Recreational Coordinator

Recreational Coordinator

Salary

$53,705.60 - $63,107.20 Annually

Location

2515 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

26-10791

Department

Juvenile Probation

Opening Date

07/20/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

Incumbents provide skilled professional recreation programming for a juvenile population in a secure facility. Assignments may include but are not limited to coordinating special events, special interest classes, adaptive youth sports, tournaments, youth councils, and implementing therapeutic models. Incumbents develop and coordinate a variety of classes, programs, and events for youth between the ages of 10 and 18. The incumbent will consistently coordinate, implement, and maintain programs. The incumbent will evaluate the effectiveness of programs in collaboration with the division manager. Responsibilities also include staffing specific programs with vendors, including the recruitment of instructors, officials, and volunteers. Incumbents also perform administrative duties such as compiling data, preparing reports, soliciting bids, and providing quality customer service. The incumbent is responsible for shift activities on an assigned shift at the juvenile detention facility. Provides orientation for juveniles entering detention. Plans and coordinates daily living activities and ensures that health, safety, and welfare measures and procedures are carried out by shift members and residents.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a job managing the development of recreational programs and activities for the detention facility. Acts as a change agent and trains others in new therapeutic modalities. Acts as the point of contact for the division in relation to acquiring recreational supplies, services, vendors, and volunteers. Provides supervision to youth who have been placed in the juvenile facility by the court system. The duties performed are of a more complex nature and type. Incumbents in this classification typically function as a working lead over the activities of other positions in addition to their normal range of duties. Will require work in secure facilities. This classification may require a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops, coordinates, schedules, implements, supervises, and evaluates a variety of recreational programs, activities, and special events.
• Evaluates assigned areas of the recreation programs and recommends areas for improvement.
• Instructs designated recreation classes to the program curriculum.
• Takes proper safety precautions, anticipates unsafe circumstances, and acts accordingly to prevent accidents.
• Prepares program, event, and staff schedules to coordinate and implement programs and events.
• Supervises the purchase, use, care, and maintenance of recreation supplies and equipment.
• Develop and distribute monthly newsletters, relating to current events and initiatives for distribution throughout the department.
• Implements Trust Based Relational Intervention principles to include nurture groups.
• Attends meetings, workshops, and conventions as necessary for the maintenance of effective services. Supervises shift activities within the juvenile facility.
• Assumes responsibility during assigned shift for juveniles detained in the detention facility.
• Provides orientation for juveniles entering the system during the shift and programs and coordinates daily living activities for the residents, including health and personal hygiene, counseling, recreation, education, and social experiences.
• Maintains chronological logs concerning juveniles, including medical and emotional conditions. • Writes reports and communicates significant observations to the staff and supervisory staff. Ensures that the chronological records of the juveniles in the facility are updated daily at the end of the shift.
• Inspects and maintains the safety, sanitation, and security of the facilities, and ensures that all policies and procedures regarding the safety, sanitation, and security of residents and staff are followed.
• Researches and maintains current knowledge of family law, counseling, treatment techniques, and departmental policies and procedures. Maintains current knowledge of available community resources for making referrals.
• Receives data and processes information concerning juveniles.
• Participates in in-service training and continuing education.
• Maintains records and generates statistical and other reports, as required.
• Ensures that all incident and medical reports are written and distributed to appropriate persons at the end of each shift.
• Ensures that appropriate persons are contacted in the event of a dorm incident or medical emergency.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelors degree in recreation, kinesiology, education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, AND four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in managing, developing, and implementing recreational programs and activities, are required.

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Must be at least 21 years of age. Dual certification is required per the standard or eligible for certification within six (6) months of date of hire, including successful completion of Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification, First Aid and Handle with Care (state approved physical restraint technique). Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred Requirements

One (1) year of mid to senior level supervisory or management experience. Master's degree in recreational therapy, kinesiology, or education.

Knowledge of:

• Supervisory principles, practices, and techniques.
• Working knowledge of the techniques and principles of directing a variety of recreation activities/programs/events.
• Working knowledge of the rules and regulations of a variety of sport, fitness, and recreation activities as needed in the respective recreation program area.
• Working knowledge of the equipment, facilities, operations, and techniques used in a secure facility recreation program.
• Basic knowledge of community resources and programs related to the program area.
• Policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology related to Court system.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and applicable juvenile justice system standards and procedures.
• Standard practices in area of assignment.
• Psychological concepts of good behavior, social adjustment, and emotional stability.
• Standard counseling techniques.
• Safety and security techniques and standards.
• Physical restraint techniques to control aggressive behavior.
• First aid techniques.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Training, supervising, and reviewing the work of others.
• Skill in teaching program participants.
• Skill in various sports equipment used in recreation programs.
• Skill in understanding and responding to customer needs.
• Monitoring and responding to client behavior.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Interviewing clients.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Train, guide, organize and assign the work of others.
• Exercise considerable initiative and sound judgment; plan, organize, assign, and review the work of subordinate staff and communicate clearly and concisely verbally and in writing.
• Effectively develop, organize, coordinate, and supervise the activities and personnel in a recreation program area.
• Work from broad direction with limited supervision.
• Work well with culturally diverse residents and maintain effective working relationships with the public, coworkers, and other agencies.
• Make investigations and report the results clearly, accurately, and impartially.
• Gather, analyze, and evaluate facts to develop individual program plans and appropriate case dispositions.
• Develop, analyze, and interpret policies and procedures.
• Deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile, and aggressive individuals.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret, and prepare a variety of fiscal, statistical, and administrative reports.
• Perform in a stressful environment while maintaining a professional manner.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 50-100 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, squatting to perform the essential functions. Requires exposure to hostile behavior from clients. May be subject to contact with noise, vibration, fumes, foul odor, dirt, dust, mist, gases, and poor ventilation. Subject to contact with communicable diseases, radiation, hazardous waste, human fecal matter, and foul odors. Subject to stressful environment and client and customer contact for extended periods of time. May be required to work majority of hours on weekends, and during school breaks.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions. This is not a remote position.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 2515 S. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704

Department: Juvenile Probation

Criminal, Physical Exam, Drug Test, Alcohol Test, Psychological Exam and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Alana.Terry-ramos@traviscountytx.gov

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

You must ensure your application accurately reflects your skills and abilities as they relate to the position. Only periods of employment and experience detailed in the "Work Experience" section of the application will be considered in determining which applicants move forward in the selection process, as well as determining pay level for candidate(s) recommended for hire.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employees fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:

January - March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers Compensation

The county provides all employees workers compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

01

Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed?

• Doctorate Degree
• Masters Degree
• Bachelors degree
• Associates degree
• High School/GED
• None of the above

02

How many years of experience in managing, developing, and implementing recreational programs and activities, do you have?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• 1 year but less than 2 years of experience
• 2 years but less than 3 years of experience
• 3 years but less than 4 years of experience
• 4 or more years of experience

03

Do you have experience creating and implementing workout programs or activity schedules? Please describe the types of programs youve developed and the age groups they were designed for.

04

Do you have experience leading or mentoring youth, such as through coaching, teaching, tutoring, or other youth development programs? Please describe your experience and the age groups you worked with.

Required Question

Employer Travis County

Address 700 Lavaca Street

Austin, Texas, 78701

Website https://www.traviscountytx.gov/human-resources/jobs