Aquatics Director

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Under the guidance from the Mission Advancement Director, the Aquatics Director is responsible for development, organization, and implementation of high quality, member-focused YMCA aquatic programs and services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Directs, supervises, expands, and maintains all aspects of the Aquatics facilities and related program activities within the community in accordance with strategic and operating plans to meet YMCA objectives. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community organizations.
2. Recruits, hires, trains, develops, evaluates, schedules, and directs aquatics staff and volunteers as needed. Ensures coverage in all aquatic areas and filling in where necessary.   Reviews and evaluates staff performance. Develops strategies to motivate staff and achieve goals.
3. Ensures proper implementation of Aquatics procedures. Reviews and updates staff procedures and communicates changes to staff. Coordinates with the business office as necessary on financial transactions.
4. Greet and assist all members, potential members, volunteers, and staff in a courteous, professional, and friendly manner. Be enthusiastic towards members by learning their names and expressing an interest in their YMCA activities. Strive to enrich their YMCA experience by introducing them to new programs, staff, members, and volunteer activities.
5. Monitors daily pool operations to adhere to all state, local and YMCA health and safety regulations.
6. With the help of the Facilities Director and Maintenance staff, ensures proper maintenance of pools. Secures and schedules pool facilities. Maintains accurate records of pool chemical levels and facility maintenance. Maintain, purchase, and coordinate maintenance and repairs for Aquatics equipment and supplies as required.
7. Conduct lifeguarding, swim instruction, First Aid, and CPR trainings as needed.
8. Create, direct, and schedule swim lessons, private lessons, swim programs, and water safety programs.
9. Maintain working knowledge of wellness and aquatics trends to provide effective information and support to members.
10. Develop and keep up to date all internal communication that is related to the Aquatics Area operations.
11. Maintain a working knowledge of the YMCA rules, policies, and emergency procedures and act as the control center for the Aquatics Area and Locker Rooms during emergency situations.
12. Respond to members' needs. Contact appropriate personnel when necessary. Handle complaints in a courteous manner. Effectively negotiate and resolve customer service problems.
13. Ensures programs and services meet community needs to include supervising existing program activities, establishing new program activities, and expanding the program within the community as needed. Assists in the marketing and distribution of program information.
14. Compiles program statistics. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of and participation in program, making changes as necessary.
15. Works in conjunction with the Director of Program Services and Membership Director in implementing membership onboarding initiatives.
16. Assist other staff as needed and perform other duties as assigned.

YMCA COMPETENCIES:

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Ys values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.

Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailor’s communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.

Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.

Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. At least 21 years of age preferred.
2. Bachelor's degree in related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
3. Minimum of 1 year customer service and supervisory experience preferred or equivalent combination of related education and experience.
4. Certifications required within 30 days of hire: Lifeguard, CPR/AED and First Aid.
5. Complete and maintain YMCA program-specific and trainer certifications including Lifeguard Instructor, Certified Pool Operator, Water Safety Instructor, etc. within 3 months of hire or as available.
6. Excellent interpersonal, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
7. Excellent personal computer skills and experience with standard business software.
8. Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
9. This individual must familiarize themselves with YMCA rules and policies within 30 days of employment. Since this position is dealing directly with members, program participants, volunteers, and staff in a position of authority, above-average verbal communication skills are required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk and hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move at least 50 pounds or more in the event of a water rescue. 
• Ability to perform strenuous physical tasks necessary for a water rescue and physically perform all skills required of a lifeguard.
• Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions and to supervise program activities in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor locations. In this position, this person will not frequently be required to work in outside weather conditions.
• May frequently be exposed wet and/or humid environments.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Acute hearing skills are required. Hear noises and distress signals in the aquatic environment, including in the water and anywhere around the zone of responsibility. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Remain alert with no lapses of consciousness.
• See and observe all sections of an assigned zone or area of responsibility.