City of San Bernardino
Community Recreation Manager
City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California, United States, 92409
Are you ready to lead innovative programs, elevate community centers, and make a lasting impact in San Bernardino?
We invite you to join our team as a Community Recreation Manager and help drive the future of recreation and community services!
About the City: As a future member of our team, you’ll be joining a city with deep roots, cultural diversity, and exciting momentum. Located in the heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire, San Bernardino is the county seat and largest city in San Bernardino County, home to more than 222,000 residents. Its rich history — shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences — continues to inspire the city’s evolving identity.
San Bernardino offers access to major transit corridors, natural beauty, and a wide range of housing and lifestyle options. It’s a place where public service careers are supported by a strong sense of community and purpose — and where motivated professionals can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful.
About the Position: The Community Recreation Manager plays a key leadership role within the Recreation and Community Services Division, overseeing a broad range of City-wide programs, initiatives, and community service centers. This position is responsible for planning, developing, and managing recreational and community services that serve residents of all ages, including youth programs, year-round lunch and nutrition initiatives, sports programs, after‑school programming, special events, and off‑site activities.
The incumbent provides strategic direction, supervises assigned staff, manages budgets and grants, evaluates community needs, and develops programs that enhance quality of life for San Bernardino residents. The position also oversees daily operations of multiple community centers and the City’s amphitheater, ensuring public spaces operate efficiently, safely, and in alignment with City policies and service standards. This role requires strong leadership, community engagement, and the ability to build collaborative partnerships that support inclusive, accessible recreation opportunities for the community.
The Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is an experienced recreation and community services professional who thrives in a dynamic, community‑focused environment. They bring proven experience managing large‑scale programs, leading teams, and delivering services that meet diverse community needs. They excel at building strong relationships with residents, community partners, staff, and City leadership and understand the importance of accessible and innovative programming.
This individual is a strategic thinker who can assess needs, evaluate program effectiveness, and make data‑informed recommendations to improve or expand services. They are comfortable managing budgets, grants, and contracts and have experience coordinating programs across multiple locations. The ideal candidate demonstrates exceptional communication skills, customer service, and the ability to navigate sensitive issues with diplomacy. They model professionalism, foster a high‑performance culture, and bring enthusiasm for creating safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces that support community well‑being.
A Typical Day as a Community Recreation Manager: Your day begins by checking in with staff and visiting community centers across San Bernardino to ensure programs and operations are running smoothly. You may tour sites like
Perris Hill Park ,
Delmann Heights Community Center , or other local facilities, observing activities, addressing participant concerns, and coordinating with community partners or City departments.
Throughout the day, you’ll plan upcoming programs that reflect the unique needs of San Bernardino residents, prepare reports or outreach materials, and manage budgets or grants that support recreation initiatives. Coaching and guiding staff is a key part of your role, helping them deliver high‑quality services.
You might also attend neighborhood meetings or special events—such as community festivals, youth sports tournaments, or senior activities—representing the City and promoting available programs. Each day is a dynamic mix of leadership, problem‑solving, and community engagement, all aimed at enriching the lives of San Bernardino residents.
Desirable Qualifications:
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Public Administration, or a related field.
Experience in community recreation programming, facility management, or municipal operations.
Knowledge of
Principles and practices of recreation program planning and evaluation.
Budget development and grant administration.
Customer service and community engagement strategies.
Applicable laws, regulations, and safety standards for public facilities.
Skills & Abilities
Strong leadership and supervisory skills to guide staff and volunteers.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working with diverse communities.
Ability to analyze problems, develop solutions, and implement improvements.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and recreation management software.
Other
Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) highly desirable.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and attend special events as needed.
Valid California driver’s license.
Education, Training and Experience: A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a major in public or business administration, recreation management, a social science or a closely related field; and five years of progressively responsible professional recreation or community services experience, at least three of which were in a supervisory or program/project management capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred.
Accreditation shall be by a national or regional accreditation body that is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education.
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements: A valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City’s vehicle insurance policy.
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of needs assessment, program development, implementation, oversight and evaluation as they apply to recreation and community services program management.
Standard practices, information sources and trends in the field of recreation and community services programming.
Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.
Methods and practices of grant application development and administration.
Principles, methods and practices of budget and contract development and administration.
Safety issues associated with the care of program participants and center patrons, and CPR and first‑aid practices and training.
Methods and techniques used in customer service and public relations.
