Activity Specialist Jobs
Activity Specialist jobs are open across healthcare, senior living, education, and recreation, from entry-level to program director, with common specializations in therapeutic recreation, youth programming, and adaptive activities. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 37+ Activity Specialist jobs
Qualifications
- High school or equivalent (Required)
- Experience with Children: Minimum 3 years (Required)
- Childcare: 1 year (Preferred)
- First Aid Certification (Preferred)
- CPR Certification (Preferred)
Job Description
After-School All-Stars New York: Part-Time Group Leader/Activity Specialist
After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is one of the leading national after-school program providers in the country. Our comprehensive school-based programs combine activities and learning to help build the knowledge and skills children need to succeed, both in school and in life. For school year 2026-2027, we are looking for energetic, creative Group leaders/Activity Specialists who want to join our team for our after-school programming.
Position: Group Leader/Activity Specialist
After-School All Stars NY will be providing after-school programming throughout the five Boroughs. This is a part-time, seasonal position from September 2026 through June 2027. With a special focus on the elementary age group, our cost-free, comprehensive school-based programs include Academic Readiness, Career Exploration, STEM, Wellness/Social Emotional Learning, and the Arts to help build the knowledge and skills children need to succeed, both in school and in life.
Required Dates:
After-school will take place Monday through Friday from 2PM-6PM beginning September 16th through June 11th, 2027.
Compensation: $17.50-19.50/hour depending on role and experience
Location Varies: Brooklyn, New York
Responsibilities/ Duties:
Group Leaders are responsible for monitoring and managing between 25 to 30 participants in and out of the classroom with the assistance of other staff. Ideal candidates will be highly motivated, organized, and able to manage and engage large groups of students.
Positive Environment:
- Know the safety policies and procedures and keep them.
- Always remain present with the students ensuring ratios are maintained.
- Plan multiple opportunities for students to speak and lead in class.
- Recognize and embrace participants for who they are (current behaviors and beliefs) and encourage, invite, and welcome them to opportunities to expand who they are (future behaviors and beliefs).
- Create a warm, safe environment that celebrates diverse cultures and encourages participation and effort.
Positive Relationship:
- Establish clear expectations and guidelines for appropriate behavior.
- Resolve conflict positively and communicate effectively.
- Ask students for their input, ideas, feedback, and opinions.
- Set healthy boundaries that model healthy adult-student behavior.
- Maintain professional and positive relationships with school staff, partners, participants and parents.
- Treat participants and colleagues with respect always.
- Content includes experiential and inquiry-based learning, building critical and creative thinking, collaboration, and communication skills.
Positive Experience:
- Provide participants with the opportunity to give input and suggestions for lessons.
- Allow participants to have leadership opportunities to plan and make decisions about course offerings, projects, and culminating events.
- Collaborate with Program Directors and Site Coordinators to establish and maintain high
quality program.
- Attend professional development activities and meetings.
- Support student recruitment and promotion of the program.
- (Activity Specialist) 2-4 lesson plan weekly with learning objective or skill building in each lesson.
Data Management:
- Maintain accurate attendance data and reports.
- Submit required data on time and accurately.
Experience and Education:
The successful candidate will have at minimum 2 years or more of non-profit or related youth development program experience. The individual will have a familiarity with and passion for working with spirited, high need, diverse youth populations.
- Must clear Department of Education PETS Fingerprinting process, School Aged Children Care Program requirements, Statewide Central Register of Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) clearance as well as Medical, FBI Livescan, State background check, Medical and Tuberculosis Clearance(if required)
- One or more years’ experience working in an after school, day camp, or community youth outreach setting, primarily of the elementary and middle school age is preferred.
- Familiarity and experience with diverse populations and cultural competencies are strongly desired.
- Ability to communicate effectively and demonstrate sensitivity to others as well as respond to critical incidents and act swiftly in emergency situations.
- Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with school district staff, program staff, parents, and community leaders.
- Experience creating lesson plans or multi-week curriculum preferred.
