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ABOUT THE POSITION: As a Program Specialist at Playworks, you play a key role in bringing the power of play to schools across Southern California. You will deliver high-impact, demonstration-style consultations, trainings, and professional development sessions that promote character development, learning, and physical activity through play-based strategies. Working closely with school administrators, teachers, and recess staff, you’ll model best practices, implement Playworks systems, and cultivate positive school climates in the classroom and on the playground. In addition to supporting partner schools, you’ll contribute to internal staff development through coaching, training facilitation, and program support. Program Specialists also collaborate with the management team on staff onboarding, program monitoring, and school recruitment through outreach and service alignment.

This position requires frequent travel throughout Southern California—including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside/San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties—with occasional overnight stays.

At Playworks, we believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. We create a place for every kid on the playground to get active, build valuable skills, connect, and have fun. We partner with schools, districts, and after-school programs to provide a service or mix of services, including on-site coaches, professional training for school staff who support recess, and consultative partnerships.

School-Based Program Implementation

• Plan and implement Playworks’ consultative, play-based program (Team-Up) at one to two elementary school sites, ensuring high-quality delivery aligned with program goals.
• Serve as a key liaison by maintaining consistent and effective communication with Playworks staff, school administrators, teachers, and volunteers to support program success.
• Manage program documentation and administrative tasks, including organizing daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, maintaining meeting agendas and notes, drafting implementation communications, compiling lesson plans, coordinating with school newsletters, and tracking relevant data.
• Design and deliver engaging learning units and lead staff training sessions focused on recess facilitation and core program components.
• Collaborate with the regional and national team to contribute to the development and refinement of programmatic learning and best practices.
• Provide on-site coaching, consultation, and modeling for school personnel to support the effective implementation of key Playworks program components.
• Recess Support: Partner with school staff to design and implement a safe, inclusive, and engaging recess environment. Coach recess supervisors and model active participation by organizing and leading large-group games with 20+ students, while reinforcing positive behavior and inclusive play.
• Youth Leadership Program: Coordinate and lead the “Junior Coach” student leadership program by facilitating training sessions, supporting school staff in supervising Junior Coaches during recess, and delivering afterschool programming focused on leadership development and game facilitation skills.
  
  
• Foundational Play Sessions: Conduct in-class learning sessions with elementary students and their teachers, using cooperative games and skill-building activities to promote character development and understanding of playground rules, boundaries, and expectations.

Regional Program Support

• Provide continuity of services and maintain program quality during staff transitions, including temporarily supporting school sites as needed.
• Build strong relationships with Playworks program staff (e.g., AmeriCorps Members, Site Specialists, Site Coordinators) through on-site instructional coaching, recess quality observations and assessments, consultation, and collaborative action planning.
• Lead engaging training sessions and peer learning opportunities that promote best practices and continuous professional growth for school-based staff.
• Collaborate with regional leadership and program implementers to drive adoption and increase awareness and usage of Playworks’ digital service (SparkPlay) across all direct service school partners, support its use for internal staff development, and integrate its learning modules into service delivery to enhance overall program effectiveness and impact.
• Collaborate with the management team to maintain high program quality standards and work cross-functionally with internal departments to support regional strategy and organizational alignment.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of regional events and activities, such as AmeriCorps Appreciation Week, staff retreats and celebrations, and corporate engagement activations.

External Playworks Training

• Become a certified trainer to deliver all Playworks Pro services, including travel throughout Southern California, delivering Playworks training on non-program implementation weeks.
• Deliver training and consultation to educators, school staff, administrators, youth development professionals, and out-of-school time providers on play-based strategies, game facilitation, youth leadership, recess design, group management, conflict resolution, and sustainable recess practices.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients pre- and post-training, including school visits to provide recess observations, consultation, and collaborative action planning with school recess teams.
• Support the creation of written materials and tools such as training packets, posters, conference programs, promotional materials and other educational and marketing resources.
• Contribute to the development and continued quality improvement of Playworks curriculum, including developing training content and techniques.
• Provide feedback and support to other Playworks staff delivering consultative support, training and professional development services.

