Recreation Instructor

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Recreation Instructor short -term temporary opportunities within the Parks and Recreation Division over the next six months.

Are you passionate about providing recreational opportunities to youth, teens and community members in White Center and Skyway? The King County Parks Teen Program is looking for enthusiastic and positive individuals to join us as part-time (4-10 hrs per week) Recreation Instructors. In this role you will support active recreational activities and programs for scheduled and drop-in participants at Steve Cox Memorial Park and West Hill Community Center.  

About the Role: We are seeking Recreation Instructors including Visual and Performing Arts Instructors as well as Health and Fitness Coaches to assist with structured and drop-in classes and programs for teen and community participants at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center and West Hill Community Center in Skyway. Candidates should have knowledge of classroom management, strong organization skills, enjoy working with youth/teens, and have a passion for the subject they teach. Work will be performed both indoors and outdoors and in inclement weather.  

About the Team: Joining our team means becoming part of a mission-driven organization that values equity, diversity, and inclusion. At the White Center Recreation Office, we enhance recreational opportunities for underserved and under-resourced communities, creating meaningful partnerships and positive experiences. By leading programs that bring joy, learning, and activity to our customers, you’ll leave a lasting impact on the youth and families we serve. If you’re ready to work in a welcoming, dynamic environment where your passion and creativity will thrive, we encourage you to apply today!

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 and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world.  We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Recreation Instructor you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

• Assist in planning, organizing, and delivering recreation program instruction, including activities such as dance, music, art, cooking, soccer, and volleyball.
• Interact with participants in a positive, respectful, and supportive manner, consistently demonstrating appropriate behavior and serving as a positive role model.
• Proactively address and de-escalate conflicts among youth to maintain a safe and supportive environment.
• Proactively promote the program and enthusiastically recruit youth participants.
• Maintain accurate attendance records for all program activities.
• Set up equipment for program activities and clean and store equipment at the end of the program.
• Enforce Teen Program rules and King County policies and procedures to ensure a safe, respectful, and compliant environment.
• Represent King County Parks in a professional and respectful manner when interacting with youth, parents, school and agency personnel, and community members.

• Experience teaching, coaching, and/or providing instruction within a specific area of expertise, such as soccer, dance, cooking, etc.
• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with teens, the general public, and coworkers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safety protocols and the ability to consistently apply them to the subject matter.
• Ability to identify and address emergency situations promptly and appropriately.
• Demonstrated experience delivering high-quality customer service, including responding to inquiries, resolving concerns, and maintaining positive relationships with customers.
• Must be 18 years of age.

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather as needed.  
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to assist with program set-up and take-down.
• May require lifting, bending, and/or reaching.

Competencies You Bring:  

• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions. 
• Balances Stakeholders: Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders (students).
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Required Licenses/Certifications: 

• Maintenance of current CPR and First Aid certifications, or willing to certify within 6 months.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Bilingual communication skills.

Working Conditions:

• Work Locations: 

Steve Cox Memorial Park, located at 1321 SW 102nd St, Seattle, WA 98146 

West Hill Community Center, located at 12010 71st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98178 

• Work Schedule: This part-time position works  4-10-hours per week depending on programming needs. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process: We welcome applications from all qualified applicants.   We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background to apply.

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 one or more panel interviews.   

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Optional Resume (will be reviewed if submitted)
• Optional Cover Letter (will be reviewed if submitted)

Note:  Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

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

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our webs­ite, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and 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.

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.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Patty Jurgens at [email protected].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.