Lead Swim Instructor - Stonestown Y

About the role

The Lead Swim Instructor supports the supervision and evaluation of swim instructor staff during group lessons. They oversee both weekday and weekend group swim lessons and may be required to instruct in place of an absent swim lesson instructor. The role emphasizes the importance of safety and cleanliness in the aquatic environment, and involves coordinating training sessions and tracking certifications.

Responsibilities

• Swim Instruction & Program Delivery
• Demonstrate familiarity with water to teach novice students basic skills.
• Ensure all swimming lessons are taught in accordance with YMCA standards.
• Provide excellent service to swim lesson participants and engage YMCA members at the facility.
• Utilize active listening and motivational interviewing to address member and participant concerns and manage conflict.
• Promote YMCA Aquatics programming, stay informed about available offerings, and encourage member participation.
• Leadership & Staff Development
• Serve as a leader on the pool deck, ensuring staff follow policies and procedures while delivering excellent customer service.
• Provide constructive feedback to Swim Lesson Instructors to ensure adherence to policies and procedures, contributing to staff development.
• Collaborate with Swim Instructor Trainers and other lead staff to plan and conduct in-services, audits, evaluations, certification tracking, and compliance requirements.
• Lead onboarding and certification training, including YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor courses and ASHI courses.
• Attend required staff meetings and training; plan and lead in-service sessions and other aquatic training.
• Safety & Emergency Preparedness
• Maintain physical readiness to assist Lifeguards in an aquatic emergency.
• Remain alert to non-swimmers being supervised and share responsibility for their safety in the pool.
• Manage emergency situations to ensure proper care, notification of emergency contacts, and activation of the branch chain of command.
• Collaborate in organizing Safety Around Water week components.
• Scheduling & Operational Oversight
• Review and adjust the swim instructor schedule to ensure adequate coverage.
• Arrive on time for shifts and adhere to the scheduling policy, or arrange for substitutes if needed, unless directed otherwise by the supervisor.
• Commit to working at least 15 hours per week or 3 regular shifts per week, including one weekend shift.
• Communication & Member Engagement
• Aid in creating and implementing communication/customer service plans for swim lesson parents and participants.
• Communicate effectively with branch staff and inform the Aquatics Director or branch leadership of any issues.
• Keep aquatics and member services staff updated on programming.
• Evaluate programs based on consistent feedback from participants and implement necessary changes.
• Facility & Equipment Maintenance
• Maintain cleanliness and safety of the aquatic environment, equipment, and areas, including offices and supply areas.
• Monitor and maintain teaching materials and supplies.
• Complete required records, such as swim instructor observation forms, lesson rosters, level recommendations, new hire checklists, and audit tracking.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 1+ year of experience in teaching swim lessons.
• YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor Certification (YSLI).
• YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor Trainer Certification (YSLIT).
• American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer (CPRO) certification.
• American Red Cross First Aid certification.
• American Red Cross Emergency Oxygen Administration certification.
• YMCA Lifeguard Supervisor certification.
• Availability to work mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
• Basic proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Google Drive.
• Preferred qualifications include 1+ year of supervisory experience, previous experience in competitive swimming, bilingualism in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or other languages, and additional relevant certifications (e.g., YASA, ARC Lifeguard, ARC WSI, USA Swimming Coach, ASCA).

Disclaimers

• Must successfully complete a background screening, including criminal and employment verification.
• Some positions may also require a credit check.

Salary

The Lead Swim Instructor position offers a compensation range of $27.00 - $32.00 per hour. This rate is based on salary benchmarking for similar roles and is aligned with grant fund approvals and requirements for the position.