Lead Lifeguard

YMCA of Greater Kansas City•Kansas City, KS

About The Position

The Lead Lifeguard oversees the safety of members and program participants in pool areas and provides leadership to aquatics team members under the guidance of the Aquatics Director. The role involves active pool, whirlpool, and sauna surveillance; enforcement of safety rules; pool and chemical checks; maintaining records; and supporting daily aquatics operations. The Lead Lifeguard may also help lead training, support hiring and scheduling, assist with lifeguard orientation, and serve as the aquatics person on call when the Aquatics Director is unavailable. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and have at least one year of experience as a certified lifeguard. They must hold, or be willing to obtain, a recognized lifeguard certification and current professional-rescuer CPR/AED, First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen certifications. Applicants must also be able to pass the applicable physical competency test for lifeguard certification.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years of age.
At least one year of experience as a certified lifeguard.
Able to relate to and work with diverse groups of people in a friendly and consistent manner.
Must hold a current nationally recognized lifeguard certification or be willing to obtain one. Accepted examples include ARC (American Red Cross), YMCA Lifeguard 6th Edition, Starguard, Jeff Ellis and Associates (special facilities or deep water), and Boy Scouts of America.
Must hold current CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen certifications from an accepted organization, or be willing to obtain them. Listed organizations include the American Health and Safety Institute, Emergency Care and Safety Institute, and American Red Cross.
Must pass the applicable lifeguard physical competency test. The listed tests require swimming, treading water or floating, retrieving a 10-pound object from depth, and completing the timed event within the stated time limit.

Responsibilities

Continuously scan the pool, whirlpool, and sauna areas for safe conditions, maintaining a high level of alertness.
Keep a rescue tube, whistle, emergency button, and emergency oxygen barrier mask ready and available while actively scanning the pool.
Enforce posted rules and other rules necessary to ensure participant safety.
Keep the pool deck free of clutter and perform maintenance duties assigned by the Aquatics Director.
Test pool chemical levels, record them in chemical logs, and immediately report changes to the Aquatics Director.
Ensure the automatic chlorinator is full and add chemicals as directed by the Aquatics Director.
Complete opening, closing, and security reports.
Maintain continuity of lap swim and move participants as needed.
Immediately notify the appropriate associate of unsafe conditions, needed repairs, complaints, accidents, or injuries.
Complete and document pool safety checks and quick checks.
Complete Y accident and incident reports and submit them to the Aquatics Director.
Monitor associates in the pool area and ensure appropriate lifeguard-to-swimmer ratios.
Assist with assigning duties to maintain a clean facility, including keeping hallways and locker rooms picked up.
Assist with and participate in marketing and special events.
Assist in managing departmental operations.
Complete two hours of in-service training per month and participate in ongoing operational-hours training, including mannequin drops, pool safety checks, and CPR checks.
May lead monthly lifeguard in-service trainings.
May assist with interviewing, scheduling, and supervising qualified associates.
Assist the Aquatics Director with new-hire orientation for lifeguards.
May serve as the aquatics person on call when the Aquatics Director is unavailable.
Participate in ongoing training and recertification; staff may be videotaped for safety audits and training purposes.