How to hire a director of recreation therapy

How to hire a director of recreation therapy, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of recreation therapy hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of recreation therapy job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of recreation therapy
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your director of recreation therapy job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a director of recreation therapy for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A director of recreation therapy's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, directors of recreation therapy from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents director of recreation therapy salaries for various positions.

   Type of Director Of Recreation Therapy	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Recreation Therapy	Recreation workers design and lead recreational and leisure activities for groups in volunteer agencies or recreation facilities, such as playgrounds, parks, camps, aquatic centers, and senior centers. They may lead activities such as arts and crafts, dance, sports, adventure programs, music, and camping.	$41-150
   Camp Counselor	Camp counselors' general responsibility is the supervision of a camping event. Camp counselors' duties include reiterating the rules and regulations, emergency drills and procedures, and related standard protocols to ensure that the campers maintain a safe camping environment... Show more	$7-16
   Summer Camp Counselor	Summer camps are programs with different themes organized for children or teenagers during the summer months. Summer camp counselors are responsible for the overall supervision of campers and the planning and implementation of the different programs to give children a memorable experience... Show more	$8-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rehabilitation
   • Occupational Therapy
   • Interdisciplinary
   • Patients
   • Recreational Therapy
   • Physical Therapy
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Bed Facility
   • Minimum Data Set
   • Wheelchair
   • Individual Care
   • Patient Care
   • Community Integration
   • Group Therapy

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage activity and progress reports including statistical data require by regulators, initial assessments, MDS and IDC documentation.
   • Work with mentally ill, physical rehabilitation, Alzheimer's, dementia, and HIV/AIDS affect residents of facility.
   • Design architecture and lay-out of rehabilitation room and surrounding patio.
   • Plan and direct medically approve recreation program for patients in hospitals and other institutions.
   • Maintain and continually restructure the Alzheimer's unit separate sensory room utilize for auditory, visual, olfactory and tactile stimulation.
   • Manage annual MWR budget aboard the ship, to encompass monetary intake of over $1million.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of recreation therapy job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A director of recreation therapy can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, directors of recreation therapy' average salary in north dakota is 51% less than in mississippi.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of recreation therapy 72% less than senior-level directors of recreation therapy.
   • Certifications. A director of recreation therapy with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a director of recreation therapy's salary.

   Average director of recreation therapy salary

   $165,498yearly

   $79.57 hourly rate

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   Entry-level director of recreation therapy salary

   $87,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a director of recreation therapy job description

   A job description for a director of recreation therapy role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a director of recreation therapy job description:

   Director of recreation therapy job description example

   • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
   • Ability to be on your feet for extended lengths of time also involves walking on uneven terrain throughout the day.
   • Ability to sit, stand, stoop, and bend frequently; ability to participate in camp activities.
   • Ability to support/lift clients as needed to perform job duties up to 50 pounds at a time.

   Pre-employment Requirements:

   • Live Scan fingerprint clearance (DOJ/FBI)
   • Proof of negative TB results and documentation of covid-19 vaccination + booster
   • CPR Certification/First Aid Training within thirty (30) days of hire date and prior to expiration thereafter
   • Willingness to work variable hours, including evenings, weekends and select holidays.
   • At least 24 years of age
   • If driving is a requirement for the job:
     • Valid Driver's License.
     • Clean driving record and an ability to drive agency vehicles with participants and staff.
     • Proof of continuous automobile insurance coverage as required by the State of California.

   Equal Employment Opportunity

   Via is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions without regard to race (including traits that are historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, benefits, compensation and training. We seek to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws related to discrimination and will not tolerate the interference with the ability of any of Via's employees to perform their job duties.

   Disclaimer

   This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

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5. Post your job

   To find directors of recreation therapy for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any directors of recreation therapy they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level directors of recreation therapy with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of recreation therapy job on Zippia to find and recruit director of recreation therapy candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit directors of recreation therapy, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of recreation therapy

   Once you've selected the best director of recreation therapy candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new director of recreation therapy. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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