Please note: State agencies that contact job applicants do not usually request personal or financial information via text message or over the phone in connection with your response to a job posting. If you are contacted for such information by these methods, or any other method, please verify the identity of the individual before transmitting such information to that person.
Note: For questions about the job posting, please contact the agency that posted this position by using the contact information provided on the "Contact" tab for the position.

Review Vacancy

Date Posted 11/20/25

Applications Due12/04/25

Vacancy ID203221

NY HELPYes

AgencyPeople With Developmental Disabilities, Office for

TitleRecreation Worker

Occupational CategoryHealth Care, Human/Social Services

Salary Grade14

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $57764 to $72630 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 11 AM

To 7:30 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? No

County Nassau

Street Address TBD

City TBD

StateNY

Zip Code00000

Duties Description The Recreation Worker plans and conducts recreational, community and social activities for individuals who reside in Long Island DDSO IRAs. The position requires travel to LIDDSO and community locations in Nassau and Suffolk County. Responsibilities include:

• Plan, develop, and implement recreational activities and programs, including, but not limited to sports, dance, drama, music, art, and social activities.
• Collaborate with treatment team members, community organizations, families, volunteers, and direct care staff to plan recreational and rehabilitation activities consistent with individuals’ person-centered interests.
• Coordinate and plan vacations, unit social activities, holiday celebrations, community inclusion, agency-wide events to be attended by LIDDSO individuals and staff.
• Teach or coach individuals on sports, games, dancing, drama, exercise, and other group activities, and encourage participation.
• Instruct individuals on creative arts and crafts, and assist with handling equipment and supplies.
• Observe and record individuals’ responses to and participation in activities using the electronic health record and LIDDSO required documentation.
• Organize and maintain rooms, equipment, decorations, supplies, entertainment, and other requirements to conduct activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nys-office-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities/posts/?feedView=all

#LI-MF1

Minimum Qualifications Promotion:
Two years of service as a Recreation Assistant and reachable for appointment on the current Civil Service Eligible List for this title.

Open Competitive:
High school graduation or equivalent and three years of planning and conducting a wide range of recreational and rehabilitation program and activities, such as sports, games, excursions, and creative arts, for individuals.

Transfer:
Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.

To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website: https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/index.cfm.

Additional Comments This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status.

• Please note that starting salary for this title reflects the downstate adjustment. Posted Hiring Salary includes the sum of the statutory hiring rate for PS&T Grade 14 ($53,764) and Downstate Adjustment ($4,000). Downstate Adjustment is added to the job rate ($68,630).

• If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee.

• The assignment of PS&T employees will be made in accordance with any agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding between PEF and the local DDSO regarding the posting of job vacancies.

• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume.

• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.

• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.

• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA).

• If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.

• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.

• Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.

• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.

• Life insurance and Disability insurance.

• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.

• Paid Holidays and Leave:
° Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.
° Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.
° Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.
° Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.
° Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.

• Health Care Coverage:
Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.

• Paid Parental Leave:
Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.

• Retirement Program:
Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.

• Professional Development and Education and Training:
NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.

• Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.

• OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

***All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.***

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Name Long Island Human Resources

Telephone 631-326-4413

Fax 631-493-1784

Email Address LongIsland.HR@opwdd.ny.gov

Address

Street 45 Mall Drive

Suite 1

City Commack

State NY

Zip Code 11725

 

Notes on ApplyingPlease email your resume and reference vacancy ID EOA#: 2025-424 in your email.

Printable Version