SLSNZ - Seasonal Event Safety Lead

Surf Life Saving New Zealand; Auckland; On-site; NZD 39,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Surf Life Saving NZ is seeking a Seasonal Event Safety Lead to provide on-the-ground leadership for Event Guard and water-safety operations across Northern Region Junior Surf and Senior Sport events. You will coordinate people, equipment and response to deliver safe, professional events throughout the season.

You’ll supervise Event Guard teams, maintain awareness of coastal conditions, and drive a culture of safety, collaboration and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Current, refreshed Surf Lifeguard Award and membership of an SLSNZ club.
• Experience leading volunteer or operational teams in dynamic events.
• Strong understanding of event safety plans, risk controls and emergency procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to act decisively under pressure and coordinate resources.
• Ability to mentor lifeguards and foster a positive safety culture.

Responsibilities

• Serve as operational lead for the Event Guard team at assigned events.
• Coordinate set-up, positioning, checks and pack-down of safety assets.
• Brief, deploy and supervise Event Guard personnel on land and water positions.
• Monitor conditions, activity, risks and adjust deployment accordingly.
• Lead incident response and escalate as needed with urgency.
• Maintain communication with Event Safety Officer, Referee and officials.
• Support and mentor lifeguards and promote teamwork and safety culture.
• Monitor fatigue and wellbeing to ensure safety and performance.
• Complete event-safety records and contribute to post-event debriefs.

Skills

Lifeguard leadership

Volunteer supervision

Coastal event operations

Emergency response

Risk assessment

Clear communication

Job description

SLSNZ - Seasonal Event Safety Lead

Lead the Team. Keep Events Safe. Help Everyone Return Home Safe.

Casual | Northern Region events | 2026/27 season

Why This Role Matters

Surf Life Saving events bring our members, clubs and communities together. Behind every enjoyable and successful event is a skilled safety team making sure people, equipment and operational controls are ready for changing coastal conditions.

We’re looking for an experienced Seasonal Event Safety Lead to provide confident, on-the-ground leadership of Event Guard and water-safety operations at Northern Region Junior Surf and Senior Sport events. You’ll coordinate people, equipment and operational response so events are delivered safely, professionally and effectively throughout the season.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll be the operational lead for the Event Guard team at assigned events, turning event safety plans into clear, practical action on the beach and in the water.

This includes:

• Coordinating the safe set-up, positioning, checking and pack-down of Event Guard equipment and safety assets
• Briefing, deploying and actively supervising Event Guard personnel across assigned land- and water-based positions
• Maintaining oversight of conditions, course activity, team coverage and emerging risks, and adjusting deployment within delegated authority
• Leading the team’s immediate operational response to incidents and emergencies, with prompt escalation when required
• Maintaining clear communication with the Event Safety Officer, Event Referee, Event Management Committee and event officials
• Supporting and mentoring developing lifeguards while fostering professionalism, inclusion, teamwork and a positive safety culture
• Monitoring fatigue, workload and wellbeing so the team remains safe and fit to perform
• Completing event-safety records and contributing practical lessons through post-event debriefs

At its core, this role is about helping our people operate with confidence, keeping safety at the centre of every decision and ensuring participants can enjoy Surf Life Saving sport in a well-managed environment.

What You’ll Bring

You’re a calm and credible operational leader who communicates clearly, makes sound decisions under pressure and knows when to act and when to elevate.

• You enjoy bringing people together and helping others perform at their best.
• A current, refreshed Surf Lifeguard Award and current membership of an SLSNZ club
• Strong operational surf lifesaving experience in dynamic coastal and event environments
• Demonstrated experience in Event Guard operations, event water safety and SLSNZ Sport
• Experience leading, coordinating or supervising volunteers or operational teams
• A sound understanding of SLSNZ competition rules, event safety plans, risk controls and relevant emergency response procedures
• Clear communication, practical problem-solving and the confidence to provide direction under pressure
• An impartial, professional and collaborative approach when working across clubs and event stakeholders
• The physical capability and availability to undertake water-safety, equipment-handling and event set-up duties

Knowledge of Northern Region events and venues, additional relevant lifesaving or operational qualifications, and experience mentoring lifeguards would be an advantage.

Why Join Us

At Surf Life Saving NZ, people are at the heart of everything we do. We support our clubs, volunteers and each other through our Kawa Tātaki:

Collaboration - working together to achieve more

Integrity - doing what’s right

Respect - valuing people and perspectives

Wellbeing - caring for ourselves and others

Fun - enjoying the journey

You’ll be part of a purpose-driven organisation committed to a vision that no one drowns at the beach in Aotearoa New Zealand, while helping deliver safe, enjoyable events for our members and communities.

Sound Like You?

If you’re an experienced lifeguard who can lead calmly, support volunteers and keep safety at the centre of fast-moving event operations, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close Monday 5 October, 9am.

This casual seasonal role supports the 2026/27 event programme across Northern Region venues. It requires early starts, weekend and public-holiday work, travel, work in variable weather and coastal conditions, and physical water-safety and equipment-handling duties.