SLSNZ - Life Saving Lead

Surf Life Saving New Zealand; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 70,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is seeking a Life Saving Lead to strengthen local lifesaving services from Mt Maunganui. You will connect national standards with local delivery, working closely with clubs and leaders to improve patrol capability, manage risks and ensure safe, sustainable services.

Reporting to the Lifesaving Manager, you will coordinate seasonal operations, develop plans and SOPs, and lead a team of lifesaving professionals across locations.

Qualifications

• Current refreshed Surf Lifeguard Award and knowledge of patrol operations.
• Experience coordinating complex services across multiple locations.
• Strong planning, budgeting, reporting and digital capability.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with clubs and act as key operational contact.
• Assess club needs, patrol capability and risks; set priorities.
• Support clubs to develop patrol plans, SOPs and service agreements.
• Coordinate the annual Paid Lifeguard Service, including recruitment and rostering.
• Ensure seasonal staff are prepared and equipped to deliver safe services.
• Coordinate maintenance and readiness of equipment and assets.
• Promote health, safety and wellbeing requirements and policies.
• Use data and insights to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to events, camps and initiatives that reduce risk.

Skills

Relationship management

Operational coordination

Planning

Budgeting

Communication

Conflict resolution

Safety standards

Driver licence

Education

Surf Lifeguard Award (current)

Job description

SLSNZ - Life Saving Lead

Location: Mt Maunganui
Permanent, full-time | $70,000–$72,000

• Strengthen the safety, capability and sustainability of local lifesaving services
• Build trusted partnerships with clubs and lifesaving leaders
• Coordinate seasonal lifeguard services and operational readiness

Make a meaningful difference to lifesaving delivery

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) supports surf lifesaving clubs and their members to keep communities safe on Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastlines.

We’re looking for a capable and relationship-focused Life Saving Lead to connect national standards and priorities with high-quality local delivery. Working closely with clubs and lifesaving leaders, you’ll help strengthen patrol capability, manage operational risks and ensure lifesaving services are safe, effective and sustainable.

About the role

Reporting to the Lifesaving Manager, you will:

• Build trusted relationships with clubs and act as a key operational contact for lifesaving leaders
• Assess club needs, patrol capability and operational risks, agreeing clear priorities and actions
• Support clubs to develop patrol plans, Standard Operating Procedures and service agreements
• Coordinate the annual Paid Lifeguard Service, including planning, recruitment, induction, training, rostering and day-to-day delivery
• Ensure seasonal staff are well prepared, supported and equipped to deliver safe services
• Coordinate the maintenance, auditing and readiness of regional lifesaving equipment and assets
• Promote consistent application of health, safety and wellbeing requirements, National Standard Operating Procedures and SLSNZ policies
• Use operational data and club insights to identify risks, capability gaps and opportunities for improvement
• Contribute to lifesaving events, camps, projects and initiatives that reduce risk and volunteer burden.

For full position description click here.

About you

You’ll bring practical lifesaving knowledge, strong operational coordination skills and a genuine commitment to supporting volunteers and clubs.

You will have:

• A current refreshed Surf Lifeguard Award
• Strong knowledge of patrol operations, lifesaving standards and the volunteer club environment
• Experience coordinating complex services, programmes or seasonal operations across multiple locations and stakeholders
• Strong planning, budgeting, reporting and digital capability
• Excellent communication, relationship-management and constructive conflict-resolution skills
• Sound judgement and the ability to remain calm and solutions-focused under pressure
• A full New Zealand driver licence and flexibility to work some evenings and weekends

Experience supporting seasonal teams or working within Surf Life Saving, emergency services, a not-for-profit organisation or another volunteer-led environment would be an advantage.

Why join SLSNZ?

This is an opportunity to combine operational expertise with meaningful relationship-based work. You’ll help clubs strengthen their readiness and capability while contributing to nationally consistent, locally workable lifesaving services.

You’ll join a purpose-driven organisation guided by our Kawa Tātaki - Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Wellbeing and Fun, connected through Kapa Kotahi, our commitment to working as one team.

Applications close Sunday 27th September.