Senior Recreation Therapist - WNY EOA# 25-416cc

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 06/25/25

Applications Due07/09/25

Vacancy ID190940

• Basics
• Schedule
• Location
• Job Specifics
• How to Apply

NY HELPYes

AgencyPeople With Developmental Disabilities, Office for

TitleSenior Recreation Therapist - WNY EOA# 25-416cc

Occupational CategoryHealth Care, Human/Social Services

Salary Grade17

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

Salary RangeFrom $63361 to $80655 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 25%

Workweek Other (see below)

"Other" Explanation Fri/Sat or Sun/Mon pass days - to be discussed at the interview

Hours Per Week 40

Workday

From 11 AM

To 7:30 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? No

County Erie

Street Address 1146 East & West Road

City West Seneca

StateNY

Zip Code14224

Duties Description DUTIES DESCRIPTION:

This position develops, plans, and implements late afternoon/early evening, and weekend recreation activities for residential homes in their assigned area (Northern area of WNY). Services provided should focus on a person-centered approach, promote community inclusive activities/events, social skill and leisure skill development, and address sensory-based and/or adaptive needs. The selected candidate will act as a resource between homes on their caseload and community opportunities in their area, providing on-site services, providing recreation/programming information that is of interest to service recipients, and taking into consideration the least restrictive way for service recipients to participate. The candidate will accomplish these duties by:

• Developing, organizing, and providing hands-on recreational activities and support to residential homes across the assigned teams in both large and small group formats.
• Developing a variety of recreational activities with focus on community inclusion during late afternoon/evenings and weekend hours.
• Researching opportunities available in local community/communities and create a link with these sites.
• Offering recreational services and opportunities that promote recreational/leisure skill development, physical, mental, and/or social well-being, and address sensory needs.
• Incumbents are responsible for the organization and direction of therapeutic recreation programming, which could include, but are not limited to, sports, dance, drama, music, art, social, museum, animal interaction opportunities (in both large and small group format).
• Assisting, and potentially coaching, service recipients as they participate in Special Olympics leagues and other various sports throughout the region.
• Communicating area events and opportunities to assigned caseload via email, invites, and monthly recreation calendar of events.
• Identifying any needs that may present within assigned caseload, and address identified areas with caseload as follow up.
• Providing oversight and supervision to assigned Recreation Therapists.
• Travelling between assigned sites.
• Completing other assigned tasks as determined by Head Recreation Therapist and OPWDD administration based on the operational needs of the agency and department.

Consideration will be given based on interest, demonstrated skills in curriculum development and implementation, experience/success in establishing linkages with the community to promote service recipients' inclusion, and expertise relevant to the population to be served.

LinkedIn:

#LI-CC1

Minimum Qualifications Promotion:

One year of service as a Recreation Therapist (including parenthetic) OR reachable for appointment on the current Civil Service Eligible List for this title.

Transfer Eligibility:

Must be in title or on the Civil Service eligible list for this location or be eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 in a designated title determined by the New York State Department of Civil Service. For eligible 70.1 transfer information, visit the Career Mobility Office at: .

Open Competitive Qualifications:

Either 1. a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation, creative arts therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, adaptive physical education, art, dance, music, drama, recreation education with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, or recreation and leisure studies with a concentration in therapeutic recreation; AND two years of post-degree professional experience in planning and administering a therapeutic program which involved developing and coordinating therapeutic activities for a geriatric population, or individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities, addiction, or substance use disorders;

Or 2. a master's degree in therapeutic recreation, creative arts therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, adaptive physical education, art, dance, music, drama, recreation education with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, or recreation and leisure studies with a concentration in therapeutic recreation; AND one year of post-degree professional experience as described above.

Substitution:

Licensure and current registration as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York State; certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); registration as an Art Therapist with the American Art Therapy Association; registration as a Dance/Movement Therapist with the North American Dance Therapy Association; certification as a Music Therapist by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT); and registration as a Registered Drama Therapist by the North American Drama Therapy Association can substitute for one year of post-degree professional experience.

Additional Comments APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Submit cover letter and resume by July 9th, 2025 to:

Human Resources Department

1200 East & West Road

Bldg. 1

West Seneca, NY 14224

E-Mail: ...

Fax: ...

Please reference the above EOA #25-416cc in all correspondence.

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.

• 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 ... or email ... 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 .

• 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 .
• 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.

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

Name OPWDD Region 1 Western Office

Telephone ...

Fax ...

Email Address ...

Address

Street 1200 East and West Rd

XXX

City West Seneca

State NY

Zip Code 14224

Notes on ApplyingPlease email your cover letter and resume to ... and reference EOA#25-416cc in all correspondence.