The King County Parks Teen Program is hiring for a Teen Program Specialist! 

The Teen Program Specialist will play a key role in delivering safe, engaging recreational and educational opportunities for youth and teens. In this rewarding position, you'll lead innovative programs, mentor part-time staff, Recreation Aides, and volunteers, and collaborate with local schools and community partners to energize neighborhood events and activities. You'll also help maintain a secure environment for all participants, including responding to emergencies when needed. This is a unique opportunity to make a real, lasting impact by helping shape the White Center Teen Program's youth employment initiatives, recreation activities, and educational programs - all while strengthening and enriching the community.

The King County Parks Teen Program serves over 1,400 teens (ages 12-19) each year, providing a safe, welcoming space for free recreational, educational, and social enrichment activities in the White Center and Skyway communities. Focused on supporting underserved youth, the program offers classes, homework help, leadership training, volunteer opportunities, field trips, and much more. Beyond fun activities, it equips teens with vital life skills, health and wellness resources, conflict resolution strategies, and employment training - empowering young people and improving the overall quality of life for the entire community.

Check us out on our socials:

• Website: Wcteenprogram.org
• Facebook: White Center Teen Program
• Youtube: White Center Teen Program
• Instagram: @atthelogcabin

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice: King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse andvibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming communitywhere everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation forall employees. As the Recreation Specialist you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.Learn more about our commitment at www.kingcounty.gov/equity. 

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Parks Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.  Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

Discover More About the Parks and Recreation Division: Visit our website and check us out atFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr.

• Provide direct assistance and instruction for recreation programs in under-resourced communities and assist in keeping youth participants safe and actively involved in activities. 
• Mentor and train entry-level staff and volunteers - often in their very first job - to plan, organize, implement, and oversee recreation activities.
• Engage with participating teens in a positive, supportive way while serving as a role model, proactively resolving conflicts, and maintaining a safe, welcoming environment.
• Operate and maintain cleanliness of passenger vehicles.
• Set-up and take down for programs and events.
• Provide excellent customer service by answering phone calls, directing inquiries, taking messages, greeting participants and visitors, and offering helpful information.

Qualifications You Bring: 

• Experience managing recreational activities with strong ability to use positive leadership skills, take direction, ask clarifying questions, and know when to escalate concerns to a supervisor.
• Ability to deal with emergency situations using knowledge of safety practices and ability to recognize and eliminate unsafe situations or conditions. 
• Experience in conflict resolution, problem solving, and in employing sound judgment. 
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Demonstrated experience in customer service roles with the ability to effectively engage diverse customer populations, answer inquiries, and resolve issues for a positive customer experience.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience directing the work of first-time employees. 
• Experience and/or familiarity with the White Center and/or Skyway neighborhoods. 

Competencies You Bring:  

• Communicates Effectively - Ability to develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Collaborates - Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.  
• Interpersonal Savvy - Ability to relate openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Values Differences - Recognizes the value different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Customer Focus - Ability to build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions.
• Situational Adaptability - Ability to adapt approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations

Required Licenses: 

• Possession of a valid driver's license is required upon hire.
• Current certifications in CPR and First Aid, or willingness to obtain certifications within first six (6) months of hire.

• Work Location: Steve Cox Memorial Park
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• FLSA Status:  This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation:  This position is not represented by a union.

Join a passionate team dedicated to making a difference and partnering with youth, families, and communities to create lasting impact.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in an interview.  

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Crystal Yost at cyost@kingcounty.gov.

Visit our website, explore aninteractive mapof our recent accomplishments and check us out atFacebook, X(formerlyTwitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTubeand Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.