Recreation Supervisor - Aquatics

City of Norfolk, VA; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Pension plan

Medical and dental insurance

Paid vacation

Employer parking

Job summary

City of Norfolk, VA seeks an experienced Aquatic Operations Manager to oversee daily aquatic programs, manage budgets, and supervise lifeguard staff. The role emphasizes safety, emergency response, water testing, and coordination with partners to keep the facility running smoothly.

This on-site position requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and at least two years in aquatics, with American Red Cross certifications preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field (Parks & Recreation, Facility Management, Public Safety, Aquatics, or related).
• Two years of experience in aquatics required.
• Current American Red Cross Lifeguard or YMCA Lifeguard Training Certificate is required; Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Instructor certifications strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees daily aquatic operations and evaluates aquatic programs and budgets.
• Supervises and assesses lifeguard staff (minimum 3 FTE and 25 PT) and participates in hiring and performance reviews.
• Maintains water chemistry testing, safety protocols, and emergency readiness (CPR/AED) per Red Cross standards.
• Completes required reports, manages administrative tasks, and coordinates with internal and external partners.
• Ensures compliance with licensing, certifications, and safety training requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Emergency response

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Two years of aquatics experience

Job description

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

This position manages daily aquatic operations by developing and evaluating programs, supervising lifeguard staff, and overseeing budgets, reports, and water chemistry testing. It ensures safety by responding to emergencies, performing first aid and CPR/AED, and maintaining all American Red Cross certifications. The role also coordinates with internal and external partners, handles routine administrative tasks, and exercises sound judgment to keep the aquatic facility running effectively.

Essential Functions

• Reads and prepares written reports, correspondence, memos, technical manuals, periodicals and related information.
• Performs general mathematical calculations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Performs and records water chemistry tests. Develops implements and evaluates aquatic programs and budgets.
• Completes all required paperwork, including daily, weekly, monthly, and annual reports as well as incident and accident reports.
• Attends all required staff meetings and in-service training sessions.
• Research documents, compiles data for computer entry, and/or enters or oversees data entry and has responsibility for monitoring budget expenditures (typically non-discretionary expenditures) for the work unit.
• Supervises and monitors performance of a minimum of 3 full time and 25 part-time lifeguards including input on hiring/disciplinary actions and work objectives/effectiveness, and realigning work as needed.
• Performs work which requires considerable initiative and independent analytical and evaluative judgment.
• Required to have contact with others within and outside of the City organization in relation to purchasing, hiring, maintenance concerns and other issues that may arise.
• Recognizes and responds to aquatic facility water and land emergencies including the proper use of emergency equipment such as a rescue tube and CPR mask, AED, emergency oxygen, etc. as needed.
• Performs first aid and CPR/AED, emergency oxygen, etc as needed. Performs first aid and CPR/AED skills according to American Red Cross standards as needed.
• Participates in and oversees aquatic staff mandatory physical trainings and maintains all required skills to successfully complete the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Program.
• Maintains all required job-related certifications.

Education/Experience

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Parks and Recreation, Facility Management and Operations, Public Safety, Aquatics, or related field preferred.

Required

• Two years of experience in aquatics.

Additional Information & Requirements

• Valid Driver's License required.
• Current American Red Cross Lifeguard or YMCA Lifeguard Training Certificate.
• Current American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certificate strongly preferred.
• Current American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor certificate strongly preferred.

Preferred License(s) and/or Certification(s)

• Current Pool Operator’s Certification within 6 months of employment.
• Current Water Fitness Instructor Certification within 6 months of employment.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Management within 6 months of employment.

Work Schedule

• Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sundays 9a.m. to 6p.m.
• Hours may change seasonally.
• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

Note

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.