or child care reimbursement
- Dental: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents
- Vision: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents
- Vacation: 88 - 176 hours of vacation leave accrual each year, depending on length of service
- Sick Leave: 96 hours of sick leave accrued each year
- Holidays: 11 official holidays; 34 hours of floating holiday time per year; 8 “Day of Reflection” hours per year in recognition of holidays of individual and community importance
- Retirement: CalPERS: For classic members 2.0% @ 60 formula. For all others, 2.0% @ 62 formula.
- Deferred Compensation: Voluntary participation in City Plans.
- Life Insurance: City-paid policy equal to 1.5 times regular annual wage
- Long Term Disability: City-paid coverage
- Educational leave and tuition reimbursement
- A City-paid Caltrain GoPass. The Menlo Park campus is centrally located within walking distance from Caltrain and downtown Menlo Park.
- A City-paid BayPass. This pilot program offers employees unlimited travel in 2024 for both work and personal trips on 25 Bay Area transit agencies that use the Clipper card.
- A transportation allowance program provides employees with $1.50 per day when they walk, bicycle or carpool to work at least once per week.
- Employees are provided with access to an on-site gym at no cost.
For additional benefit information, visit
www.menlopark.gov
and review the City of Menlo Park and SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.
Special Instructions
IMPORTANT: Please be sure to fill out the required City application completely, including all relevant work experience. Applications with “See Resume” as a substitution for the work experience description and/or unclear past employment information will not be considered.
The deadline for this announcement is Sunday, June 2, 2024. Applications will be screened according to the qualifications outlined in this announcement. Not all applications which may meet the minimum requirements will proceed to the next phase of the recruitment process.
If 25 or fewer applications are received, the eligibility list will be established based on application review. If 26 or more applications are received, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Panel examination. All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate further in the selection process.
Note: You must complete the supplemental questions to be considered. The top qualified candidates will be invited to a potential Spark Hire process which consist of a video interview submmited in response to interview questions.
Potential Oral Board Panel Examination Date: TBD
An Eligible List will be established as a result of this examination process and will be valid for a period of six months. The list may be extended up to a maximum of two years. The hiring department will review the Eligible List to determine which candidates will be invited to the department selection process.
The City of Menlo Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Menlo Park not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees. We will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please contact Human Resources at
jobs@menlopark.gov
prior to the closing date for accommodation requests.
Before receiving an offer of employment, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a criminal conviction history questionnaire, DOJ fingerprinting, and an Occuscreen background check.
Applicants must be successful in all phases of the selection process to be considered for this position.
In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, all potential employees are required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States. The City will not sponsor applicants for work visas.
Closing Date/Time: 6/2/2024 at 11:59pm
