City of Fort Wayne

Job Description:

SUMMARY

Working under direction of the Program Coordinator of Interpretation, the incumbent assists in the operation of the Botanical Conservatory’s Day Camp. The incumbent provides direct supervision, safety, social engagement, and instruction for camp counselors as well as youth ages 9-13 years old who are registered for Camp ACTIVenture. The incumbent is expected to exercise good judgment, independence, initiative, and professional expertise in conducting day-to-day operations. All work duties and activities must be performed in accordance with the City safety rules and operating regulations, policies and procedures as well as federal, state, and local regulations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the ability to interact with the public, City incumbents, and outside agencies with patience, tact, respect, and professionalism in addition to the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Assists in developing weekly program schedules and daily themed activities;
• Handles operations, emergencies, and challenges as they arise;
• Maintains flexibility, perseverance, and a sense of resourcefulness;
• Meets with Program Coordinator for concerns, reporting, and evaluation;
• Verifies camper information, assigns groups, and maintains records;
• Positively interacts with and greets campers and their guardians;
• Contacts guardians with any problems or concerns regarding campers;
• Disciplines campers and camp counselors;
• Trains camp counselors and promotes positive social interactions and inclusive group dynamics;
• Models excitement for traveling, outdoor adventure, and exploration of the natural world;
• Integrates recreational and educational activities to foster a memorable, interactive, and quality program experience;
• Demonstrates and teaches values of caring, courage, responsibility, respect, and resilience, among others;
• Ensures teaching of skills in adventure preparation, camp recreation, outdoor safety, fire building, bicycling, ziplining, boating, and natural elements;
• Guides individuals to challenge themselves, develop new understandings, and demonstrate gained knowledge and skills;
• Ensures teaching of street safety and navigation when walking downtown and driving to off-site destinations;
• Follows and enforces child safety protocols;
• Performs duties in accordance with the City's safety rules and operating regulations and practices;
• Requests supplies, maintenance, and/or repairs.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• Drives department vehicle to pick up supplies and/or transport campers during field trips;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

The incumbent is responsible to manage their performance in accordance with this job description and the performance expectations provided to them by management.  If at any time the incumbent is unsure of their role or specific responsibilities, it is the incumbent’s responsibility to refer to their job description and ask for clarification from their supervisor.  Management will work with the incumbent, as needed, to ensure performance expectations are clearly communicated and performance goals are achieved. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises up to 4 camp counselors in cooperation with or in absence of the Program Coordinator.

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. They also must be able to pass a post offer drug test, physical, and a criminal background investigation. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Completion of a four-year college degree in education, recreation or related field is preferred;
• Experience in teaching or recreation leadership is preferred;
• At least three years of experience working with children.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and/or ABILITIES

• Specialized knowledge in basic principles of camp recreation, outdoor safety, counseling, teaching, conflict management, and organizational skills;
• Ability to communicate effectively while instructing about natural elements and various outdoor skills;
• Ability to establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with departmental managers, operating staff, and the general public.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Incumbent has contact with persons employed by other organizations or with public.  The purpose of contacts is to render service, gives explanation, interpret policies and maintain coordination.  Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Level of instructions is generally accepted but is not always clearly applicable.  Judgment is needed in selecting the most pertinent guidelines in interpreting precedents and in adapting to standards set by the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department.  Incumbent is involved with moderate duties with substantial intricacy involving variables or considerations with inter-relationships that are not clearly evident.  Incumbent makes substantial contributions involving non-routine decisions and recommendations.  The purpose and desired results are indicated any anticipated and/or unusual problems are discussed with the supervisor.  Deviations from guidelines must be referred to the supervisor.  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Valid Indiana Driver's License;
• Certified in First Aid and CPR by the American Heart Association within two weeks of employment (provided by the City’s Risk Management Department).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Incumbent has sustained exposure to dust, hazardous conditions with exposure to inclement weather and various temperature changes.  Incumbent is exposed to recurring work conditions involve chance of injury.