Aquatic Director

Champion water safety skills and build future leaders within our community!

Job Description

Provides leadership and management for the branch’s large-scale aquatic department while advancing the YMCA’s mission and branch priorities. Serves as a member of the Branch Leadership Team and leads aquatic operations, staff, and programs that promote water safety, healthy living, skill development, and lifelong participation in aquatics. Oversees the quality, growth, financial performance, safety, and sustainability of lifeguard services, swim lessons, water fitness, certification courses, aquatic rentals, and other assigned initiatives while creating a safe, welcoming, and mission-driven environment for members and participants. Collaborates with Aquatic Director at other branches to run a cohesive association aquatic program.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Sports Management, Exercise Science, Physical Education, Education, Business, or a related field required.

Experience

• Three or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in aquatics, recreation, sports, nonprofit operations, or a related field.
• Experience supervising lifeguards, instructors, coaches, or aquatic personnel preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing staff, budgets, scheduling, customer service, and program growth.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and hold staff accountable through coaching, recognition, and performance management.
• Strong knowledge of aquatic operations, lifeguarding, water safety, emergency procedures, pool chemistry, and risk management.
• Strong financial, operational, and organizational skills with the ability to manage budgets, schedules, staffing, and departmental priorities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with members, participants, families, volunteers, staff, schools, and community partners.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to use performance metrics to inform decisions and improve operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, registration systems, scheduling software, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve communication, efficiency, and decision-making.

Essential Functions

BRANCH LEADERSHIP-Serves as a member of the Branch Leadership Team and participates in Team Leader meetings, Association Aquatic Focus Groups, planning sessions, leadership development, and branch initiatives. Supports Association priorities, collaborates with department leaders, participates in special events, and serves as Director on Duty as assigned.


MISSION ADVANCEMENT-Advances the YMCA’s mission by building relationships, communicating impact, strengthening the YMCA brand, supporting fundraising and donor stewardship efforts, engaging volunteers, and developing collaborative partnerships that expand aquatic participation, promote water safety, and strengthen community impact.


MEMBER EXPERIENCE-Creates exceptional experiences through intentional relationship building, excellent customer service, consistent communication, and responsive problem-solving. Builds lasting relationships with members, participants, families, swim team athletes, and community partners while promoting participation across YMCA programs and services.


FACILITY MANAGEMENT- Oversees the daily operation, appearance, cleanliness, safety, and readiness of aquatic facilities, equipment, and support spaces. Coordinates inspections, preventative maintenance, repairs, equipment replacement needs, and facility improvement recommendations with branch and facilities leadership.


FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT-Develops and manages assigned departmental budgets in partnership with branch leadership. Monitors financial performance, analyzes participation and financial trends, prepares variance information, and implements strategies to achieve enrollment, revenue, retention, and expense goals while ensuring responsible stewardship of YMCA resources.


PROGRAM MANAGEMENT-Leads the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of assigned aquatic programs, including lifeguard operations, swim lessons, private lessons, water fitness, Lifeguard/CPR/O2/First Aid certification courses, pool rentals, and specialty programs. Coordinates staffing, schedules, equipment, pool space, enrollment, and other operational needs while monitoring quality, participation, safety, compliance, outcomes, and opportunities for growth and improvement.


RISK MANAGEMENT-Maintains the highest standards of aquatic safety by ensuring compliance with YMCA, state, local, and health department regulations. Oversees lifeguard readiness, emergency action plans, pool chemistry, incident reporting, inspections, certification compliance, emergency drills, child abuse prevention and risk management procedures to provide a safe environment for all participants. Ensures timely completion, review, and follow-up of incident reports and corrective actions. Collaborates with the Risk Manager to implement association-wide aquatic safety standards, address identified risks, and support consistent safety practices across YMCA branches.


TALENT MANAGEMENT- Recruits, hires, trains, develops, schedules, supervises, evaluates, and recognizes lifeguards, swim instructors, coaches, water fitness instructors, LGI/CPR/FA Trainers, and aquatic support staff. Ensures staff maintain required certifications and provides ongoing coaching, performance management, payroll administration, and department in-service training. Creates a culture of safety, teamwork, accountability, and exceptional service.

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Team Leader)


Advancing our Mission & Cause: Change Leadership: Facilitates, co-creates, and implements equitable
change for the good of the organization and/or community. Engaging Community: Builds bridges with
others in the community to ensure the Y’s work is community-focused and welcoming of all, providing
community benefit. Philanthropy: Secures resources and support to advance the Y’s work. Volunteerism:
Engages volunteers and promotes social responsibility at all levels of the organization


Building Relationships: Collaboration: Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other
organizations in service to the community. Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self
effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause. Inclusion: Values
all people for their unique talents, and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity,
inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence


Leading Operations: Critical Thinking & Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data,
and sound judgment. Fiscal Management: Manages the Y’s resources responsibly and sustains the Y’s
nonprofit business model. Functional Expertise: Executes superior technical skills for the role. Innovation:
Creates and implements new and relevant approaches and activities that improve and expand the Y’s
work and impact in the community. Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are
met and intended impact


Developing & Inspiring People: Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff,
volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest
potential. Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all
situations.

Required Certifications

• YMCA or American Red Cross Lifeguard
• CPR for the Professional Rescuer/AED/Oxygen/First Aid
• YMCA Lifeguard or American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor
• YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor
• YMCA Water Fitness Instructor/YMCA Group Exercise Instructor
• YMCA LIfeguard Instructor Trainer (at first available offering)
• YMCA Swim Lesson Trainer (at first available offering)
• Praesidium Child Abuse Prevention/Blood Borne Pathogens/Preventing Sexual Harassment
• YMCA of Youngstown Leadership Program (first year)

Ymca Careers
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