- Some undergraduate study is required; coursework in education, social or human services, child development, or related field is desirable.
- Individuals who may have experience in the following areas: Math, English, STEM, Theatre, Music, Dance, Computer Literacy, and Social Justice are highly desired.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to work with electronic devices.
Submit resume for consideration to nyoperations@afterschoolallstars.org, cc:
tenisha.swift@afterschoolallstars.org
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $17.50 - $19.50 per hour
Work Location: In person
Qualifications
- High school or equivalent (Required)
- Experience with Children: Minimum 3 years (Required)
- Childcare: 1 year (Preferred)
- First Aid Certification (Preferred)
- CPR Certification (Preferred)
Job Description
After-School All-Stars New York: Part-Time Group Leader/Activity Specialist
After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is one of the leading national after-school program providers in the country. Our comprehensive school-based programs combine activities and learning to help build the knowledge and skills children need to succeed, both in school and in life. For school year 2026-2027, we are looking for energetic, creative Group leaders/Activity Specialists who want to join our team for our after-school programming.
Position: Group Leader/Activity Specialist
After-School All Stars NY will be providing after-school programming throughout the five Boroughs. This is a part-time, seasonal position from September 2026 through June 2027. With a special focus on the elementary age group, our cost-free, comprehensive school-based programs include Academic Readiness, Career Exploration, STEM, Wellness/Social Emotional Learning, and the Arts to help build the knowledge and skills children need to succeed, both in school and in life.
Required Dates:
After-school will take place Monday through Friday from 2PM-6PM beginning September 16th through June 11th, 2027.
Compensation: $17.50-19.50/hour depending on role and experience
Location Varies: Brooklyn, New York
Responsibilities/ Duties:
Group Leaders are responsible for monitoring and managing between 25 to 30 participants in and out of the classroom with the assistance of other staff. Ideal candidates will be highly motivated, organized, and able to manage and engage large groups of students.
Positive Environment:
- Know the safety policies and procedures and keep them.
- Always remain present with the students ensuring ratios are maintained.
- Plan multiple opportunities for students to speak and lead in class.
- Recognize and embrace participants for who they are (current behaviors and beliefs) and encourage, invite, and welcome them to opportunities to expand who they are (future behaviors and beliefs).
- Create a warm, safe environment that celebrates diverse cultures and encourages participation and effort.
Positive Relationship:
- Establish clear expectations and guidelines for appropriate behavior.
- Resolve conflict positively and communicate effectively.
- Ask students for their input, ideas, feedback, and opinions.
- Set healthy boundaries that model healthy adult-student behavior.
- Maintain professional and positive relationships with school staff, partners, participants and parents.
- Treat participants and colleagues with respect always.
- Content includes experiential and inquiry-based learning, building critical and creative thinking, collaboration, and communication skills.
Positive Experience:
- Provide participants with the opportunity to give input and suggestions for lessons.
- Allow participants to have leadership opportunities to plan and make decisions about course offerings, projects, and culminating events.
- Collaborate with Program Directors and Site Coordinators to establish and maintain high
quality program.
- Attend professional development activities and meetings.
- Support student recruitment and promotion of the program.
- (Activity Specialist) 2-4 lesson plan weekly with learning objective or skill building in each lesson.
Data Management:
- Maintain accurate attendance data and reports.
- Submit required data on time and accurately.
Experience and Education:
The successful candidate will have at minimum 2 years or more of non-profit or related youth development program experience. The individual will have a familiarity with and passion for working with spirited, high need, diverse youth populations.
- Must clear Department of Education PETS Fingerprinting process, School Aged Children Care Program requirements, Statewide Central Register of Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) clearance as well as Medical, FBI Livescan, State background check, Medical and Tuberculosis Clearance(if required)
- One or more years’ experience working in an after school, day camp, or community youth outreach setting, primarily of the elementary and middle school age is preferred.
- Familiarity and experience with diverse populations and cultural competencies are strongly desired.
