Group Exercise Instructor (Certified) - Parma Ridgewood Center YMCA

YMCA of Greater Cleveland Recruitment Team • North Royalton, OH

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Group Exercise Instructor designs and teaches safe, high-quality, effective, challenging, and enjoyable group exercise classes appropriate to the designated format and participants’ abilities. The instructor uses suitable music, clear cues, proper progressions, movement modifications, and appropriate intensity levels, while monitoring participants’ technique, form, hydration, and safety. Instructors emphasize members’ workouts and encourage participants to work at their own pace.

The role includes preparing and setting up classes in advance, recording attendance, starting and ending classes on time, maintaining and cleaning equipment, and leaving program areas safely and neatly. Instructors build positive relationships with participants, encourage involvement in YMCA programs and events, and may teach at multiple branches, offsite locations, or in live or recorded virtual settings. They must arrange a certified, competent substitute when unable to teach and notify their supervisor.

All YMCA of Greater Cleveland employees are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect and must follow the organization’s reporting process. The role requires maintaining applicable certifications and may require specialty-format certification or training within 90 days of hire, with supervision until that requirement is met.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Current NCCA-accredited national Group Exercise Instructor certification or YMCA Group Exercise Instructor certification; if not currently certified, obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
• CPR certification at the Basic Life Support or Professional Rescuer level, Basic First Aid, Emergency Oxygen Administration, and associated-determined safety training within 30 days of hire.
• Current specialty-format certification or proof of training when applicable to the class taught; if not currently certified or trained, obtain certification or training within 90 days of hire and work under active supervision until fulfilled.
• Commitment to the YMCA’s mission and cause, and ability to uphold its values and ethics.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
• Willingness and ability to serve as a mandated reporter and follow the child abuse and neglect reporting process.
• Ability to perform frequent sitting, standing, swimming, walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, bending, and instructing for the duration of a shift.
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Close visual acuity for tasks such as analyzing data, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading.
• Ability to perceive sounds at normal speaking levels, receive detailed oral information, and distinguish sounds.
• Ability to express ideas and convey detailed or important spoken instructions accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and teach safe, effective, enjoyable group exercise classes using appropriate progressions and cueing techniques.
• Select music and tempo appropriate to the class format and population served.
• Oversee appropriate use, maintenance, and cleaning of equipment and supplies.
• Attend mandatory staff meetings.
• Design classes that follow the designated format and suit participants’ abilities; teach with energy and enthusiasm.
• Demonstrate and explain skills clearly, and teach at an appropriate skill and intensity level while emphasizing participants’ workouts.
• Demonstrate movement modifications and encourage participants to modify movements and work at their own pace.
• Monitor participants’ intensity, technique, form, and hydration throughout class.
• Use clear verbal and physical cues in advance of movement changes.
• Plan class composition or choreography in advance and regularly change music and routines.
• Accurately record class attendance in the designated manner.
• Begin and end classes on time; arrive at the classroom at least five minutes early with music and equipment ready.
• Clean and return equipment and materials, leaving the program area safely closed down.
• Maintain positive rapport with participants and, where applicable, their parents.
• Encourage participation in YMCA programs, events, and the Annual Campaign; read announcements when requested.
• Learn participants’ names, engage them in conversation, and encourage interaction among members.
• Find a certified and competent substitute when unable to teach an assigned class and notify the supervisor.
• Travel to multiple branches or offsite locations when required to lead classes.
• Lead classes in live or recorded virtual environments when required.
• Follow the YMCA child abuse and neglect reporting process, including completing the reporting form, contacting children protective services, and notifying the designated YMCA departments and supervisors.
• Maintain all required certifications.

Benefits

• Free membership to a local YMCA.
• Discounts on YMCA programs, including childcare; part-time positions do not receive the childcare discount.
• Additional employee discounts at local businesses.
• Eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits plan, including health, dental, and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Plan, retirement contributions paid by the YMCA at 9%, and paid vacation.

What This Job Offers

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