Recreation Specialist I – Aquatics

City of Virginia Beach; Great Neck (NC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave & Sick Leave

Medical, Dental, Vision & Prescription

VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan

Basic Life Insurance

COV457 Deferred Compensation

Wellness Programs

Employee Assistance Program

Paid parental leave

Job summary

The City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation seeks an Aquatic Facility Specialist to manage aquatic operations, safety, and programming across facilities. You will supervise part-time staff, maintain facilities per health codes, and deliver swim lessons while ensuring excellent customer service.

Ideal candidates hold nationally recognized lifeguard and swim instructor certifications, plus a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

• Requires valid nationally recognized lifeguard certification (ARC/other) and swim instructor certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in recreation management or related field or equivalent experience.
• May require a valid driver’s license and ability to work varied hours including evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine maintenance of aquatic facilities per OSHA/state codes.
• Investigate accidents and incidents; enforce safety standards for programs and participants.
• Lifeguard and teach swim lessons during staff shortages; provide rescue and first aid when needed.

Skills

Lifeguard certification

Swim instructor certification

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation management or related field

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Job Posting End Date:

November 4, 2026

Department:

PARKS AND RECREATION

Compensation Grade:

G20

Compensation Range & Starting Salary:

Pay Range: $44,907.20 - $69,971.20
Starting salary – Minimum of the Pay Range.

Job Exempt (If No, Position is eligible for overtime):

No

About Us:

At Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation, our success is because of our dedicated employees. We are intentional about creating an employee experience where you are empowered to reach your full potential, are supported through strength-based initiatives, and are confident in your abilities. We champion a workplace culture built on our cultural foundations: Professionalism, Respect, Accountability, Integrity, and Citizenship. These guiding principles of behavior cultivate a positive and high performing work environment. Success is recognized and celebrated, and legendary experiences are the core of who we are.

Job Duties and Preferred Qualifications:

Our Commitment

Work with the best – work for Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation! Join our team and contribute to our 60+ year track record of providing_ legendary experiences _! We are dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and protecting our environment. We ensure all residents – regardless of their physical, social, and economic circumstances – can access our programs. By providing enriching and memorable lifelong experiences, we strive to enhance the quality of life for our community by improving the physical and mental well-being of our residents.

Day to Day Job Duties

Aquatic Facility Management and Maintenance

Provide routine maintenance duties of an aquatic facility per OSHA, state and local heath codes

Assist with the investigation of accidents and incidents

Enforce safety standards for programs and participants to maintain a safe environment

Lifeguard and teach swim lessons during times of staff shortage that include the following duties: provide a safe swimming environment; enforce rules; rescue anyone in danger of drowning; and administer first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, oxygen and use of AED as needed

Supervision

Supervise part-time staff and volunteers inclusive of the areas of orientation, scheduling, discipline, training, and evaluation in order to provide quality programs and customer satisfaction

Train staff and volunteers in program adaptations

Understand basic accounting, budgetary, assessment, and evaluation procedures

Understand and apply safety principles

Understand appropriate city, state and federal safety practices, procedures, and regulations

Create lifeguard and instructional work schedules to provide a safe swimming environment

Handle difficult interpersonal working relationships with employees and the public

Provide occasional lifeguard and instructional responsibilities

Reports

Collect, complete, and assimilate reports, revenue forms, program documentation, incident and accident reports

Experience using computer programs (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Aquatic Programming

Assist in teaching, planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating aquatic facility-based recreation programs for youth and adults

Customer Service

Provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers in both written and oral forms

Supervise and provide feedback to part-time aquatic staff in the delivery of excellent customer service

Respond to public inquiries regarding programs/procedures

Perform other job duties requiring skills, knowledge and physical requirements as demanded by those duties described or less. Individual assignments will be determined by the supervisor based on the current workloads and department needs.

Requires a current and valid Driver’s license

Ideal Candidate

In addition to the minimum requirements, the ideal candidate must have the following for this position.

• Valid nationally recognized lifeguarding certification that meets or exceeds the standards set by the American Red Cross. Acceptable certifications include: American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, YMCA Lifeguard Training Certification, National Lifeguard, or other nationally recognized certifications that meet equivalent standards.
• Valid nationally recognized swim instructor certification that meets or exceeds the standards set by the American Red Cross. Acceptable certifications include: American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, YMCA Swim Instructor Certification, National Safety Council Instructor Certification, Starfish Aquatic Institute Certification, or other nationally recognized certifications that meet equivalent standards.

