Position Description
Come work in Seattle’s largest greenspace, Discovery Park! Do you love Discovery Park? Are you passionate about community-led recreation programming? Do you enjoy working with diverse community partners? Do you want an important role as the front line to superior customer service with an organization that shares your values and provides opportunities for growth and development? If you can say yes to all these questions, this might be the job for you!!
This hiring process will be used to fill one 12-month, full-time benefitted and multiple part-time temporary Recreation Attendant vacancies at the Carkeek and Discovery Park Visitor Centers. These are public-facing in-person positions.
Interviews for these positions will take place in-person. If selected for an interview you will receive an invitation to select an interview time for that day. Virtual interview options may be available for out-of-state candidates.
About Discovery and Carkeek Park Visitor Centers:
Seattle Parks and Recreation operates multiple Visitor Centers at Parks across Seattle. This position supports programming in Discovery Park and Carkeek Park, which offer a wide array of services and programming to Seattle residents of all ages including drop-in recreational activities, educational classes, cultural events, preschool and summer camp programs, and more. These centers strive to provide welcoming and safe space to promote healthy people and strong communities.
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is providing welcoming and safe opportunities to play, learn, contemplate and build community and promote responsible stewardship of the land. We promote healthy people, a healthy environment and strong communities. Delivering excellent customer service to each visitor and participant is a core value.
Traditionally, we have provided recreation opportunities through our network of community centers, pools, and other facilities. As we respond to the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism, we are innovating how we provide recreation programs in partnership with the communities we serve. We are building our capacity to bring recreation programs to the people-not just in our facilities, but also in parks, in streets, and through partners, with goals of reducing racial health disparities and empowering historically mis-served communities.
Our commitment: SPR commits to Our City Values, Workplace Expectations , and Racial Equity and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We support and hold ourselves accountable by striving to eliminate barriers to access and provide employees with equitable opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
The Recreation Division of SPR eliminates barriers through responsive, exceptional recreation services. We operate over 50 recreation facilities (community centers, teen centers, pools, school-based learning centers, environmental learning centers, and boating and sailing centers) and provide opportunities for people to play, learn, and lead healthy, active lives. Our programs and events include fitness and athletics, licensed childcare and preschool, swimming and boating, youth development and job preparation, academic enrichment, and more – including programs designed for older adults and people with disabilities, as well as grant and partnership programs designed and implemented with immigrant and refugee communities. With nearly 300 regular employees and a budget of nearly $40 million annually, Recreation is a major operation with significant impact on the communities we serve.
Job Responsibilities
Seattle Parks and Recreation is recruiting experienced customer service-oriented individuals to work as a first-line receptionist at the front desk/counter providing customer service and assistance with inquiries from the public and employees internal and external to the department regarding recreational activities. These positions will also process program registrations and scholarships and assist in planning, organizing, and supporting indoor/outdoor recreational activities and facility rentals.
Customer Service:
- Greet and engage community members and visitors of all ages and diverse backgrounds including teens, young adults, people experiencing homelessness or in crisis, and all other customers, in a positive manner, in person and over the phone.
- Provide information regarding the facility, programs, events, or other activities occurring within the facility or department. Explain policies, procedures, and requirements related to class enrollment, program participation, or facility use.
- Engage customers to resolve problems and complaints, adhering to program and operations policies and procedures.
Recreation:
- Open and close facility and prepare facility spaces for daily activities.
- Monitor users in general building and associated grounds areas to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
- Assist in conducting organized youth and adult recreational activities.
Financial Procedures and Cash Handling:
- Use a computerized database registration system to register participants for various activities and programs, and schedule facility rentals.
- Collect associated fees and payments in cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, and/or automated debts.
- Provide receipts, refunds, credits, and/or change due to customers.
- Prepare bank deposits of collected receipts. Adhere to department, city, and state policies and procedures with respect to cash handling, payment cards, and secure financial and personal information.
Computer Registration Software and Report Printing:
- Generate and retrieve reports from computerized database registration system and/or manually complete reports on admission, reservations, and attendance using basic math skills.
- Open and close customer accounts, respond to requests, verify and/or change customer information for proper billing and collections; and collect payments and fees.
Working with People:
- Provide excellent communication to both internal and external customers in oral and written formats.
- Provide accurate and prompt information to colleagues, customers, and teammates.
- Work in a team environment with a “can do” attitude that is positive and welcoming. Able to work in a highly dynamic, fast past environment.
Qualifications
License, Certification and Other Requirements:
- American Red Cross Multi-Media First Aid Card and CPR certification within 30 days of employment.
- Successfully complete Payment Card Industry (PCI) training and comply with standards, within 30 days of employment.
- Successfully complete cash handling training and maintain departmental compliance standards, within 30 days of employment.
- Available to work evenings, weekends, irregular hours, and/or split shifts.
The most competitive candidate will have:
- At least one year of customer service experience in a busy work setting with many competing priorities.
- Excellent “people skills” with the ability to effectively serve and partner with a wide range of ages, diversity, and cultures.
- Ability to speak another language other than English.
- A proven record of working well as part of a team with volunteers and staff.
- At least 6 months of experience utilizing a computerized point of sale/event registration system for various daily sales and reporting.
- At least intermediate experience using Microsoft Office products such as Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Experience using a multi-line phone system.
- Outstanding organizational skills.
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
- Ability to interpret and comply with policy and procedures including cash handling, scholarships, and third-party billing, and general SPR policy and procedure.
- Some experience coordinating volunteers.
Additional Information
SPR’s Core Competencies:
- Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making and promoting high quality standards.
- Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City’s commitment to workforce equity.
- Communication : Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.
Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City .
- Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.
The full salary range for this position is $18.69 – $23.65 per hour.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and covered family-members/most employees-plans
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at:
“Most” Employees Plans – Human Resources | seattle.gov
01
Carkeek and Discovery Parks are destination parks that bring upwards of 30,000 visitors through our facilities each year. This administrative position is based out of Discovery Park Visitor Center and supports occasional Carkeek Park programs. Why are you interested in this position?
02
This process will hire one 12-month, full-time, benefited position and multiple part-time non-benefited positions. Which position(s) are you willing to accept?
- Term Limited Temporary – 12-month full time position with benefits
- Temporary intermittent – work up to 900 hours per year, premium pay in lieu of benefits.
- Both
03
All positions require working Saturday and/or Sunday shifts. Are you willing and available to work weekends?
- Yes
- No
04
Discovery Park Visitor Center is not located on major public transit lines. Are you able to commute to this location and report to work on time?
- Yes
- No
05
Do you have at least 6 months experience working in a customer service focused environment providing face-to-face, phone, internet, and email service to customers?
- Yes
- No
06
Do you have experience utilizing a computerized point of sale/event registration system in a customer service-related capacity?
- Yes
- No
07
Since the Discovery Park Visitor Center has visitors from all over the world, are you able to communicate in any other languages other than English? If yes, what language(s)?
- Yes
- No
Required Question