RPD University

A commitment to learning

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New Employees

New Employees

Welcome to the Recreation and Parks Department, your new professional family! We are excited to have you on board and as we fundamentally change the way recreation and park systems operate. The fact that you are here means that you believe, just like we do, that recreational opportunities and park stewardship are key to healthy, happy citizens – and a thriving City! – While the Department may be a lot to take in all at once, don’t worry, we are going to do great things together!

New employees must complete:

    • Onboarding Checklist: Use this list as a discussion point with your supervisor, to ensure you have access to all the tools you need to be successful at RPD.
    • New Employee Orientation (NEO): Monthly classroom course. See the current Training Catalog for upcoming course times and locations.
    • RPD Communications: Monthly classroom course. See the current Training Catalog for upcoming course times and locations.
    • Disaster Service Worker Training: Online course that must be completed every two years. (updated version 10/3/13)
      • Submit your completion certificate via the “Training Documentation” link in the page footer
    • Personal Preparedness Training: Online course that must be completed every two years. (updated version 4/10/12)
      • Submit your completion certificate via the “Training Documentation” link in the page footer

GM Message

GM, Phil Ginsburg

“RPD University is our commitment to giving our team the tools and training we need to grow professionally, to keep current with best practices and new thinking, and to remain innovative and responsive as we serve the public. RPD-U provides skill development for our workforce to succeed and opportunities for personal growth. When each of us is exposed to different thinking and new ideas, we gain competence, perspective, and judgment—so that all of us benefit. I hope these learning opportunities and programs inspire and connect us to our profession, to each other, and to the park users we serve.”
— General Manager Phil Ginsburg

About RPD-U

Team RPD
The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department is responsible for over 220 of the best parks and recreation centers in the nation. Given that we have locations all across San Francisco, we are a very geographically dispersed workforce. That's where RPD-U comes into play!