Swim Group Instructor-Aquatics

YMCA of Greater Bergen County; East Orange (NJ); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in East Orange is seeking a swim instructor to teach YMCA swim lessons while ensuring a safe and engaging environment. The ideal candidate has a strong knowledge of swim techniques and prior teaching experience. You will be responsible for managing class records and maintaining safety protocols in the pool. Certification within the first year is required, and a passion for working with children is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum age of 16 years.
• Proven knowledge of various swim strokes and teaching levels.
• Previous experience teaching swim lessons preferred.
• Strong vocal ability to project instruction clearly during lessons.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Teach YMCA swim lesson program classes for up to 12 children.
• Ensure safety during lessons.
• Keep accurate attendance and records.
• Attend staff meetings and training sessions.

Skills

Knowledge of swim strokes

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

Lifeguard skills

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Teaches YMCA swim lesson program classes while maintaining safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck, and surrounding areas. Creates a safe and positive atmosphere that promotes member safety and engagement in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responsible for teaching YMCA swim lesson program classes of up to 12 children. Instructors must teach in the water for every class.
• Must be able to teach freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, elements of butterfly and elementary backstroke and sidestroke.
• Teach the correct skills for the level of class and evaluates student progress based on criteria.
• Make eye contact with students and communicate in terms of students understanding. Asks students questions to monitor their understanding and provide students with feedback on their activities.
• Use positive motivation. Use teachable moments to speak about character development and address behavior with appropriate techniques.
• Must be able to see all students at all times during lesson, never turns back on class.
• Must be skilled in observing the behavior of swimmers in the water and be ready at all times to stop dangerous behavior.
• Maintains effective, positive relationships with the members, participants and other staff.
• Use a variety of organizational patterns maximizing swim time for every student. Smoothly keep class moving from one activity to the other.
• Use teaching aids and equipment appropriately with activities and incorporate games in to classes.
• Balance working with students individually and allowing students to practice on their own.
• Keeps accurate attendance and all other class records current and organized.
• Clean area after every swim lesson class.
• Attends all staff meetings and training as required.

OTHER DUTIES/EXPECTATIONS

• Must be 5-10 minutes early to every shift and record time worked correctly with limited mistakes.
• Must find coverage if unable to attend a shift. Contact must be made ahead of time if a scheduled shift cannot be worked.
• Flexibility, may be asked to substitute for other employee’s shift or work beyond assigned shift in an effort to ensure safety and proper coverage.
• Mandatory attendance for in-services. In-Service meetings will be scheduled in advance.
• In the event of pool closure, must accommodate an alternate date for swim lesson.
• For Private Swim Instruction, must complete accurate private lesson timesheet at the end of each workday. Must complete and maintain all records assigned as current and up-to-date.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum age of 16 years.
• Proven knowledge of various swim strokes and teaching levels.
• Previous experience teaching swim lessons preferred.
• Strong vocal ability to project instruction clearly during lessons.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Must achieve YSL or American Red Cross certification within 1st year of teaching swim lessons.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to swim at least four laps (200 yards) of freestyle and be able to scissor kick (sidestroke) or breaststroke kick.
• Must be willing and able to teach in the water for each class. Must be able to enter and exit pool without assistance.
• Must be able to remain alert.
• Adequate ability to hear noises and distinguish distress signals.
• Ability to lift up to 55 lbs.
• Ability to communicate verbally, including projecting voice across distance in normal and loud situations.