Recreation Assistant - Discovery Center

The City of Roanoke is seeking four Recreation Assistants to interact with daily visitors to the Mill Mountain Discovery Center and work with the Recreation Instructor and Events Supervisor to offer Environmental Education Programming to the public. This position will interact with visitors during open hours, help deliver environmental education programs and activities, and work at Discovery Ce programs/events. This position has a flexible schedule and will be approximately 10-25 hours per week based on availability.

• Assists with the daily operation of the nature or visitor center under the direction of the Recreation Instructor.
• Supports the setup, delivery, and breakdown of scheduled nature programs and activities.
• Assists in facilitating programs for children, adults, and families, including helping manage group flow and participant engagement.
• Provides basic interpretation or scripted program components as assigned.
• Greets visitors, answers general questions, and provides information about programs and facilities.
• Helps maintain cleanliness, safety, and organization of indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Monitors program supplies and reports needs or issues to the supervisor.
• Assists with basic data collection such as attendance counts and participant feedback.
• Follows established procedures, safety protocols, and program plans.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.

To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

This position is non exempt.

• Responsible for daily operation of nature/visitor center.
• Plans, promotes, implements nature programs for all age groups.
• Administering programs to large groups.
• Help visitors navigate hiking trails and park features.
• Performs impromptu nature programs.
• Conducts research to obtain program partners and programming ideas.
• Evaluates programs for participant satisfaction and improvement.
• Ensures that facilities are clean, safe, and welcoming.

• Experience and/or knowledge of educational methodologies.
• Comfort in outdoor settings and discussing local wildlife, habitats, and stewardship.
• Hands-on experience assisting or leading nature-based programs (schools, camps, parks, museums, nature centers) or relevant coursework (environmental science, biology, ecology).
• Broad knowledge of natural sciences.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to research, develop, and execute programs with little supervision.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers.
• Highly motivated and energetic.