Principles and practices of effective management and supervision.
City human resources policies and procedures, Civil Service Rules and labor contract provisions.
Ability to:
Plan, organize, set priorities of and implement a wide variety of large recreation and community services programs and activities; participate in evaluation of and make sound recommendations for improvements or expansion.
Plan, assign, direct and coordinate the work of staff engaged in performing a wide range of recreation and community services activities.
Implement and enforce recreation and community services program policies, procedures and processes.
Coordinate programs with other community groups and agencies.
Represent the City effectively in meetings with community groups, the media and the public.
Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports and other written materials.
Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations.
Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies and other written materials.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with participants, other department personnel, outside agency and community organization contacts, media contacts and others encountered in the course of work.
Recruitment Timeline: This recruitment will close on Sunday, January 18, 2026, or until a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Applications review: Week of Monday, January 19, 2026
All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the personnel officer.
All applicants are required to submit an online application through the City’s official website at www.sbcity.org. This recruitment will remain open until January 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Applications must be fully completed and clearly demonstrate that the minimum qualifications for the position are met. All information provided is subject to review, investigation, and verification. While resumes may be uploaded as supplemental documentation, they will not be accepted in place of a fully completed City application.
Following the initial screening, the most qualified candidates whose backgrounds best match the needs of the City will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement. Candidates will remain under consideration until a final selection is made and an offer is accepted. The City of San Bernardino reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time and may determine that none of the applicants, including those who meet the minimum qualifications, are suitable for the position.
Pre‑employment process may include, but is not limited to:
Pre‑employment Medical Exam, including drug and TB test.
Background Investigation with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Employment/Professional Reference Check.
E‑Verify Participation: The City of San Bernardino participates in the E‑Verify program. In compliance with federal law, all employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of individuals hired to work in the United States.
Accordingly, the City will provide information from each new employee’s Form I‑9 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm authorization to work in the United States.
For more information about E‑Verify, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov
Disclaimers: The City of San Bernardino is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The City follows a nepotism policy, which may impact hiring decisions if an applicant has relatives currently employed by the City.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Each request is evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department directly at (909) 998‑2060.
This bulletin is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract, expressed or implied. Its contents may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.
For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Stephanie Rivera at Rivera_es@sbcity.org. Additional information is available at www.sbcity.org.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
We invite you to join our team as a Community Recreation Manager and help drive the future of recreation and community services!
About the City: As a future member of our team, you’ll be joining a city with deep roots, cultural diversity, and exciting momentum. Located in the heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire, San Bernardino is the county seat and largest city in San Bernardino County, home to more than 222,000 residents. Its rich history — shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences — continues to inspire the city’s evolving identity.
San Bernardino offers access to major transit corridors, natural beauty, and a wide range of housing and lifestyle options. It’s a place where public service careers are supported by a strong sense of community and purpose — and where motivated professionals can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful.
About the Position: The Community Recreation Manager plays a key leadership role within the Recreation and Community Services Division, overseeing a broad range of City-wide programs, initiatives, and community service centers. This position is responsible for planning, developing, and managing recreational and community services that serve residents of all ages, including youth programs, year-round lunch and nutrition initiatives, sports programs, after‑school programming, special events, and off‑site activities.
The incumbent provides strategic direction, supervises assigned staff, manages budgets and grants, evaluates community needs, and develops programs that enhance quality of life for San Bernardino residents. The position also oversees daily operations of multiple community centers and the City’s amphitheater, ensuring public spaces operate efficiently, safely, and in alignment with City policies and service standards. This role requires strong leadership, community engagement, and the ability to build collaborative partnerships that support inclusive, accessible recreation opportunities for the community.
The Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is an experienced recreation and community services professional who thrives in a dynamic, community‑focused environment. They bring proven experience managing large‑scale programs, leading teams, and delivering services that meet diverse community needs. They excel at building strong relationships with residents, community partners, staff, and City leadership and understand the importance of accessible and innovative programming.
This individual is a strategic thinker who can assess needs, evaluate program effectiveness, and make data‑informed recommendations to improve or expand services. They are comfortable managing budgets, grants, and contracts and have experience coordinating programs across multiple locations. The ideal candidate demonstrates exceptional communication skills, customer service, and the ability to navigate sensitive issues with diplomacy. They model professionalism, foster a high‑performance culture, and bring enthusiasm for creating safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces that support community well‑being.
