NATURE CENTER VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR (RECREATION LEADER SPECIALIST VII N/C)

Full Job Description

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is a nationally recognized and award-winning organization with 1,100 full-time/part-time staff and a budget of $85 million. The Department oversees facilities and programs that reflect the needs and interests of a culturally diverse community, including 170 parks with more than 3,200 acres devoted to open space and recreation, 27 community centers, 3 public pools, 6 miles of beaches, and 3 marinas.

The Department provides free and fee-based recreational programs and leisure opportunities, both self-directed and organized, for people of all ages and cultures. Youth programs include free youth sports for ages 5 to 14 serving nearly 10,000 participants annually, summer and vacation day camps, 2,100 recreational and educational classes, sailing and aquatics instruction, teen center activities, skateboarding opportunities, and supervised afterschool and weekend activities at parks and schools.

The El Dorado Nature Center is an oasis of natural habitat, offering visitors the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the urban environment. The 105 acres that make up the Nature Center grounds provide sanctuary for animals and plant life. Two miles of dirt trails and a 1/4 mile paved trail wind around two lakes, a stream and forested areas. At the entrance, cross over the wooden bridge that spans the lake and you'll find yourself on a small island that houses the Visitor Center, containing educational displays, art gallery and a small gift shop offering environmentally themed books and gifts.

Non-Career employees are allowed a maximum of 1,600 work hours available over a 12-month period, and are considered temporary, at-will employees who are not typically eligible for benefits. However, non-career employees may qualify for health coverage and sick leave accruals subject to applicable federal and state provisions.

Requirements

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must meet at least one of the options below:
  • (Option A) - Two (2) years (or equivalent 500 hours total) of part-time experience (paid or unpaid) working in recreation or related field; OR,
  • (Option B) - Forty-eight (48) units of college education, including a minimum of eight (8) units in recreation, childcare, or a related field; OR,
  • (Option C) - A combination of education and experience as outlined above.
• Experience working or volunteering in a Nature Center, Museum or Zoo setting.
• Experience with public speaking.
• Must have access to reliable transportation for all job responsibilities.
• Must be willing to work various shifts, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Course study and/or practical experience in environmental or natural sciences at a zoo, museum or nature center.
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Advanced knowledge of Southern California animal life and plant life.
• Experience working with children and adults from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office programs, i.e. Outlook, Excel.

The successful candidates will possess the following:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and program management skills.
• Ability to perform basic mathematics and perform cashiering functions.
• Ability to work independently and problem-solve.

Additional Information

This recruitment will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026. To be considered, applicants must submit an online application. Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of experience. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call 562-570-3181.

In support of the City’s Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.