NOTE: Candidates holding certifications other than American Red Cross certifications must successfully complete the required crossover certifications within 90 days of hire.

Additional Desired Preferences

• BS Degree in related field
• Experience hiring, training and supervising aquatic personnel
• Operations and maintenance experience in an aquatic facility
• Lifeguard Instructor Certification
• CPO or AFO CertificationSwim teaching or coaching experience

Schedule

• Morning shifts of 5:30 am - 2:00 pm
• Mid-shifts of 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, 10:00 am - 6:30 pm or 11:00 am - 7:30 pm
• Evening shifts of 1:00 pm 9: 30 pm-
• Weekend shifts of: Saturday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The individual selected for this position will be housed at a primary site but may be scheduled between other park sites/facilities. Schedules will be adjusted seasonally and will vary weekly based on events, facility coverage, and weather. All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours, overtime, splits shifts or maybe be relocated to another location or job assignment in response to short- term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies including weekends, evenings and holidays.

As a condition of employment, all employees must attend P&R Connection (Department Orientation). If selected for the position, you will be provided an approximate training date at the time of hire. Training is held from 8:30am-5:00pm, every other Friday, at the Parks & Recreation Administration Building. When an exemption is permittable, a hybrid version of the training is available, but will require training attendance on a weekend.

Alpha I

The position you are applying for is designated as Alpha I, requiring the selected candidate to work, regardless of the City’s operational status. All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.

The Perks

Employees who are new to the Virginia Retirement System are eligible for:

• Annual Leave and Sick Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Coverage
• Legal and Identity Theft Protection
• Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Hybrid Retirement Plan & Basic Life Insurance
• Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (COV457)
• Basic Life Insurance
• Optional Life Insurance
• Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance Program / Work-Life Services
• Paid Maternity/Paternity/Parental Care Leave

Additional requirements:

• DMV Transcript: Yes
• CDL: No
• Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse: No
• CPS Check: No
• Physical: No
• Respirator: No
• Psychological Screening: No
• Polygraph: No
• At Will: No

This position is being advertised as a pool, and applications could be used to fill current vacancies and any other similar Recreation Specialist I position that become available within six months from the closing date of this posting.

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications: Requires a Bachelor’s degree in recreation management, therapeutic recreation, exercise science, or a related field; OR any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to four (4) years in fields utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities and associated with such positions as recreation leader or recreation program supervisor. May be required to have a current and valid driver’s license. May require a Commercial driver’s license. Special Requirements: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies. Must be available to work varied hours, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays and overtime when required to meet operational needs. This position may require incumbents to wear and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, steel-toed shoes, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, or other safety attire and equipment in designated areas of risk. Specific requirements will be determined and communicated by the employee’s supervisor based on position assigned. Alpha I Status: Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the City’s operational status. Special Requirements: for Aquatics Only: Must possess valid certifications in American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. Occasionally to frequently required to lifeguard during times of staff shortage. Lifeguarding duties include providing a safe swimming environment, enforcing rules, rescuing anyone in danger of drowning, administering first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, oxygen and use of AED. Special Requirements: for Early Childhood Programs Only: Must be at least 21 years of age and meet the current minimum program director staff qualifications as listed in the Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers document published by the Department of Education, Commonwealth of Virginia. Special Requirements: for Therapeutic Recreation Only: Must possess a national certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist - Professional level. Special Requirements: for Group Fitness Only: Must possess a current national level Group Fitness certification from ACE, NASM, or comparable. Certification must be recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Special Requirements: for Personal Training Only: Must possess a current national level Personal Training certification from ACSM, ACE, NASM, or comparable. Certification must be recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Working Conditions:

Per HR Policy 6.19, Americans with Disabilities, the City follows the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all hiring and employment decisions. The City shall not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring and employment practices. The City shall make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability upon request unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the City’s business.

The Working Conditions Summary is intended to provide a general overview of the environmental conditions inherent in the job setting, as well as the physical, mental, and sensory requirements necessary to perform the essential functions of the position in the noted job profile. Please copy and paste the URL below into your web browser to view the Working Conditions Summary for this position.

https://workingcondition-summary-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/P3819.pdf

Official Job Descriptions:

To browse official job descriptions, please access this link - https://virginiabeach.gov/careers/job-descriptions-pay-plans?search=&group=E

VRS Contribution

All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

Drug Free Workplace

The City of Virginia Beach maintains a drug free workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement:

The City of Virginia Beach is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status as defined by applicable law.