What are the responsibilities and job description for the Aquatics Director position at YMCA?
The Aquatics Director is responsible to give direct leadership to the Aquatics Department. Primary responsibilities include (but are not limited to) Swim School and Day Camp operations and programming. The Aquatics Director provides leadership to the Aquatics team to ensure that all services offered through the Rye Y meet the highest safety and member-centric standards set by the Rye YMCA. Responsibilities include the overall management of the Swim School, general pool operations, and facilitating, planning, and coordinating Aquatics event and programs. In the absence of the Senior Director of Aquatics and Safety, the Aquatics Director will provide direct leadership to all aquatic’s activities and staff.
- Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience. Minimum requirement: Age 21.
- Minimum of five years working experience in the Aquatics field.
- Minimum of three years of experience in a related program management role.
- Required certifications: CPR, First Aid, AED, Lifeguard, Aquatic Management, Certified Pool Operator, WSI or YMCA Swim Instructor (YMCA preferred)
- Experience with competitive swim team preferred.
- Certified YSL Instructor Facilitator within one year of hire.
- Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Strong human resources development skills; more particularly, hiring, training, motivating, supervising and evaluating staff.
- Strong administrative skills and well-organized in office management.
- Excellent financial skills including budget preparation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Strong time management and organizational skills.
- Ability to exercise effective independent judgment and sound decision-making.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
1. Develops, implements and manages operating plans & schedules for the Rye Y Swim School, Day Camp swim program, and Swim Team to promote program and/or membership growth and retention for the YMCA. Executes strategies to ensure that members and/or program participants achieve goals, and connect with one another and with the YMCA.
2. Provides direct leadership to the Aquatics staff. Directs and supervises Swim School and Day Camp activities and Aquatics staff to meet the needs of the community and fulfill YMCA objectives. Implements YMCA Swim Lesson curriculum. Trains and monitors staff. Establishes new program activities and expands program within the community in accordance with strategic and operating plans.
3. Coordinate all aspects of group swim lessons with a focus on program growth, swim instructor development, monitoring progress of students through regular evaluations, and celebrating achievements. Build strong relationships with participants to help retention rate and program growth. Responsible for registration, program input, and overseeing all aspects of class management. Should be present during group swim lessons to be accessible to parents, help staff, and regularly evaluate students to ensure they are in appropriate classes.
4. Recruits, hires, onboard, develops, evaluates, recognizes and supervises staff and volunteers in assigned areas, in order to ensure safe, high-quality member focused services. Facilitates Aquatic New Staff Training with all incoming Aquatic staff members to ensure the highest level of customer service and safety in Aquatic programming. Holds monthly swim instructor training to ensure quality results from swim instructors. Models relationship-building skills (including Listen First) in all interactions.
5. Assists Senior Director of Aquatics & Safety with the management of overall aquatics operations, including payroll on a bi weekly basis, staff performance reviews, monitoring program income and expenses to ensure budget targets are met.
6. Serves as a water safety advocate within the Y and the community. Organizes demonstrations and creates opportunities to advocate Y-USA’s Safety around Water.
7. Ensures quality results by monitoring and evaluating program effectiveness and adhering to program standards.
8. Monitors daily pool operations and ensures compliance with all state and local sanitary regulations. Helps to ensure a culture of safety and leading practices and procedures in accordance with regulations, national safety and training standards, insurance and Y-USA guidelines.
9. Ensure highest level of safety by maintaining implementation of swim check policy Test. Mark. Protect.
10. Provides leadership and support to the annual fundraising campaign.
11. Keeps updated professional knowledge of all programs through self -study, research, and/or conference/workshop participation.
12. With assistance from the Assistant Aquatics Director, coordinate events and activities in the pool to promote family time at the Y including but not limited to special family events such as the Halloween Carnival, Santa’s Visit, Easter Egg Hunt.
13. Works closely with Facilities Director to assist with pool maintenance on an as needed basis.
YMCA COMPETENCIES (Team Leader):
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 tailors’ 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.
Required certifications:
- CPR
- First Aid
- AED
- Lifeguard
- Aquatic Management
- Certified Pool Operator
- WSI or YMCA Swim Instructor (YMCA preferred)
- Certified YSL Instructor Facilitator within one year of hire