A Typical Day as a Community Recreation Manager: Your day begins by checking in with staff and visiting community centers across San Bernardino to ensure programs and operations are running smoothly. You may tour sites like
Perris Hill Park ,
Delmann Heights Community Center , or other local facilities, observing activities, addressing participant concerns, and coordinating with community partners or City departments.
Throughout the day, you’ll plan upcoming programs that reflect the unique needs of San Bernardino residents, prepare reports or outreach materials, and manage budgets or grants that support recreation initiatives. Coaching and guiding staff is a key part of your role, helping them deliver high‑quality services.
You might also attend neighborhood meetings or special events—such as community festivals, youth sports tournaments, or senior activities—representing the City and promoting available programs. Each day is a dynamic mix of leadership, problem‑solving, and community engagement, all aimed at enriching the lives of San Bernardino residents.
Desirable Qualifications:
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Public Administration, or a related field.
Experience in community recreation programming, facility management, or municipal operations.
Knowledge of
Principles and practices of recreation program planning and evaluation.
Budget development and grant administration.
Customer service and community engagement strategies.
Applicable laws, regulations, and safety standards for public facilities.
Skills & Abilities
Strong leadership and supervisory skills to guide staff and volunteers.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working with diverse communities.
Ability to analyze problems, develop solutions, and implement improvements.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and recreation management software.
Other
Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) highly desirable.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and attend special events as needed.
Valid California driver’s license.
Education, Training and Experience: A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a major in public or business administration, recreation management, a social science or a closely related field; and five years of progressively responsible professional recreation or community services experience, at least three of which were in a supervisory or program/project management capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred.
Accreditation shall be by a national or regional accreditation body that is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education.
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements: A valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City’s vehicle insurance policy.
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of needs assessment, program development, implementation, oversight and evaluation as they apply to recreation and community services program management.
Standard practices, information sources and trends in the field of recreation and community services programming.
Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.
Methods and practices of grant application development and administration.
Principles, methods and practices of budget and contract development and administration.
Safety issues associated with the care of program participants and center patrons, and CPR and first‑aid practices and training.
Methods and techniques used in customer service and public relations.
Principles and practices of effective management and supervision.
City human resources policies and procedures, Civil Service Rules and labor contract provisions.
Ability to:
Plan, organize, set priorities of and implement a wide variety of large recreation and community services programs and activities; participate in evaluation of and make sound recommendations for improvements or expansion.
Plan, assign, direct and coordinate the work of staff engaged in performing a wide range of recreation and community services activities.
Implement and enforce recreation and community services program policies, procedures and processes.
Coordinate programs with other community groups and agencies.
Represent the City effectively in meetings with community groups, the media and the public.
Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports and other written materials.
Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations.
Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies and other written materials.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with participants, other department personnel, outside agency and community organization contacts, media contacts and others encountered in the course of work.
Recruitment Timeline: This recruitment will close on Sunday, January 18, 2026, or until a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Applications review: Week of Monday, January 19, 2026
All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the personnel officer.
All applicants are required to submit an online application through the City’s official website at www.sbcity.org. This recruitment will remain open until January 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Applications must be fully completed and clearly demonstrate that the minimum qualifications for the position are met. All information provided is subject to review, investigation, and verification. While resumes may be uploaded as supplemental documentation, they will not be accepted in place of a fully completed City application.
Following the initial screening, the most qualified candidates whose backgrounds best match the needs of the City will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement. Candidates will remain under consideration until a final selection is made and an offer is accepted. The City of San Bernardino reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time and may determine that none of the applicants, including those who meet the minimum qualifications, are suitable for the position.
Pre‑employment process may include, but is not limited to:
Pre‑employment Medical Exam, including drug and TB test.
Background Investigation with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Employment/Professional Reference Check.
E‑Verify Participation: The City of San Bernardino participates in the E‑Verify program. In compliance with federal law, all employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of individuals hired to work in the United States.
Accordingly, the City will provide information from each new employee’s Form I‑9 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm authorization to work in the United States.
For more information about E‑Verify, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov
Disclaimers: The City of San Bernardino is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The City follows a nepotism policy, which may impact hiring decisions if an applicant has relatives currently employed by the City.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Each request is evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department directly at (909) 998‑2060.
This bulletin is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract, expressed or implied. Its contents may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.
For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Stephanie Rivera at Rivera_es@sbcity.org. Additional information is available at www.sbcity.org.
#J-18808-Ljbffr