- Ability to communicate effectively and demonstrate sensitivity to others as well as respond to critical incidents and act swiftly in emergency situations.
- Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with school district staff, program staff, parents, and community leaders.
- Experience creating lesson plans or multi-week curriculum preferred.
- Some undergraduate study is required; coursework in education, social or human services, child development, or related field is desirable.
- Individuals who may have experience in the following areas: Math, English, STEM, Theatre, Music, Dance, Computer Literacy, and Social Justice are highly desired.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to work with electronic devices.
Submit resume for consideration to nyoperations@afterschoolallstars.org, cc:
tenisha.swift@afterschoolallstars.org
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $17.50 - $19.50 per hour
Work Location: In person
See All 37 Activity Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Activity Specialist JobsActivity Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in activity specialist jobs.
- Experience planning and facilitating group activities for the target population
- CPR and First Aid certification from an accredited provider
- Associate or bachelor's degree in recreation, therapeutic recreation, or a related field
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential or active pursuit of CTRS
- Proficiency with activity documentation and electronic health record systems
- Ability to pass a background check and meet facility health screening requirements
Tips for Your Activity Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to each setting
Hospitals, assisted living facilities, and after-school programs each expect different language. Swap generic activity terms for setting-specific ones, like 'cognitive stimulation programming' for memory care roles or 'structured enrichment' for youth settings, to signal you understand the environment.
List certifications in your header
Certifications like CTRS, CPR, and First Aid are screeners, not nice-to-haves. Placing them in your resume header or summary means hiring managers see your credentials before reading a single bullet, which matters when applicant pools run deep for activity roles.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists activity specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search by facility type, not just title
Job titles vary widely: you'll see 'activities aide,' 'recreation therapist,' and 'program coordinator' covering nearly identical duties. Search by facility type, such as skilled nursing, day camp, or behavioral health, to surface the full range of relevant openings.
Prepare a programming portfolio before interviews
Bring two or three sample activity calendars or program plans to your interview, even if they're from volunteer or practicum work. Interviewers in this field respond strongly to concrete evidence of planning skills, not just descriptions of past programs.
Negotiate schedule flexibility, not just pay
Activity specialist roles often require weekend and holiday coverage. During negotiations, ask specifically about rotating versus fixed schedules and whether holiday shifts carry differential pay, since these details affect day-to-day quality of life more than a small hourly difference.
Activity Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most activity specialists?
Police Athletic League, MyHoneyBird, and NEW YORK EDGE are hiring the most activity specialists right now, with openings concentrated in New York, Indiana, and Washington, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Senior living operators and large healthcare systems typically post the highest volume of these roles.
How many activity specialist jobs are remote?
About 29% of activity specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most roles in this field. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include program coordination, curriculum development, and telehealth-based recreational therapy.
How do you become an activity specialist?
Start by earning a degree in recreation, therapeutic recreation, human services, or a related field, since most employers expect at least an associate degree. Complete a supervised internship or practicum in a clinical or community setting to build hands-on experience. Obtain CPR and First Aid certification, then pursue the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential if you plan to work in healthcare. Apply to entry-level activity aide or coordinator roles to build your programming portfolio.
Can you get hired as an activity specialist with little experience?
Yes, many employers hire activity specialists with limited formal experience if you can show direct work with the population they serve. Volunteer work at a senior center, summer camp counseling, or a community recreation internship all count. Highlighting any group facilitation you've done, even informally, and arriving with sample activity plans can offset a short work history in this field.
What does the activity specialist interview process look like?
Most activity specialist interviews involve a phone screen followed by an in-person or video interview with a supervisor or department director. Expect scenario-based questions about how you'd engage a reluctant participant, adapt a program for limited mobility, or handle a behavioral incident during a group session. Some facilities ask candidates to lead a short demonstration activity with staff or residents as a practical skills assessment.
Where can I find and apply to activity specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to activity specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and preferred setting, then apply directly to each position that fits.
See All 37 Activity Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Activity Specialist Jobs