Salary : $64,875.20 – $107,036.80 Annually
Location : Cary, NC
Job Type: Regular, Full-Time
Job Number: 24-01997
Department: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
Division: Administration
Opening Date: 10/27/2023
Closing Date: 11/19/2023 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: N/A
Description
Cary, North Carolina, a vibrant and thriving community of over 180,000 residents, consistently ranks among the best places to live, work, and play in the country. Known for its exceptional quality of life, Cary is a dynamic town with a strong sense of community, a diverse population, and a commitment to innovation and growth. Cary is committed to an inclusive approach to recreation and encourages individuals with and without disabilities to participate together in fun, enriching community programs.
Cary is seeking a caring, compassionate, and motivated leader to manage all aspects of inclusion services and specialized recreation programming. The ideal applicant will be an excellent listener and communicator and will possess a can-do attitude, adept at making connections, advocating for others, and building relationships with staff and citizens of all abilities. The position requires an extensive knowledge of community resources to provide robust support for participants and families. Due to the nature of programming, the position requires a flexible schedule with the ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Cary is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that reflects the community we serve. Our goal is for our workplace to be one where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work every day.
Join our team and be a part of our continued success!
Typical Tasks
- Provides leadership and guidance to oversee the creation and coordination of recreational programs for all ages of individuals with disabilities including classes, programs, social gatherings, and special events;
- Leads and advocates for sustainability and long-range planning of specialized recreation and inclusion services;
- Seeks out collaborative partnerships with agencies, organizations, and individuals/subject matter experts to offer training and continued education opportunities to all staff;
- Oversees staff training including disability awareness/sensitivity and inclusion/accessibility training;
- Serves as a departmental resource on inclusion and as a town-wide resource on ADA issues;
- Serves as a resource/liaison to community groups which provide disability services;
- Establishes and maintains partnerships with agencies, organizations, and individuals that provide services to people with disabilities;
- Collaborates and networks with other municipalities that offer inclusion and specialized recreation services;
- Attends training opportunities and conferences to maintain and improve quality of services;
- Speaks at public events, conferences, employee engagement workshops, and local civic organizations to recruit and coordinate volunteer support and awareness for programs and special events;
- Organizes and implements resource events bringing community agencies/services together for sharing of their information and networking;
- Observes program participants, communicates with family members/care providers, and works with staff to provide supportive/adaptive resources to create a successful experience and meet participant needs;
- Prepares and administers operations and program budget and monitors expenditures;
- Oversees partnership contracts with outside organizations;
- Supervises full-time and part-time Specialized Recreation and Inclusion Services staff, including interviewing, hiring, performing regular evaluations, and collaborating with staff to set employee goals and work schedules;
- Performs other job-related duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of planning and implementing programs for people with disabilities; Comprehensive knowledge of trends in therapeutic recreation, ADA, and inclusivity; General knowledge of adaptive equipment and supplies required for programs; Ability to organize and supervise the work of others; Ability to develop and implement effective programs; Ability to organize and schedule time; Ability to maintain accurate records; Ability to work effectively with groups and the general public; Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with community-based agencies/organizations; Ability to develop and provide effective training as it relates to accommodating individuals with disabilities; Ability to make activity adaptations and modifications for a variety of disabilities including but not limited to intellectual, physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities.
Minimum and Preferred Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in therapeutic recreation, recreation management, social work, special education, or a related field.
Requires extensive experience working in either a therapeutic recreation setting and/or an environment serving people with disabilities and at least 5 years of experience in planning, organizing and supervising programs for people with disabilities.
Requires strong supervisory experience with full-time and/or part-time staff.
Licensed Recreational Therapist/Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist preferred.
Physical Requirements:
The employee is occasionally required to sit; use repetitive hand motion; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; reach with hands and arms; pull, push; and lift. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee must be able to lift moderately heavy items and must be able to talk, hear, see, and grasp objects. Visual acuity is necessary in order to read and write handwritten and typewritten materials and view a computer terminal.
Conditions of Employment:
Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal check, education verification and credit history review) prior to employment.
Requires possession of a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Regular Full-Time Employees
Cary is pleased to provide excellent, competitive, and comprehensive benefits to serve the needs of our employees and their families.
Because Cary believes that employees are one of our most important resources, significant dollars (averaging about 40% of annual salary per employee) are spent each year on employee benefits.
All regular full-time employees of Cary are eligible, and benefits coverage for new employees and family members is effective upon an employee’s hire date.
01
Do you possess a combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, social work, general recreation, physical education or related field? If yes, this must be reflected in your work and education history.
- Yes
- No
02
How many years of experience do you have supervising employees in environments serving people with disabilities?
- No experience
- 1-2 years
- 3-5 years
- more than 5 years
03
Do you possess a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record?
- Yes
- No
04
This position requires a flexible schedule which may include evenings, weekends, and some holidays. Are you able to work this type of schedule?
- Yes
- No
05
Please briefly describe your experience in planning, organizing, and supervising programs for people with disabilities, including any leadership roles you have taken on.
06
Please describe your experience providing training for staff across multiple facilities or sites. If you do not have this experience, type “n/a”.
07
What interests you most about this role?
Required Question