Lifeguard

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Maintain safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck, and surrounding areas. Create a positive atmosphere that promotes member safety and engagement in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS include the following, other duties may be assigned:

• Maintain active surveillance of the pool area. 
• Respond to all illness and injury incidents around the pool immediately and appropriately. This includes, but not limited to performing Lifeguarding skills, First Aid, and CPR until arrival of emergency medical services.
• Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, including abiding by uniform and safety equipment requirements.
• Conduct patron swimming test to assess ability to swim independently and unattended.
• Complete required documents and/or reports.
• Maintain effective, positive relationships with pool patrons, participants and other staff.
• Understand, communicate and consistently apply all safety rules, policies and guidelines for the pool and aquatic area.
• Maintain a clean, safe and orderly pool, deck, Aquatics Office, and Locker rooms. Report any unsafe conditions/equipment to supervisor immediately.
• Perform necessary equipment checks and ensure appropriate equipment is available as needed.
• Attend all staff meetings and in-service trainings.

Child Protection Responsibilities:

• Adheres to policies related to boundaries with youth.
• Participates in required abuse risk management training.
• Reports suspicious and inappropriate behaviors.
• Follows mandated abuse reporting requirements.
• Adheres to job specific abuse risk management responsibilities.

Qualifications

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Ys values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• Certifications: CPR, First Aid and AED for the Professional Rescuer, Red Cross or YMCA Lifeguard certification.
• 1 or more years of previous lifeguarding experience; or equivalent combination of relevant training and experience.
• Ability to think in the abstract, solve problems, make quick decisions, instruct, evaluate, and recognize the potential for danger or injury.
• Strong communication skills (verbal, written and interpersonal)
• Previous demonstrated experience working with diverse populations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk and hear; remain alert with no lapses of consciousness.  The employee frequently is required to sit in an elevated chair; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee is occasionally required to taste or smell.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, and depth perception.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.  The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions (exposure to outside weather is frequent if working at an outdoor pool).  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.