Senior Recreational Programs Assistant

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The Ontario Science Centre delights, informs and challenges the communities we serve, enriching people's lives and understanding through engagement with science of local, national and global relevance. Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed more than 50 million visitors, with an interactive approach that was the model for science centres around the world. It is a venue for public dialogue about science and society, aiming to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery and action to create a better future for the planet.

The Opportunity:
The Ontario Science Centre Recreational Programs Department will be filling up to 5 positions to deliver our Youth 4 Youth summer camp this year. These positions will be for 10 weeks at full time hours. The program will expose participants to the behind-the-scenes work of the Science Centre related to science, technology, engineering, math, skilled trades and apprenticeship pathways.

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About the job

Senior Recreational Programs Assistants (RPA) will be contracted for a 10 week period to deliver our Youth 4 Youth summer camp. As a Senior RPA you will:

• Work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and where you will need to readily adapt to change.
• Work independently and as part of a team to deliver science and recreational activities and demonstrations in a safe, organized and engaging manner.
• Greet, guide, and supervise program participants of various group sizes, and respond to participant needs in order to ensure customer satisfaction and an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
• Be responsible for setting up, maintaining, and cleaning up program delivery spaces and supplies inventory areas by moving boxes, supplies and other large items (up to 20 lbs) related to recreational programs to and from the required areas for set-up/take down.
• Provide support to the coordination of recreational programs as assigned by the Recreational Program Leaders and/or the Manager.
• Attend and participate in meetings and training sessions and follow the OSC recreational programs policies, principles and procedures at all times.
• Participate in camp and other recreational program activities that include extended periods of sitting, walking, kneeling, crouching, squatting, reaching and/or standing.

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What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

• All candidates must be certified in Standard First Aid and CPR Level C prior to the start of employment and maintain certification throughout employment
• Top candidates will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening check for this position.

Leadership and Organizational Skills

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision, or as part of a team
• Organization, time management and prioritization skills and the ability to switch quickly between conflicting priorities
• Ability to follow multi-faceted instructions
• Demonstrated dependability, reliability, initiative and flexibility
• Strong creative problem solving skills
• Ability to mentor and support less experienced staff and program volunteers

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Experience in teaching, presenting recreational or scientific programs, or other engagement roles in a recreation/camp and/or education setting
• Demonstrated experience leading and supervising diverse groups of children including different age groups, learning abilities/styles, and/or special needs
• Ability to deliver programs and use adaptability techniques to strategically support the integration of program participants with physical and/or developmental disabilities
•Ability to learn, understand and follow procedures, daily operations and program practices

Communication Skills

• Knowledge of and experience in presentation principles and techniques to deliver creative, enthusiastic, engaging, exciting, dramatic and interactive presentations, demonstrations and activities
• Ability to deliver engaging programs and presentations and use adaptability techniques to strategically support the integration of program participants with physical and/or developmental disabilities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Customer Service Skills

• Proven commitment to customer service and visitor care
• Ability to be enthusiastic and engaging with visitors of all ages
• Ability to interact with caregivers and visitors in a professional, responsible and respectful manner as a representative of the Ontario Science Centre

OPS Commitment to diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti- racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit theOPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the application instructions below if you require a disability-related accommodation.

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Additional information:

Note:

• In accordance with the Ontario Public Service (OPS), Employment Screening Checks Policy (ESCP), the top candidate(s) may be required to undergo a security screening check. Refer to the above to determine the screening checks that are required for this position.
  
  Required security screening checks along with your written consent, will be sent to the Transition and Security Office (TSO), Talent Development Branch, Talent and Leadership Division to evaluate the results. If applicable, the TSO, with your written consent, will request and obtain any additional employment screening checks that were not obtained directly by you.
  
  A record under the Criminal Code and/or other federal offence record(s) does not automatically mean you will be ineligible for the position. The employment screening check(s) will only be reviewed and evaluated by the TSO for the purpose of making a security clearance decision. The details of an individual's employment screening check(s) will be considered in specific relation to the duties and responsibilities of the position being filled. Employment screening check records will be maintained by the TSO and kept strictly confidential.

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Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.