Employment and Internship Opportunities

Mission and Values

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization. PP&R encourages candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and diverse communities. Although not required, PP&R encourages candidates that can fluently speak another language to include that information in your resume.

Permanent and Limited Duration Employment

All positions with Portland Parks & Recreation are listed within the City of Portland employment center and are updated weekly.

See all of our employment opportunities here.

Part-time and Seasonal Employment

Includes recreation support staff positions at community centers, summer recreation support, instructors, customer service, counselors, inclusion assistants, seasonal maintenance workers, and more! 

Aquatic Summer Support Staff (Open Continuous)

Recreation Summer Employment (Open Continuous)

Seasonal Maintenance Worker (Open Continuous)

See all of our employment opportunities here.

Aquatics Training Programs

Portland Parks & Recreation is always looking for motivated and responsible individuals to join our aquatics staff. We offer lifeguard certification, swim instructor training, and water fitness instructor training classes year-round. Visit our Aquatics Training Program and Employment Opportunities page for complete details.

Internships

Portland Parks & Recreation’s internship program is currently unable to accommodate new requests. Please check back for future updates. 

Internship assignments vary in length depending on the needs of the bureau and the requirements of the school where the student is seeking a degree. Students have participated in internships in professional fields such as recreation, environmental studies, office administration, planning, and facilities maintenance.

Compensation

Compensation may or may not be paid depending on specific internship.

Requirements

• Applicants for intern positions must be enrolled in a trade school training program, or college or university undergraduate or graduate program, preferably in a field related to the mission and scope of the bureau's work.
• Applicants must attach a current transcript showing enrollment.
• Applicants must be able to pass a criminal history background check.

Areas of Interest

Administrative Support
Information management including file maintenance, data entry, spreadsheet design, and maintenance. Information management may include utilizing MS Office Excel and Access. Document creation and modification utilizing MS Office Word and PowerPoint. General office support including mail distribution, copying, and front desk coverage.

Community engagement/outreach/volunteers/communication
Assist with neighborhood meetings, writing press releases, working with staff on various projects, community engagement activities and other PP&R related opportunities.

Event Planning
Assist event directors with coordination, marketing and implementing special events that include movies in the parks, concerts in the parks, and the Washington Park Summer Festival.

Irrigation/Turf/Equipment
Tasks may include data collection, field investigations and research regarding industrial users. Organize photos into a single catalogued data base and create instructional images/videos of operational procedures. Perform filing and general office duties. Provide general and administrative support.

Urban Forestry
Assist with urban forestry projects including tree planting, mapping and GIS, tree inventory, education events, publications, and working with volunteers. 

Equal Employment/Non-Harassment Statement

The City of Portland is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The City will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels without regard to race, religion, gender, marital status, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, or protected veteran status. It is the City’s policy to prohibit workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of protected status. The City of Portland is committed to creating a respectful and professional work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and that promotes employment opportunities.

Nondiscrimination Policy

It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply. If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, the requests must be made to the Analyst(s) named below No Later Than the Closing Date of This Announcement. The City is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

To help ensure equal access to City programs, services, and activities, the City of Portland reasonably provides: translation and interpretation services, modifications, accommodations, auxiliary aides and services, and alternative format. For these services, complaints, and additional information, contact Carolyn Lee at carolyn.lee@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-5076, City TTY 503-823-6868, or Oregon Relay Service: 711.

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