Beyond the Bell: Summer Beyond Group Assistant (Instructor I) at Parks Tacoma – Tacoma, Washington

Based on our internal equity review process, the starting salary for this position will be $16.66.
The current full hourly range for this position is $16.66 - $21.58.

Are you passionate about working with youth and making their summer unforgettable? Join Beyond the Bell as a Summer Beyond Assistant Group Instructor at one of our dynamic Summer Beyond the Classroom (BTC) sites!
In this hands-on role, you’ll be the right hand to a Group Lead Instructor—supporting a group of Tacoma Public Schools students as they dive into fun, engaging, and curiosity-sparking STEAM activities. From the first cheerful arrival to the final high-five at dismissal, you’ll help guide students through four daily curriculum-based lab sessions and foster a vibrant camp experience every step of the way.

As an Assistant Group Instructor, you’ll help set the tone for a positive, structured, and inclusive environment. You’ll be a role model and a team player—helping with behavior management, ensuring safety, and sparking joy through meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community.
This isn’t just a summer job, it’s your chance to make a lasting impact, keeping students inspired, supported, and growing all season long. If you bring the energy, heart, and dependability—we’ll bring the opportunity!

Work where you play!
Join our team at Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.

Who We Are
Parks Tacoma is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Parks Tacoma's mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.

Why You’ll Love it Here
Come work with us and work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Parks Tacoma are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Position Information

Provide fun, informative

Provide fun, informative and exciting classes or learning opportunities in assigned program area.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.

• Provide support to, and collaborate with, other department staff to assist with planning, preparing, and implementing programs.
• Plan and prepare instruction materials or lesson plans or implement already established lesson plans.
• Instruct, and/or teach participants using excellent citizenship, sportsmanship, and inclusivity.
• Assess and evaluate student progress and provide feedback.
• Provide each participant the opportunity to succeed and grow their skills through program opportunities.
• Maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• Track attendance reports as required.
• Provide a positive attitude toward program participants and staff; encourage and serve as a positive role model.
• Maintain communication with staff, participants, and/or parents/guardians as needed.
• Stay up to date on trends within assigned program area.
• Responsible for the designated site location program set-up and general clean-up.
• Ensure program/facility rules, policies and procedures are followed; maintain and enforce safety standards and expectations.
• Ensure proper use, care and storage of program equipment and supplies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• At least 16 years of age.
• At least 1 year of related experience in assigned program area.
• Valid First Aid and CPR certification may be required.

HOURS/SCHEDULE:

• 28 hours per week.
• Monday - Thursday: 8:30AM - 3:30PM.
• Training: Week 1: 06/23/25 - 06/26/25; Week 2: 06/30/25 - 07/03/25.
• Camp programming runs from 07/07/25 - 08/14/25.

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of assigned recreation programs, activities, and services.
• Demonstrate knowledge of safety guidelines and practices.
• Skill in overseeing and instructing/teaching others.
• Ability to handle conflict and solve problems using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Ability to navigate emergency situations.
• Work with diverse groups of people in a tactful, effective, and respectful manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, the community and program participants.
• Follow instructions, both written and verbal.
• Ability to safely perform job tasks in a variety of park and non-park settings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work is performed indoors and outdoors.
• Driving a district vehicle, and transporting patrons, is required for some positions.
• Work various schedules including mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
• Ability to Frequent communication with district employees and customers.
• Noise level is moderately loud.
• Standing for long periods of time.
• Walking, kneeling and/or crouching to demonstrating proper form.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds on occasion.
• Ability to navigate emergency situations, including performing CPR.

PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

Parks Tacoma employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Parks Tacoma is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at hr@tacomaparks.com.

Employment is subject to a national background check.

This position is an at-will position with no written or implied contractual agreement.