Customer Recruitment

• Collaborate closely with the Program Management team to support school recruitment initiatives by conducting service match assessments, leading recess observations and evaluations, facilitating program demonstrations, and representing Playworks at regional events.
• Support the regional leadership in developing and executing an effective school recruitment and partner referral strategy, including helping to build and strengthen a high-performing recruitment team.
• Contribute to broader outreach efforts through activities such as researching prospective schools, leading on-site demonstrations, and providing creative input to enhance recruitment strategies.

Administrative Duties

• Collect and maintain paperwork, including organizing daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, timesheets, and expense and mileage reports.
• Engage in performance enrichment with their direct manager.
• Managing training materials, equipment, and programmatic supplies.

If you're a good fit for this position, you already know most of what this job entails. However, to be sure we're providing a complete picture, here are some details:

Success in this role requires a proactive, solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to take ownership of projects and drive key initiatives forward. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable working with diverse groups, and adept at applying strategic thinking to solve complex challenges.

The ideal candidate for the Program Specialist role will be an experienced leader, trainer, and relationship builder who thrives in dynamic, people-centered environments. They will bring a unique combination of energy, adaptability, and strategic thinking to help drive Playworks’ mission forward.

• Proven Leadership: A confident, motivating presence with a track record of leading teams through challenges and inspiring others to achieve shared goals.
• Training & Facilitation Expertise: Skilled at delivering engaging, clear, and interactive trainings or meetings, while fostering a collaborative atmosphere and welcoming feedback as a tool for growth.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Comfortable navigating ambiguity and fast-paced settings, with the creativity and determination to problem-solve in real time.
• Active & Outdoor Enthusiasm: Enjoys being physically active, working outdoors, and bringing high energy to play-based environments.
• Passion for Youth Development: Deeply committed to supporting children’s growth and well-being, and excited to model and lead playground games with elementary school students.
• Relational Strength & Positivity: Approachable and inclusive, with the ability to quickly build trust and meaningful connections across diverse school communities.
  
  

Required Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrated experience leading groups of children of all sizes with the ability to engage and inspire youth
• Proven ability to train adult participants, including helping with change management, connecting strategies to outcomes, and speaking on a micro and macro scale.
• Motivated self-starter with transparent and open communication skills
• Humorous and playful with the ability to set clear goals and follow through with flexible and creative problem-solving tools while working efficiently and effectively
• Ability to engage with diverse staff and leadership to promote equity, trust, collaboration, and partnership between departments and levels of administration.
• The conceptual ability for the larger perspective, with solid attention to detail and multitasking
• Experience interacting with diverse communities and the ability to integrate into an existing school community
• Knowledge of computer and internet-based programs for use in communication and grant requirements
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, both oral and written
• Ability to manage assorted tasks with a focus on enhancing the experience for youth during the school day
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel locally. This position will require travel to various regional locations.
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

Playworks offers the full package - great benefits, a fun place to work, and an opportunity to grow. We offer:

• A full-time, non-exempt, hourly position. Competitive hourly wage: $28.75 / hr.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) with employer match, life insurance, and employee-funded pre-tax health and child care spending accounts.
• Generous paid time off with paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave.
  
  

This is a hands-on, creative, playful, and fun-loving place to work, all while contributing to the success of our nation’s youth. So if you're ready to immerse yourself in the education sector, working on a rewarding set of challenges, and if you've got the skills, experience, passion, and a team spirit, apply!

Please include:

• A cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience has prepared you for this role.
• Resume.
• References will be requested if competitive for the position.

Service Environment: This position operates outdoors and in educational and office settings. The position interacts with children and adults on playgrounds and in classrooms daily.

Other things you need to know:

If a Playworks employee is required to drive a vehicle for work-related purposes (not commuting purposes), the employee must complete an authorization form and provide us with evidence of valid, current driver's license and proof of liability/collision/property damage insurance with minimum coverage of $50,000 each accident/ $100,000 each occurrence

Typical physical and mental demands:

This position requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to stand for extended periods at times; walk on a school site in various weather conditions; to climb stairs at some sites; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach and twist and, dependent on assignment the employee may occasionally lift, push, pull and/or move up to 50 pounds.

As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of national origin, religion, gender, differing abilities (physical, mental, learning), sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, political affiliation, military experience, and any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates on a merit basis.