City of Portland - Recreation Programmer II - After School

Start Date: August 06, 2025 | End Date: February 02, 2026
County: Cumberland County
Job Type: Parks & Recreation
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City of Portland - Recreation Programmer II - After School

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department

The mission of Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is to enhance the quality of life through people, parks, and programming while creating lasting memories for the people of Portland and its visitors.

The Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department is made up of a team of 160 full-time staff, and 250+ seasonal and on-call staff who work together to improve the quality of life in Portland, Maine.

Our staff creates opportunities for social connection and community development by operating and programming our City cultural venues such as Merrill Auditorium and Portland Expo, and running community programs such as our popular Before and After School programs, Swim Lessons, Basketball Leagues, Therapeutic Recreation, and Senior Adult programs. By maintaining our City public buildings, waterfront infrastructure, piers, and our network of 70 parks, 40+ miles of trails, 13 Cemeteries, and 30 playgrounds, we provide places where people can come to connect, exercise, recreate, and create community. Our staff operates community centers, pools, Portland Skatepark, Riverside Golf Course, Troubh Ice Arena, and 2 municipal stadiums where we host youth and adult sports, 3 minor league sports teams, and community events.

Our team of staff is comprised of Park Maintainers and Lifeguards, Event Managers and Child Care Workers, Horticulturalists and Arborists, Food Service Workers and Ice Arena Operators, Park Rangers and Project Managers, Golf Pros and Custodians, Referees and Electricians, Coaches and Trades Workers, Playground Technicians and Plow Operators, Cemetery Maintainers and Theater Techs, along with support staff in Human Resources, Finance, and Admin. Even though the job titles and tasks of our individual staff members vary widely, we all work side by side, day in and day out, to make Portland a better place to live and visit.
 

Job Summary:

The City of Portland Recreation Division is offering a creative opportunity to engage with the community through a variety of recreational activities. The employee in this position will spend time planning and implementing the programming for their assigned site. In addition to programming implementation they will oversee the daily operations of the After School Program along with the childcare site staff.
 

About the Program:

• This position is responsible for planning, promoting and conducting daily programs in specialty areas such as arts, crafts, gymnastics, dance, music, cooking, outdoor recreation, etc. in our After School Program. The After School program runs Monday through Friday beginning after the bell and start times vary by location. In addition to after school hours programming time will be incorporated into the weekly hours.
 

Why Join Us:

Gain Valuable Experience for Your Future Career:

• Whether you’re aspiring to be a teacher, childcare provider, social worker, or youth sports coach, our program offers hands-on experience that will prepare you for your future career. You'll develop essential skills and build a strong foundation for your professional journey.

• Start your career journey in parks and recreation with an entry-level role that offers a comprehensive understanding of the field. You'll gain insights into program planning, activity coordination, and community engagement, setting the stage for future growth.
 

Make a Positive Impact in Your Community:

• Be part of the solution by contributing to a program that makes our community a better place to live, work, and play. Your efforts will directly impact the lives of children and their families, fostering a sense of community and well-being.
 

Stay Engaged and Energized at Work:

• If you thrive in a dynamic and interactive environment, our program is the perfect fit. Each day brings new activities and opportunities to engage with children, ensuring that your workday flies by.

Hours/Available Schedules:

• This is an ongoing school year program that extends into summer camp work making it a year round position if desired. Expected start date is upon completion of hire.

• We have two (2) - 30 hour positions and six (6) - 22.50 hour positions available at various schools and community centers. A typical onsite schedule would begin after school at approximately 1:30 or 3:00 p.m. and run until 6:00 p.m. Additional office hours will be scheduled for training, staff meetings and programming preparation.
 

Requirements:

• Lead the day to day planning and operations of the program and the supervision of its staff and participants.

• Must be able to provide excellent customer service to parents and children.

• Must be able to maintain an effective working relationship with all staff at the before/after school site and the leadership team of the department.

• Lead in ensuring all programming provides an inclusive experience that is developmentally and culturally appropriate for the participants.

• Must be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing and create regular newsletters/calendar for the site.

• Must be able to work independently and exercise good judgment when making decisions

• Work in conjunction with other program staff, contractors, and community partners to support participants to provide a positive program experience.

• Ensures the school and other program areas used are safe and clean before, during, and after use.

• Lead internal meetings for staff within the site and effectively communicate updates/changes/revisions from leadership meetings to the site staff.

• Attends internal meetings as identified by the Recreation Supervisor(s).

• Additional responsibilities as assigned by the Recreation Supervisor(s).

• American Red Cross CPR/AED/First aid certification preferred.

• Must possess a valid Class C driver's license in good standing
 

Applications accepted until filled.
 

Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check.
 

Salary & Benefits:

This is a CEBA union position, Grade 9, starting salary range of $22.00 - $24.73/hour. Salary is based on upon prior relevant work experience.

The City of Portland prides itself on its outstanding benefits and collegial and mission-driven work environment. City benefits include:

• Discounted employee health insurance with the completion of wellness incentives

• Thirteen paid holidays

• Sick, vacation, and personal leave

• Life, dental, vision and income protection insurances

• Choice of retirement plans, including a pension plan

• Use of City recreation facilities

• Discount on professional development programs through USM and Thomas College

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application, please email Human Resources at [email protected] or call 207-874-8624.

The City of Portland believes that to do our best work, our employees need to reflect the diverse, vibrant community we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to celebrating all dimensions of diversity in the workplace. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. If you need to request a reasonable accommodation, please call 207-874-8624 or email [email protected].

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6439807