DescriptionPosition Summary
This is a temporary position in the Youth Department of Jewish Long Beach and Alpert Jewish Community Center. The Recreation Associate is responsible for the health and safety of the children in his/her care, continuing the Guidelines of the Jewish Long Beach and Alpert JCC Youth Program, and to propagate a positive experience for campers allowing them to grow emotionally and developmentally.
Essential Duties
- In conjunction with the Youth Programs Manager and Youth Programs Associate, create and implement a daily lesson plan.
- Serve as the liaison to sports specialty camps and coordinating other camp staff
- Plan activities for summer camp including but not limited to – gym time, gross motor play in the courtyard, organized games on the playground or auditorium, or any other requested space.
- Closely observe and provide coaching based on observed skills and performance, ensuring the fundamentals of the sport are being taught.
- Attend planning meetings with related staff.
- Lead or support various camp activities even when not the assigned lead for a program. This may consist of standing next to the song leader during morning circle or asking co-counselors how to best facilitate their program.
- Supervision of all campers in group, accountable for attendance, health supervision, and safety of all campers in group. Accountable to the Youth Department Associate and the Youth Programs Coordinator for all information concerning campers.
- Maintains the highest quality of courtesy, friendliness and service excellence toward members, visitors and other staff. Retains said qualities and acts as a representative of the Alpert Jewish Community Center in and out of building.
- Reacts to change productively and handles other essential tasks as assigned. General responsibilities of all Alpert Jewish Community Center staff include participation in staff meetings, display of courtesy towards current and prospective members, participation in programs or events as required and other staff team functions.
- Recreation Associate are also responsible for their own behavior as a role model. Language, attire, and behavior will be consistent and appropriate to JCC standards.
- Other duties as assigned.
Behavioral Expectations
- Clearly communicate the “mission,” ensuring everyone works toward the same goals.
- Create a positive environment where two-way communication, accountability, and strong trust are established.
- Promote teamwork and respect, both internally between staff as well as in community-facing contexts with donors, volunteers, members, and other stakeholders.
- Demonstrate the ability to respond with a high degree of responsiveness to the needs and requests of others, internally and externally. Understand the impact of their work on others.
- Deal constructively with conflict and focus on the situation, issue or behavior and not on the person by diffusing situations before conflicts arise, resolving conflicts directly and actively promoting and gaining cooperation from others.
- Accurately provide and receive information in oral and written communications.
- Consistently provide ideas, opinions, or information in an articulate, professional way.
- Actively listen to others and demonstrate understanding of other points of view.
- Willingness and ability to adjust to changing conditions or priorities.
- Take the initiative to identify and act on problems, and lead by example. Consistently make decisions that resolve problems and act decisively when necessary.
QualificationsRequirements
- Must be able to relate well to children.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal are essential.
- Knowledge of, or willingness to learn about, Jewish holidays, traditions and life cycle events.
- React to change productively and successfully manage multiple details and deadlines.
Education and/or Experience
A High School diploma or equivalent required. CPR and First Aid Training Required (training held during staff training week June 19-June 23) if not currently certified.
Language Skills
Excellence in customer service requires the ability to deal effectively with people in a variety of situations in person and in writing. Ability to communicate effectively with individuals or groups of members or employees in English. Ability to read and interpret English language documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write reports and compose correspondence by hand and/or by computer.
Mathematical Skills
Basic math skills including the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. The ability to ask for assistance to draw valid conclusions as necessary.
Physical Demand
While performing the duties of this job, the Recreation Associate is regularly required to use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, and speak or hear. This person is required to stand and move about the entire building and grounds, as well as off-site area. Due to the nature of the job, it is necessary to be able to pick up a 45 pound child and navigate both classrooms and playground. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision and distance vision up to 75 feet.
Work Environment
Primarily the Youth Wing is comprised of offices, game room, teen lounge, homework room and computer lab. Noise level, toys on the floor and clutter will be as are normal to child care environments. Some programs and responsibilities will occur in other parts of the campus or at off-site venues not owned or under the control of the JCC.
