Water Country - Aquatics Manager

Herschend • Portsmouth, NH

11d

About The Position

Our story began 75 years ago when the Herschend family discovered wonder deep in an Ozark Mountain cave—and chose to share it with the world. Today, Herschend is the largest family-held themed attractions company, with 49 leading attractions and immersive experiences that reach audiences worldwide. While each brand offers something unique, all are united by a shared purpose: Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating®. Our passionate hosts make this purpose possible through everyday acts of love and service—what we call Heartspitality®—the intersection of heart and hospitality. As an equal-opportunity employer, we strive to provide environments where every host, guest, and partner feel welcome, valued, and loved. We firmly believe that words and actions matter, which is why all individuals are to be treated equally and with respect. We are currently looking for a: Water Country - Aquatics Manager Roles & Responsibilities: The Aquatics Manager oversees all aspects of Water Country’s aquatics program, leading the efforts in recruiting, training, scheduling, and performance management of more than 150 lifeguards. This role works to ensure full operational compliance with all applicable regulations and standards while enhancing guest satisfaction through superior safety and service practices. The Aquatics Manager investigates incidents, manages labor and operating expense budgets, and optimizes operations to increase efficiency and enhance safety. The Aquatics Manager will lead their department as the aquatics expert to drive continuous improvement and implement industry best practices to deliver an exceptional experience.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• The ideal candidate will have 2-5 years of operations-based experience with a minimum of 2 years in a supervisory capacity
• Must hold or be willing to obtain lifeguard instructor certification from Ellis & Associates, Certified Pool Operator certification and any other required certification, training or licenses.
• Fluent English; Spanish a plus
• Communication – Highly developed interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills; ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively with a wide range of diverse personnel including park guests and international J-1 Visa participants
• Leadership – Inspire others to achieve results, establish credibility throughout the organization and maintain a visible leadership role in appropriate industry, community and business organizations as necessary
• Problem Solving/Analysis – Define problems, research and collect data, draw valid conclusions and execute remedial strategies in a timely manner including instances of guest recovery
• Project Management – Understand and manage projects from concept to completion. Develop and achieve strategic objectives, plans and time schedules; organize and manage competing priorities, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to detail; Manage the aquatics expense budget in compliance with purchasing procedures
• Executive Presence – Represent the Company well internally and externally; convey a professional and positive image of the organization and business affiliates
• Flexibility – Handle multiple priorities simultaneously; maintain a flexible work schedule to meet changing demands for multiple concurrent projects including evenings, weekends and Holidays
• Initiative and Adaptability – Take initiative and execute plans to accomplish strategic objectives in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Ability to handle high-pressure situations, meet the demands of constant deadlines and coordinate multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
• Computer Proficiency – MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams); Workday
• Subject to bloodborne pathogens, proper PPE is required in these situations
• Physical demands include ability to walk and stand for long periods of time outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme heat
• Ability to perform physical inspections of the facility and attractions, this may include frequent bending, stooping and lifting up to 50 pounds
• Demonstrated ability to successfully perform all swim tests, water rescues, and skills including: · Ability to swim 200 yards using front crawl/freestyle or breaststroke · Ability to retrieve a 10-pound brick from at least 11 feet of water · Ability to tread water for 2 minutes without the use of hands

Nice To Haves

• Spanish a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of the park’s aquatics operations, including recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervising approximately 150 lifeguards
• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory and safety standards (Ellis & Associates, ADA, ASTM, and federal/state/local agencies)
• Oversee and respond to Ellis & Associates performance audits, maintain accurate Zone Coverage, Zone of Protection, and Zone validation records
• Develop, implement, and document comprehensive training programs, including monthly in-service sessions
• Monitor and manage operating and labor budgets, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and control costs
• Conduct and document daily operational inspections, incident investigations, reports, and corrective actions to ensure guest and host safety
• Coach, mentor, and support hosts to achieve high performance and professional growth
• Collaborate with park leadership to enhance guest experience and improve net promoter scores (NPS and eNPS)
• Participate in the Manager on Duty program
• Support maintenance and groundskeeping operations during non-operational periods
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Management Incentive Plan
• Comprehensive health and wellness package
• 401k Savings and Investment plan
• Generous vacation and sick time
• When you join Herschend, you do more than simply advance your career. You become part of the Herschend family, a group of talented people who drive innovation, embrace change, and deliver results.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED