Job Posting: Aquatics Lifeguard/Swim Instructor/Swim Team Coach
Now hiring for the 2025 pool season! Interviews are expected to begin in early February and continue through mid April. The City's Park and Recreation division is looking for well-qualified candidates to fill our Aquatics Lifeguard/Swim Instructor/Swim Team Coach positions for the 2025 season.
General Summary
Aquatics Lifeguard/Swim Instructor/Swim Team Coach positions perform support work for a variety of recreation activities, programs, events, and facility needs, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under close to moderate supervision of the Parks and Recreation Coordinator or designee (supervisor).
Minimum Qualifications
An American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification is required for this position. Must be 15 years old on or before the last day of class. If you have not yet signed up for a class, visit one of the links below to see classes available in our area. Please note, you will need to submit proof of enrollment in a course to be considered for an interview.
- Pacific Clinic: COURSES | Pacific Clinic
- CBRC: Lifeguard Training / WSI Training - CBRC Health & Fitness
- YMCA of Walla Walla: AQUATICS | Walla Walla YMCA
Special Requirements
- American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Lifeguarding or Swim Team Coach only.
- American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Certification - Swim Instructor only.
Education and Experience
No experience or formal education required other than certifications listed under Special Requirements.
Desirable Qualifications
- Previous public pool experience, preferably with the City of Richland.
- Previous Lifeguard/Swim Instructor/Swim Team Coach experience.
Core Values
All employees are expected to model and foster the City of Richland's core values in the performance of their duties and their interactions while representing the City. The values of Teamwork, Integrity, and Excellence promote and maintain a high level of morale and productivity and are the tie that binds all City employees together, across all functions.
Essential Job Functions
To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The City may make reasonable accommodations to enable a qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Provides customer service, answers questions, greets customers; helps with opening, closing, programs, and events; communicates issues/concerns with supervisor or Aquatics Pool Manager as they arise.
- Assists staff to maintain order during events, activities, and programs and ensures the safety of participants.
- Ensures and enforces program, facility, and department/division rules.
- Performs pool maintenance, including but not limited to routine daily cleaning of locker areas, decks, and other facility areas.
- Assists in putting out or taking down equipment and pool covers.
- Performs and/or supports emergency procedures.
- Performs lifeguard duties and/or coaches/instructs/assists with swim lessons and swim team programs.
- Rescues swimmers in danger and performs situational appropriate emergency procedures.
- Provides First Aid.
- Maintains swim class records and submits appropriate paperwork.
- Assists with special events at the pool.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.
Knowledge of:
- Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, codes and regulations related to assigned activities.
- Computer proficiency: windows-based software, website navigation.
- Basic record-keeping principles, procedures and techniques.
Skills and Abilities to:
- Assist with a variety of recreational activities for the division.
- Learn, read, and apply laws, codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures to the public.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing; comprehend and use English effectively including producing all forms of communications in a clear, concise and understandable manner to intended audiences.
- Operate a variety of modern office equipment including personal computer equipment using standard or customized software application programs appropriate to assigned tasks.
- Use tact, initiative, prudence and judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines.
- Establish, maintain and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Provide continuous effort to improve operations and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.
Competencies
Foundational
- Use Technical/Functional Expertise: Displays an appropriate depth of knowledge and skills as required for the position and commensurate with the time in class. Uses technology as appropriate for the position. Seeks additional knowledge and information to continually enhance knowledge in areas of specialty.
- Be Accountable for Performance: Actively shows responsibility, reliability, and trustworthiness. Ensures work and information are complete and accurate. Admits mistakes and looks for ways to improve. Models self as dependable and reliable. Follows up with others to ensure agreements and commitments have been fulfilled. Values the importance of team and organizational success. Independently takes action to influence events, to improve own or organizational performance and to promote the goals of the organization.
- Provide Excellent Customer Service: Anticipates, assesses, and responds effectively to the needs of diverse customers, both internal and external, providing consistently excellent service that is timely, accurate, courteous, and respectful.
- Communicate Effectively: Uses verbal and written skills effectively to ensure that information is successfully shared throughout the organization. Relates well to a range of people. Shows sensitivity to the needs of others. Demonstrates ability to build rapport and facilitates mutual understanding.
- Work Safely: Knowledge and application of relevant safety requirements that apply to the specific work being done. Recognizes and mitigates safety hazards on the job. Observes rules and regulations to comply with personal and workplace safety standards. Works to create a hazard-free, accident-free environment.
Working Conditions
Physical Requirements and Working Environment
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This work requires regular and punctual attendance at the City's aquatics park or other assigned locations; this work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and rare exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions, frequently requires standing, walking and lifting and occasionally requires sitting, climbing or balancing and pushing or pulling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
Selection Guidelines
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
The job classification does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Richland and any employee and is subject to change by the City as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.
Supplemental Information
Final selection will be made based on qualifications and an interview process. Final candidate(s) selected will be required to successfully complete and pass a comprehensive background/reference check commensurate to the position.
The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a highly qualified and diversified work force. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age (over 40), marital or