Water Safety Instructor

City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

City of San Diego is seeking Water Safety Instructor candidates to lead swimming classes, plan lessons, and supervise water activities in accordance with City and Red Cross safety standards.

Applicants must be 16 or older and pass a performance test; part-time hours may include holidays, weekends, and evenings, with peak demand June through August.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Prior to employment, must pass a pass/fail performance test and may have one retest on same date.
• Part-time schedule with potential evening, weekend, and holiday work; available to work June–August as scheduled.

Responsibilities

• Instruct and lead a variety of swimming classes.
• Plan, organize, and teach swimming lessons; lead water exercise classes, swim team, and water polo as assigned.
• Ensure programs adhere to City of San Diego and American Red Cross safety standards; maintain records and registrations.

Education

American Red Cross Basic Swim Instructor Certification

American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification

Job description

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT(S):

• Pool Guard I
• Pool Guard II
• Swimming Pool Manager I

WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR CANDIDATES MUST APPLY BEFORE TAKING THE PERFORMANCE TEST. ONCE APPLICATIONS ARE APPROVED, CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED REGARDING THE SPECIFIC DATE, TIME AND LOCATION.

PERFORMANCE TEST DATES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER 2026, MARCH 2027, AND JUNE 2027. CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; HOWEVER, CANDIDATES INTERESTED IN A SPECIFIC TEST DATE SHOULD APPLY APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH BEFORE THEIR PREFERRED TESTING MONTH. FIRST TEST DATE IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 12, 2026.

Water Safety Instructor positions instruct and lead a variety of swimming classes; plan, organize, and teach swimming lessons; lead specialized aquatic activities such as water exercise classes, swim team, and water polo; ensure classes and activities adhere to City of San Diego and American Red Cross safety standards; complete lesson plans and course records; maintain course rosters and attendance reports; process activity registrations; respond to community member questions and concerns; clean up and organize teaching materials; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Prior to employment, all applicants must pass a pass/fail performance test. Should you fail any part of the performance test, only one retest will be permitted on the same test date.
• Water Safety Instructor employees are primarily employed on a part-time basis and employees may be assigned to work on holidays, weekends and evenings.
• Water Safety Instructor employees MUST be available to work June through August as scheduled with NO vacation leave.
• Water Safety Instructor employees must furnish and wear standard apparel prescribed by the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Water Safety Instructor employees must take and pass a performance test periodically to retain employment.
• In accordance with California Public Resources Code section 5163, all persons holding Water Safety Instructor positions must get tested for tuberculosis (TB) when hired and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

AGE: 16 years of age or older.

NOTES:

• Applicants less than age 18 must obtain a work permit prior to starting work.
• Work permits may be obtained through the school system.
• Applicants who are age 17 and are high school graduates, or have passed the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) or General Education Development (GED) examination, are not required to have a work permit; however, they must submit a copy of their high school diploma, CHSPE or GED results with their application.

CERTIFICATES: A valid American Red Cross Basic Swim Instructor Certification or the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification must be acquired 90 days from time of hire.

NOTES:

• For information on certificate requirements, please check the following website for a listing of upcoming training classes: www.redcross.org. You may also contact Parks and Recreation Department staff at [phone].

The screening process will consist of the following components:

1. APPLICATION REVIEW: Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met.
2. PERFORMANCE TEST: The performance test is a pass/fail examination which consists of the following:
   • Perform the following strokes consistent with the American Red Cross Stroke Performance Charts, Level 3
   • Front Crawl: 25 yards
   • Breaststroke: 25 yards
   • Elementary Backstroke: 25 yards
   • Sidestroke: 25 yards
   • Complete the Water Competency Sequence:
   • Step into water and fully submerge
   • Float or tread water for 1 minute
   • Rotate one full circle and orient to exit
   • Swim 25 yards without stopping
   • Exit the Water without using steps or ladder

Performance Test Date: Approved applicants will be notified regarding the specific date, time, and location. You must have a Performance Test Appointment Notice in order to be admitted to the test.

Reexamination Eligibility: If you fail the performance test, you may reapply 30 days after your most recent test date.

NOTES:

• Candidates must provide valid government-issued photo identification (e.g., driver license, military ID, Department of Motor Vehicles ID or passport) on the day of the performance test. FOR MINORS ONLY, a current school-issued ID with a photograph will be accepted.
• Candidates who are between 16 and 18 years old at the time of the performance test must submit a Release of Liability Waiver signed by their parent or guardian in order to take the performance test. Candidates must bring this signed waiver to the performance test. Falsification of the Release of Liability Waiver is cause for disqualification and/or termination of employment. Waivers will also be available on the date of the performance test.
• Should you fail any part of the performance test, only one retest will be permitted on the same test date.

Candidates who pass the performance test will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number; otherwise, they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 5 – October 23, 2026