Swim Instructor

Greater Green Bay YMCA, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a vibrant community organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals through swimming. As a Swim Instructor, you will play a crucial role in teaching essential swimming skills while fostering confidence and safety in the water. This position offers a chance to engage with participants of all ages, ensuring they feel welcomed and supported in their learning journey. You'll lead fun and interactive classes, build lasting relationships, and contribute to a mission-driven environment that values caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. If you are passionate about making a difference and enjoy working in a dynamic setting, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 16 years old and have CPR certification.
• Six months of experience with children preferred.

Responsibilities

• Instruct swim classes and ensure safety procedures are followed.
• Build relationships with participants and parents to retain class numbers.

Skills

CPR Certification

Experience with children

Communication skills

WSI Certification

Ability to teach swim skills

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Help kids build confidence, self-esteem, and swimming skills and water safety in people of all ages through individual (private lessons) or group classes. As a Swim Instructor, you will get in the pool to safely lead members and participants through fun and engaging swim classes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Build collaborative relationships with participants and parents to retain class numbers.
2. Instruct participants on proper form and safety in the water while following the YSL (YMCA swim lessons) curriculum.
3. Enforce prescribed safety procedures and rules of good behavior and courtesy within the class.
4. Complete class recommendation forms with feedback for parents in a timely manner.
5. If your personal schedule takes you away from a scheduled shift, find a substitute instructor and provide a prepared lesson plan for them to ensure the class members are given the high-quality lesson.
6. Take class attendance on a daily basis.
7. Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor with coworkers and patrons. Make class participants and parents feel welcome, safe, and engaged.
8. Actively participate in required staff trainings and meetings. Maintain required certifications.
9. Act according to facility protocol to ensure safety of all staff and children which includes:

• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with staff and children.
• Attend required abuse risk management training.
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following are essential functions when serving as a Private Lesson Instructor:

1. Teach at least one group class per session in addition to private lessons.
2. Manage assigned lesson packages: track the number of sessions remaining and communicate with families when it is time to purchase another package.
3. Collaborate with the Aquatics Director and families to schedule lesson times that work for all, along with goal setting and execution of lessons.

SKILLS AND TRAINING

1. In accordance with state law, instructors must be at least 16 years of age. CPR certification is required before swim instructors ages 16-17 may begin shadowing and instructing; training provided.
2. Six months’ experience working or volunteering with children, especially in a small-group setting is preferred.
3. Must be able to correctly demonstrate and assess swim skills both on the deck and in the water; know the sequence of swimming stages. Training will be provided.
4. The ability to communicate with, motivate, and evaluate all ages and swim levels of students is essential.
5. You are going to get wet! Instructors must be willing to teach in the pool.
6. WSI certification or YMCA swim lesson instructor certification is extremely beneficial.
7. Part of the onboarding process will involve required training in current YMCA curriculum.
8. Due to the instructional nature of the position, the instructor must actively lead and demonstrate skills. This will require the significant use of hands, arms and body. This requires the ability to support and assist struggling participants. Must be able to speak clearly and project your voice in a noisy indoor pool environment.

COMPETENCIES

1. Building Relationships: Connect people to the Y’s cause by developing inclusive relationships and collaboration. Create sustainable relationships within the Y. Assist members in becoming more connected to the Y and build small communities.
2. Emotional Maturity: How we understand and conduct ourselves impacts our relationships. Demonstrate ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations.
3. Advancing Our Mission and Cause: As a member of a cause driven organization you will support the Y, its members, participants, and staff by living the Y’s values of CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY in all interactions and aspects of job performance and demonstrate the desire to serve others and fulfill community needs.
4. Safety: Adhere to and enforce safety policies and procedures for the association.
5. Critical Thinking and Decision Making: You are empowered to make informed decisions within the scope of delivering exceptional customer service. Make these decisions based on logic, experience, and sound judgement while maintaining participant safety.

This job description represents the major functions of the job but is not intended to be all inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for performing other duties as necessary for Association success.