Lead Lifeguard

University of New Mexico; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

University of New Mexico is seeking a Lead Lifeguard to supervise student lifeguards across three UNM aquatic facilities. The role combines active water surveillance with leadership, ensuring policy and safety compliance under state regulations.

This position acts as shift supervisor during emergencies and handles event logistics for university groups. The Lead Lifeguard will coordinate guard rotations, mentor new staff, perform safety audits, and maintain equipment and logs to support a safe

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program at UNM and taking at least 6 credit hours.
• Standing as a student employee while meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress if on Work Study.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations across three aquatic facilities; supervise lifeguard staff.
• Lead incident response and enforce university policies and state regulations.
• Coordinate staff rotations, onboarding, and monthly trainings.
• Conduct safety audits and ensure equipment readiness and recordkeeping.
• Perform swim assessments and manage groups; ensure safety boundaries and life jacket rules.
• Maintain water quality and perform routine pool maintenance tasks.
• Lead emergency EAP actions and document incidents and headcounts.

Skills

Staff supervision

Leadership

Policy enforcement

Safety audits

Water safety

Group management

Record keeping

Education

Currently enrolled UNM student (6+ credit hours)

Job description

Position Details

• Working Title: Lead Lifeguard
• Requisition ID: req38126
• Pay: $17.00 Hourly
• Campus: Main - Albuquerque, NM
• Department: Recreational Services (823A)
• Employment Type: Student Employment
• Status: Non-Exempt
• Background Check Required: Yes
• For Best Consideration Date: 10/16/2026

Position Summary

The Lead Lifeguard assists the Aquatic Manager and Coordinators in overseeing daily operations across UNM's three aquatic facilities. This role combines active water surveillance with peer leadership, ensuring that the student lifeguard staff enforces all university policies and State of New Mexico Environment Department regulations. Lead Lifeguards act as shift supervisors during aquatic emergencies and supervise event logistics for user groups, including UNM Rec Services, the UNM Women's Swim and Dive Team, and the general university community.

Key Responsibilities

• Staff Supervision & Leadership
  • Shift Management: Coordinate daily guard rotations and zone coverage to ensure continuous, safe pool operation.
  • Mentorship: Assist in onboarding new student staff and leading monthly in-service training sessions.
  • Policy Enforcement: Act as the primary point of contact for resolving patron disputes or managing unruly behavior on the deck.
• Safety Audits & Quality Assurance
  • Vigilance Testing: Conduct unannounced internal safety audits (including drop drills, recognition-time tests, and live-action scanning assessments) to ensure lifeguard staff maintain peak alertness.
  • Equipment Audits: Perform regular inspections of all emergency and first aid gear, ensuring oxygen tanks, AEDs, and spineboards are fully functional and compliant with university regulations.
  • Performance Reporting: Document audit findings and provide actionable feedback to staff and aquatic management to address gaps in performance.
• Swim Assessments & Risk Mitigation
  • Patron Swim Tests: Conduct standardized swim assessments (water competency tests) for youth, camp groups, and special event participants to determine swimming proficiency and establish appropriate pool boundaries or life jacket requirements.
  • Group Management: Coordinate with visiting group leaders, sport clubs, or university camp counselors to ensure all non-swimmers are properly identified, restricted to shallow water zones, and monitored.
• Pool & Facility Maintenance
  • Water Quality Testing: Perform water chemistry tests prior to facility opening and every 4 hours thereafter to comply with New Mexico public pool codes and log data accurately.
  • Preventative Maintenance: Operate and monitor pool vacuums (manual and robotic), clean skimmer baskets, skim pool surfaces, and backwash filtration systems as directed.
  • Chemical Logs & Adjustments: Monitor chemical feed systems and report any significant chemical imbalances or physical plant irregularities to the Aquatic Coordinator or facilities staff.
• Safety, Operations & Compliance
  • Surveillance: Maintain alert, constant scanning of the pools to mitigate hazards and prevent accidents.
  • EAP Execution: Serve as the team leader during an emergency, directing staff under American Red Cross standards.
  • Documentation: Ensure exact records are kept for hourly facility headcounts, incident reports, audit logs, swim test completions, and maintenance trackers.
• Operational Flexibility: Perform other duties as assigned by the Aquatic Coordinator, Manager, or Rec Services Leadership to support overall department goals.

Minimum Qualifications

Enrolled in a degree seeking program at UNM, Enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) at UNM for fall and spring semesters (Audit hours do not count), and if Work Study, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education/Status: Must be a currently enrolled student at the University of New Mexico (minimum 6 credit hours for student employment positions).
• Experience:
  • At least 6-12 months of active lifeguarding experience, ideally in a multi-pool or high-volume environment.
  • Previous experience managing groups or conducting swim proficiency tests is preferred.
• Certifications & Compliance Training:
  • Current American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid certification.
  • Current American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers certification.
  • Current American Red Cross Administering Emergency Oxygen certification.
  • Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) certification (current certification or the ability to obtain it within 6 months of hire is required).
  • UNM EHS Basic Laboratory Safety / Chemical Hazard Communication Training (must be completed via UNM Learning Central upon hire to handle water testing chemicals and maintain safety data sheets).
• Water Competency Prerequisites:
  • Must maintain physical mastery of the standard American Red Cross Lifeguarding swim evaluation metrics, adapted to the deep-water facility profile:
  • Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence: Swim 150 yards continuously (front crawl or breaststroke), tread water using legs only for 2 minutes with hands tucked under armpits and immediately swim an additional 50 yards.
  • Timed Brick Retrieval: Within 1 minute and 40 seconds, swim 20 yards, perform a surface dive to 14 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, and swim 20 yards back on your back holding the object with both hands.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.