Learning Development Lead - Pool Operations

Goldfish Swim School•Northville, MI

10d•$70,000 - $80,000

About The Position

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Learning & Development Lead to oversee and elevate the training of swim instructors and aquatic staff across our network of franchise locations. This role plays a vital part in ensuring our teaching standards, safety practices, and customer service excellence are consistent and compliant with our brand. The Learning & Development Lead will also be responsible for onboarding and developing Assistant General Managers (AGMs) who are specialized in the aquatics side of the business.

Requirements

Minimum 3–5 years of experience in swim instruction, aquatics programming, or a related leadership/training role.
Proven experience training, coaching, or mentoring instructors or operational leaders.
Excellent understanding of swim school operations, safety compliance, and customer service principles.
Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
Ability to travel frequently to franchise locations (including overnights and weekends as needed).

Nice To Haves

Lifeguard, CPR, and relevant aquatic instructor certifications (e.g., WSI, STA, Swim England) are preferred.
Experience in franchising or multi-site operations is a plus.

Responsibilities

Design and deliver hands-on, poolside training workshops for new and existing swim instructors.
Support the development and rollout of instructional materials, training manuals, and best practices for aquatic instruction.
Facilitate onboarding and continuous learning for new AGMs specializing in aquatics, ensuring they meet leadership and instructional benchmarks.
Mentor AGMs to become high-performing leaders and trainers within their respective schools.
Conduct regular on-site visits to franchise locations to observe lessons, provide feedback, and coach instructors.
Evaluate instructor performance using standard rubrics and provide actionable development plans.
Ensure franchisee operations are in compliance with brand standards, safety policies, and instructional protocols.
Partner with local leadership to identify performance gaps and develop strategic training responses.
Host regional or national aquatic-focused workshops and seminars to advance instructor skills and engagement.
Stay current with industry standards and integrate best practices into training content.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth among aquatic teams.
Work cross-functionally with operations, safety, and franchise support teams to ensure cohesive training efforts.
Serve as a brand ambassador and training liaison to franchise owners and their teams.
Contribute to the development and refinement of training strategies and long-term learning initiatives.