Summer Recreation Employment Park Squad (Ages 15+) - Open Continuous

Are you looking for a part-time job that is flexible and fun? Portland Parks & Recreation is hiring for summer jobs across Portland!

Recreation Associate Jobs:  Counselor: Park Squad (15 ) Lead Counselor: Park Squad (18 )

Recreation Associate Pay: Training Pay is $19.52 for all Recreation Associate jobs  Counselor base pay is $19.52 - $22.78 (entry is $19.52) Lead Counselor premium pay is $21.52 - $24.78 (entry is $21.52) Employees working in a Lead Counselor role shall receive a Leadership premium of $2.00 per hour while performing that body of work  that requires direction and coaching of other Recreation Support Staff. For more information, please click here.  The premium pay range listed includes the $2.00 premium.

Recreation Associate Union: These jobs are part of a union called (LiUNA) Labors' Local 483 - Recreation. You will start at the entry-level pay rate. To view the labor agreement, please click here

Summary: 

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is seeking hard-working, community-focused youth interested in first-time summer employment with the Park Squad! Park Squad strives to connect adolescent age youth to paid work as they experience a diverse mix of disciplines related to careers in Parks & Recreation.  Our intent is to support the outreach and community building efforts of Portland Parks & Recreation while exposing young people to skills and experiences related to working in day-camps, event management, marketing, outreach and many more disciplines as they relate to public parks & recreation sector work. 

Park Squad members will gain valuable work experience while connecting to communities throughout Portland.  Successful candidates must be:

•  willing to engage with diverse communities in a positive and supportive manner. 
• must be able to get to and from work sites throughout ALL of Portland. * 

*Please note these positions will rotate work sites and will be assigned locations based on business needs. We cannot place students at one location for the summer nor guarantee work in one neighborhood or area of town.  Support with bus passes may be provided.

• be energetic and willing to learn new things.
• able to work in a team environment. 

Positions are meant to act as first- or second- work experience and will include ongoing training geared towards high school aged youth with little to no work experience.  Invitations to interview will be in May with limited spots available.

Candidates must attend one of two full weeks of training June 23 - June 27, OR July 7-11. Candidates must work a minimum of 6 weeks within the time frame June 30-August 22, 2025.

This is an open and continuous recruitment and intended for summer employment.

Note: Applicants will be contacted when positions become available. 

Job Type: Casual, Part-time. This job posting is for several positions, which are classified by the City of Portland as Recreation Associates.

Schedule: This job has flexible hours and might include working during the day, evenings, weekends, or holidays. The number of hours you work each week can change based on program needs, and there is no guarantee of work hours each week.

Location: These jobs are located at different parks around Portland. 

Benefits: This job has limited benefits. Click the Benefits tab for more information.

Language Pay: If you speak another language besides English and use it to help the community, you may get extra pay. To learn more, click here.

About Us:
Portland Parks & Recreation is dedicated to making sure everyone can enjoy our parks and services, no matter their background. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion. We encourage people who speak other languages to apply.

Contact Information:
Loan Tran Polanco, Senior Recruiter
Loan.Tran@portlandoregon.gov

Qualifications Needed:

1. Ability to promote a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

2. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups of people.

3. Ability to recognize and respond to safety and emergency situations.

4. Ability to problem-solve and respond to customer concerns.

How to Apply:

• Click "APPLY" to submit your application online. 
• You need to answer the supplemental questions and fill out your work history. 
• If you are a Veteran and want preference, attach your Veteran documents

Hiring Process:
Step 1: Apply online between March 17, 2025 – May 12, 2025.
Step 2: We will review your application to see if you meet the minimum needs for this role.
Step 3: If you qualify, you will be placed on a list of eligible candidates.
Step 4: We will contact eligible candidates for interviews as positions become available.
Step 5: Job offers will be made after interviews.
Step 6: The start date will be set once all hiring conditions are met.

Counselor Jobs (Recreation Associate)

These jobs are represented by Labors' (LiUNA) Local 483 - Recreation. Applicants start at the entry hourly rate. To view the labor agreement, please go to the Labor agreements webpage and click on the appropriate link.  Counselors organize, plan, and lead a variety of activities including art, crafts, music, performance, science, games, nature, and sports in addition to supporting the physical, social, and cognitive development of preschool and school-aged participants. Positions will be responsible for maintaining discipline and safety while monitoring youth, consistently modeling appropriate behavior, maintaining accurate program records, and performing maintenance duties as assigned. Ages:  Counselor (Must be at least 15 years old) Lead Counselor (Must be at least 18 years old)  Pay Range (new employees start at the entry hourly rate):  All counselor positions base pay is $19.52 - $22.78 (entry is $19.52) Lead Counselor premium pay is $21.52 - $24.78 (entry is $21.52) Employees working in a Lead Counselor role shall receive a Leadership premium of $2.00 per hour while performing that body of work  that requires direction and coaching of other Recreation Support Staff. For more information, please click here.  The premium pay range listed includes the $2.00 premium. Training Pay: The training pay is $19.52 for all counselor positions. Counselor: Park Squad Park Squad counselors experience a diverse mix of disciplines related to careers in Parks & Recreation; including representing Portland Parks & Recreation programs at outreach events by providing marketing materials, providing excellent customer service; and supporting a wide range of Parks & Recreation services. Duties vary based on site or program assignment. Park Squad counselors will follow the direction given by the site or program Lead Counselor.  Locations: Various locations in Portland. Shift Range: Shifts vary depending on assigned work cohorts.  Some work shifts may start as early as 7am and others may run as late 9pm.  Work assignments may be weekdays and/or weekends depending on assigned tasks.    Candidate schedule availability will be collected during training week and will be considered when assigning work cohorts. Lead Counselor: Park Squad Park Squad counselors experience a diverse mix of disciplines related to careers in Parks & Recreation; including representing Portland Parks & Recreation programs at outreach events by providing marketing materials, providing excellent customer service; and supporting a wide range of Parks & Recreation services. Duties vary based on site or program assignment. Lead Counselors will participate in program leadership and provide direction to counselor staff. Shift Range: Shifts vary depending on assigned work cohorts.  Some work shifts may start as early as 7am and others may run as late 9pm.  Work assignments may be weekdays and/or weekends depending on assigned tasks.   Candidate schedule availability will be collected during training week and will be considered when assigning work cohorts.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veterans Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

Salary : $20 - $23