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Job Description
Description
Now Hiring Teen Center Staff - Help Launch Palo Alto’s New Downtown Teen Space! Apply Today!
The Department
The City of Palo Alto has a long and proud history of investing in recreation - creating opportunities for connection, creativity, and community. Through innovative programs and welcoming spaces, Palo Alto Recreation plays a vital role in supporting residents of all ages, with a special focus on empowering youth to thrive.
The Opportunity
We’re hiring three passionate, creative, and community-minded individuals to join the team as Teen Center Staff at the brand-new Downtown Community Center (445 Bryant Street) - opening in January 2026!
This exciting new North Palo Alto space will be a vibrant after-school hangout for middle and high school students, offering games, art, activities, and opportunities to connect, create, and grow. Teen Center Staff will help shape the energy, programming, and culture of this new space - turning it into a hub where teens feel seen, supported, and inspired.
If you love working with youth, building community, and being part of something new, this is your chance to make a lasting impact from the ground up.
Tentative Schedule: Monday through Friday, 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., with occasional weekend work.
About the Downtown Teen Center
The Downtown Teen Center will be Palo Alto’s newest youth-focused space - a drop-in hangout designed for teens to unwind, get creative, and connect after school.
Much like its sister location at Mitchell Park, the center will feature a mix of recreational games and enrichment programs, including:
Video games & ping pong
Boardgames & foosball
Art projects & workshops
Study zones & leadership activities
The Teen Center will also host special events, seasonal programs, and community collaborations, giving teens a chance to explore new interests and build lifelong skills in a supportive, welcoming environment.
Duties
Teen Center Counselor Responsibilities:- Create an engaging, inclusive, and safe environment where teens can relax and express themselves.
- Lead and participate in recreational, creative, and educational programs such as art, sports, and life-skills workshops.
- Build positive relationships with youth while serving as a trusted mentor and role model.
- Support teens in discovering new passions, developing confidence, and fostering leadership.
- Work with the Teen Center Site Director and Youth & Teen Services Coordinator to plan, deliver, and evaluate programs.
- Communicate effectively and professionally with participants, parents, and team members.
- Help maintain a clean, organized, and inviting space.
- Participate in meetings, trainings, and special events.
- May lead or mentor Teen Counselor I staff as part of daily operations.
- Comply with all City of Palo Alto policies and procedures and perform related duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
Sufficient education, training, and/or work experience to demonstrate the possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:- At least one year of experience working with children or teens in a formal setting.
- Demonstrated skill in youth instruction and engagement.
- At least one year of leadership experience (e.g., mentoring peers, leading groups, or supervising programs).
Experience in recreation, education, or youth development is a plus.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
This is your opportunity to be part of something new, meaningful, and fun - shaping a space that empowers the next generation. As part of the City of Palo Alto’s Youth and Teen Services team, you’ll:
Make a direct impact in your community
Collaborate with passionate, supportive colleagues
Develop valuable leadership and recreation experience
Help launch one of the most exciting new youth spaces in town
If you’re energized by creativity, connection, and community, we’d love to have you on the team!
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process: Applicants are encouraged to apply early as possible. Applications will be reviewed promptly upon receipt and screenings and interviews will begin as soon as posting requirements are met and a sufficient applicant pool is found.
This position is represented by Service Employee International Union Hourly Unit (SEIU-H).
Compensation (SEIU-H) : Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more click HERE.
This position has limited benefits that is budgeted to not exceed 999 hours per fiscal year (July - June). The number of hours per week and schedule will be determined based on assignment. In lieu of providing a medical plan, the City offers a medical stipend of $3.48.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov . If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
City of Palo Alto offers the following benefits to those in a SEIU Hourly position:
Medical Stipend
$3.80 effective the pay period including July 1, 2024.
Sick Leave
Earn .03 hour of sick leave for each hour worked.
Retirement
City of Palo Alto PST (Part-time, Seasonal & Temporary Employees) Retirement Plan
Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security.
Closing Date/Time: 10/23/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show moreThe Community
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-NewsCity Government
Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.
Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."
Contact Us
Phone: 650-329-2376
Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov
Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map
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