The City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is proud to be "Building Community Through Fun" through innovative, creative, and excellent programs and services. Our mission is to build healthy communities through people, parks, and programs.
The Department is a steady force in our community, advancing education, health, and social connections. We meet the diverse needs of our community across the lifespan by connecting people to places and people to people. The principles of equity, access, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and flexibility guide us. The Department creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn, which include 48 community centers, 210 parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, nearly 61 miles of trails, and programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families in our community. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public's trust.
The BeautifySJ Program is a blight reduction, community and neighborhood beautification, and encampment management program within the Community Services Division of the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department. BeautifySJ Programs include, the Graffiti Removal Program, Illegal Dumping Program, Neighborhood Dumpster Day Program, Neighborhood Litter Program, Recreational Vehicle Pollution Prevention Program, Encampment Trash removal Program, Clean Gateways and Cash for Trash Program.
The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department is currently seeking to fill two temporary (Overstrength) full-time Community Activity Specialist vacancy in the BeautifySJ Prorgram. The position is currently funded through June 30, 2026. These two (2) Community Activity Specialist who will support the Encampment Management Team with the implementation of the no return/no encampment zone for encampments. In addition to this assignment, these two positions will assist the encampment abatement teams with weekly abatement activities including noticing encampments, referrals to partner departments for outreach, providing education on encampment setback areas. The position daily engagement with those residing in homeless encampments. Those selected for the positions can expect to work in-person, 40 hours per week with a typical in-person schedule of Monday-Friday.
Applicants can also expect at times to work on activities and events and may include evening and weekend work.
The duties of this position will consist of:
- Posting encampment abatement notices at encampments
- Engaging with those who reside in homeless encampments to educate them on the "no return zone" and other encampment setbacks
- Working in and near homeless encampment locations
- Pilot and document best practices for a no-encampment zones
- Coordinate with city officials, other City Departments, law enforcement, and service providers to ensure a unified approach to clearing and managing encampments
- Coordinating resources and scheduling workload for efforts including but not limited to Secondary Employment Unit (SEU) requests and scheduling through SJPD outreach service requests to the Housing Department, etc.
- Process reports and data tracking through the Survey123 system
This posting will be used to fill future Community Activity Specialist positions that support neighborhood beautification and encampment management.
