How to hire a recreation coordinator

How to hire a recreation coordinator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step recreation coordinator hiring guide:

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

What does a recreation coordinator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a recreation coordinator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A recreation coordinator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, recreation coordinators 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 recreation coordinator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Recreation Coordinator	Description	Hourly rate
   Recreation Coordinator	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.	$14-25
   Group Leader	A group leader is responsible for overseeing and distributing fair tasks to the members, ensuring clear instructions and procedures. Group leaders are mainly the ones leading the team towards their success... Show more	$27-83
   Program Lead	A program lead is responsible for managing a business program's operation from its conceptualization to implementation. Program leads must have excellent communication and researching skills to monitor current industry trends, adjusting program techniques and strategies to meet society's demands... Show more	$28-82

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • Therapeutic Recreation
   • Recreation Programs
   • Recreation Facilities
   • Sports Programs
   • Community Resources
   • Educational Programs
   • Aquatics
   • Senior Care
   • Youth Sports
   • Community Organizations
   • Soccer
   • Staff Training
   • Front Desk

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage funds and resources to include developing the annual NAF budget, which include submission and prioritization of program component requirements.
   • Communicate with veterans daily; fulfill shopping requests and arrange communication with family members.
   • Assist with transitioning veterans into facility during initial check-in process including pulling and documenting medical records.
   • Design and disseminate survey instruments to assess and provide analysis of sporting initiatives and programs for regional management and corporate leadership.
   • Incorporate knowledge of therapeutic concepts and methods for determining appropriate recreation therapy services for psychiatric, and chemically dependent, patients.
   • Plan and lead activities to help patients with mental, physical, and memory skills.

   More recreation coordinator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the recreation coordinator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A recreation coordinator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a recreation coordinator in Michigan may be lower than in Mississippi, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level recreation coordinator. Additionally, a recreation coordinator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average recreation coordinator salary

   $40,777yearly

   $19.60 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level recreation coordinator salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average recreation coordinator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Wyoming	$54,108	$26
   2	West Virginia	$51,848	$25
   3	California	$51,226	$25
   4	Colorado	$50,584	$24
   5	Washington	$49,082	$24
   6	Arizona	$48,451	$23
   7	Oregon	$46,551	$22
   8	North Carolina	$45,360	$22
   9	Idaho	$45,143	$22
   10	Montana	$44,910	$22
   11	Connecticut	$42,895	$21
   12	New York	$40,778	$20
   13	Minnesota	$40,482	$19
   14	Virginia	$39,949	$19
   15	Florida	$39,379	$19
   16	South Carolina	$38,735	$19
   17	Illinois	$37,196	$18
   18	Ohio	$36,933	$18
   19	Texas	$36,111	$17
   20	Utah	$35,690	$17

   Average recreation coordinator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Polk County	$46,111	$22.17	2
   2	The Children's Village	$45,680	$21.96	4
   3	City of Oxnard	$44,961	$21.62	4
   4	University of Iowa Center for Advancement	$44,471	$21.38	1
   5	The Children's Home of Kingston	$44,212	$21.26
   6	Homes for the Homeless	$43,916	$21.11
   7	Maryville Academy	$43,702	$21.01	3
   8	Astor Services	$42,582	$20.47
   9	United Soccer Academy	$42,059	$20.22
   10	Americorps	$41,875	$20.13	13
   11	Board Of Child Care	$41,873	$20.13
   12	City of Avondale	$41,726	$20.06
   13	Chugach Alaska	$41,575	$19.99	3
   14	City of Billings	$41,317	$19.86
   15	NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR	$41,146	$19.78	2
   16	Montana	$41,108	$19.76
   17	James Madison University	$40,620	$19.53
   18	City Of La Palma	$40,574	$19.51
   19	City of South Gate	$39,950	$19.21	2
   20	City of Edmonds, Official City Account	$39,939	$19.20

4. Writing a recreation coordinator job description

   A recreation coordinator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a recreation coordinator job description:

   Recreation coordinator job description example

   New Hire Bonus up to $1500!

   We're currently seeking team members who are passionate about building lasting vacation memories for owners/guests visiting our resort properties! You are service orientated, thoughtful, courteous, excellent with both children and adults in providing a refreshing environment.

   What will I be doing?

   As a Recreation Coordinator , you will be responsible for driving company success through performing the following tasks to the highest standards:

   • Coordinate recreational programs on a day-to-day basis for all age groups according to needs and interests of guests/owners, resort requirements, and seasonal opportunities.
   • Supervise and evaluate recreation program content and prepare communication material to attract participants, promote program interest, and evaluate program/activities effectiveness and participation levels.
   • Plan, coordinate, and teach specific classes, activities, and events, including special events, holiday programs, competitions, mixers, and other group activities
   • Supervise pool activities, towel inventory control, and all other activity common areas
   • Rent and sign out recreation equipment to guests.
   • Always provide outstanding guest/owner service including answering inquiries, providing information, and general problem solving.
   • Maintain recreation inventory.
   • Assist and provide support to other departments when requested.
   • Assist in conducting program surveys and preparing reports as needed.
   • Knowledge of a wide variety of recreation activities and programs including their development and implementation

   We offer an excellent benefits package to our full-time Team Members that include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401K plan, Paid Time Off (PTO) program, and extraordinary travel benefits!

   Qualifications

   What are we looking for?

   A team-first attitude

   To fulfill this role successfully, you must possess the following minimum qualifications and experience:

   • High School/GED
   • 6 Months Customer Service
   • Ability to work any day of the week and any shift to include weekends and holidays.

   It would be advantageous in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions:

   • 2 years of practical recreation experience
   • 1 year of concierge work experience

   What will it be like to be a Team Member

   Hilton Grand Vacations is a leader in the vacation ownership industry, operating with an unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and continued growth. At the core of our company's success are our Team Members. We offer an excellent benefits package to our full-time Team Members that include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K plan, Paid Time Off (PTO) program, and extraordinary travel benefits.

   Don't wait! Apply Today.

   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

   We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find recreation coordinators 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 recreation coordinators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level recreation coordinators 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 recreation coordinator job on Zippia to find and recruit recreation coordinator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting recreation coordinators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 recreation coordinator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the recreation coordinator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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How much does it cost to hire a recreation coordinator?