Head Guard (Lifeguard III)

Parks Tacoma•Various Parks Tacoma locations, WA

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Be part of our amazing aquatic family, make lifelong friends and provide a safe, fun experience for our swimmers. Join the team at one or more of our swimming pools. Currently hiring for our Eastside Community Center, Peoples Community Center and our two outdoor pools at Kandle & Stewart Heights. Applications are reviewed as they are received. This position will remain open until filled. Work where you play! Join our team at Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live. Parks Tacoma is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Parks Tacoma's mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun. Come work with us and work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Parks Tacoma are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Requirements

At least 20 years of age.
At least 2 years of lifeguarding experience with increasing responsibilities required.
Current Lifeguard, First Aid and Basic Life Support or Professional Rescuer CPR certifications required.
Demonstrate successful swimming, rescue, and emergency care skills.
Demonstrate knowledge of aquatic programs, activities, and services.
Demonstrate knowledge of safety guidelines and practices.
Ability to handle conflict and solve problems using tact, patience, and courtesy.
Ability to make quick decisions and navigate emergency situations.
Work with diverse groups of people in a tactful, effective, and respectful manner.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, the community and program participants.
Follow instructions, both written and verbal.
Must be observant, safety conscious and able to react calmly and quickly in an emergency.
Ability to recognize early warning signs of distress, make decisions and act quickly.
Ability to safely perform job tasks in a variety of aquatic settings.
Maintain 20/40 vision; use of corrective lenses is acceptable.
Ability, with assistance, to lift a person weighing up to 300 pounds while the person is secured to a backboard up onto the deck while standing in water or treading water.
Ability to stand on cement floor for 90-minute increments during scheduled work shift.
Ability to sit in a lifeguard elevated tower for up to 2 hours at a time.
All staff are required to pass monthly critical skills assessment, which consists of swimming 250 yards without stopping, retrieving an object from a depth of 12 feet, and treading water for 2 minutes using legs only.

Responsibilities

Maintain safe swimming conditions in the pool, on the deck, and surrounding pool areas.
Respond to emergencies and provide emergency care as needed.
Prevent accidents by maintaining constant observation of the pool area, enforcing health and safety rules, and maintaining emergency readiness.
Provide documentation through completing required reports.
Positively communicate information on Parks Tacoma programs.
Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.
Prevent accidents and injury by understanding, explaining, and enforcing program safety rules, policies, procedures, and facility expectations.
Provide a positive attitude toward program participants and staff; encourage and serve as a positive role model for program participants.
Maintain certification-level of physical and mental readiness.
Demonstrate consistent scanning and maintain surveillance.
Attend monthly in-service training and staff meetings.
Develop rapport and maintain effective relationships with the members, participants, and other staff.
Administer rescue and emergency care as needed.
Report all participant behavioral problems and incidents to appropriate staff and supervisor.
Complete incident and accident reports in a clear, concise, and legible manner as required.
Ensure proper use, care, and storage of program equipment.
Provide some work direction to other part-time staff (Level I).
Maintain communication with staff, participants, parents/guardian as needed.
Maintain daily communication with supervisor.
Conduct water chemistry tests as assigned and maintain clear and concise records of pool chemical readings.
Follow the MPT Communication Plan to promptly notify appropriate staff and supervisor when needed.
Take pool attendance and maintain related records as required.
Perform routine maintenance of the pool and surrounding areas, to ensure cleanliness.
Check pool and rescue equipment and promptly report any problems.
Set up and store equipment for recreational swims.
Assist with coordinating part-time staff and volunteer schedules.
Responsible for overall program onsite supervision and facilitating activities in the absence of the Coordinator or Specialist.
Provide work direction to other part-time staff (Level I & II).
Assist instructors with class set up.
Act as Deck Supervisor during Swim Lessons, assisting parents and students as needed.
Provides direction to staff in the event of an emergency.
Follows the Communication Plan and notifies chain of command promptly.