General Manager

5 Cities Swim School; Arroyo Grande (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Healthcare coverage

Dental coverage

Job summary

5 Cities Swim School is seeking a General Manager in Arroyo Grande, CA, to lead enrollment growth, staffing, and program quality. You will oversee the site management team, drive customer service excellence, and ensure safety compliance while directly teaching 1–2 swim instruction shifts weekly.

The role emphasizes execution, metrics-driven decisions, and a culture of accountability and growth, reporting to ownership and guiding the site toward strong performance.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of operations, service, retail, recreation, fitness, or aquatics management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience using performance metrics and KPIs to drive decision-making.
• Passion for customer service, leadership, and youth development.
• Ability to work until 7pm on weekdays and at least one weekend day per week.

Responsibilities

• Drive enrollment growth, swimmer retention, and overall program success through strong operational leadership and family-focused service.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and payroll efficiency to ensure programs are properly staffed and resources are utilized effectively.
• Lead and develop the site management team, creating a culture of accountability, growth, and exceptional customer service.
• Monitor key business metrics, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement action plans to achieve enrollment, retention, and operational goals.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, certification, training, and company policy requirements while maintaining a safe environment for swimmers, families, and staff.
• Teach 1–2 swim instruction shifts per week, staying personally connected to lesson quality and swimmer progression.

Skills

Leadership experience

Team development

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Multitasking

KPIs & metrics

Customer service

Youth development

Evening/weekend availability

Job description

Description

Summary

This role oversees enrollment growth, staffing and scheduling, employee development, customer experience, and compliance while ensuring the highest standards of safety and instructional quality. The ideal candidate is an execution-focused leader who can inspire teams, analyze performance metrics, solve problems proactively, and create a culture of accountability and excellence.

The General Manager reports directly to ownership and provides direct leadership and oversight to the site's management team.

• Drive enrollment growth, swimmer retention, and overall program success through strong operational leadership and family-focused service.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and payroll efficiency to ensure programs are properly staffed and resources are utilized effectively.
• Lead and develop the site management team, creating a culture of accountability, growth, and exceptional customer service.
• Monitor key business metrics, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement action plans to achieve enrollment, retention, and operational goals.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, certification, training, and company policy requirements while maintaining a safe environment for swimmers, families, and staff.
• Teach 1–2 swim instruction shifts per week, staying personally connected to lesson quality and swimmer progression.

Compensation

$73,000–$85,000+ annually

Requirements

Minimum

• 3–5 years of operations, service, retail, recreation, fitness, or aquatics management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience using performance metrics and KPIs to drive decision-making.
• Passion for customer service, leadership, and youth development.
• Ability to work until 7pm on weekdays and at least one weekend day per week.

Preferred

• Aquatics, swim school, recreation, fitness, or hospitality leadership experience.
• Experience training and onboarding staff.
• Experience managing payroll budgets and labor planning.

Required Certifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a lifeguard certification.
• Additional certifications as required by company standards.
• Combination of office, customer service, and indoor pool deck environments.
• Frequent standing, walking, coaching, and interaction with staff and families.
• Exposure to indoor aquatic environments and pool chemicals.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and respond to emergencies when necessary.

Full-time employees are eligible for:

• Paid time off (PTO)
• Healthcare and dental coverage

Our company is an at-will employer. This means that, regardless of any provision, either you or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice.

Our company is committed to equal employment opportunities. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis ["protected class"] including, but not limited to: race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform service member status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.