Swim Instructor

West End YMCA • Chino, CA

40d • $0 - $17 • Onsite

About The Position

The YMCA is a leading non-profit that continues to strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. As one of the nation’s largest providers of swim lessons, we strive to promote confidence and safety in and around the water. A group swim instructor at the YMCA creates a safe and positive atmosphere that welcomes all individuals while promoting and sustaining safe conditions for the pool and surrounding areas in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures. Group swim instructors at the YMCA are also expected to present themselves in an exemplary manner while maintaining an upbeat, optimistic, and passionate attitude about the YMCA during their shifts. Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

Requirements

• Minimum age of 16
• Obtains current certifications in the following courses: YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor, ASHI Basic Life Support, First Aid and Emergency Oxygen within 60 days of hire.
• Maintains vigilance in entire zone of surveillance that include distress signals in and around the aquatic environment.
• Demonstrates ability to prevent, recognize and respond to swimmers in need of assistance and maintain a duty to act in an emergency.
• Ability to work in a diverse role with different ages groups.
• Ability to model exemplary behavior.

Responsibilities

• Instructs swim lessons in accordance with YMCA of the USA guidelines and curriculum, having prepared lesson plans accordingly and adapting instruction to meet the individual needs and abilities of participants.
• Ensures equipment is prepared, maintained in good condition, and ready at the start of lesson time.
• Maintains professionalism and wears required professional attire, including YMCA-issued apparel and rash guards.
• Models safety awareness during scheduled shifts and maintains active supervision of participants at all times.
• Builds effective, genuine relationships with students and parents; helps them connect with each other and the YMCA while encouraging parent involvement and supporting participant retention.
• Parent and guardian engagement is an essential function of this position. Instructors are expected to provide regular feedback regarding swimmer progress, recommendations for advancement, and answer questions in a professional and welcoming manner.
• Swim instructor skills must meet YMCA of the USA expectations, and all evaluations, audits, and skills assessments must meet required standards to pass.
• Maintains accurate records as required, including attendance, weekly reports, curriculum tracking, achievement cards, participant evaluations, and skill progression documentation.
• Completes curriculum tracking and participant assessments in a timely manner to ensure proper swimmer placement and advancement through YMCA stages.
• Attends all mandatory monthly in-service trainings, staff meetings, and additional trainings as required.
• Follows all YMCA policies, rules, regulations, and procedures, including emergency action plans, safety procedures, and standards of conduct.
• Completes incident and accident reports accurately and promptly as necessary.
• Provides exceptional customer service to all members, guests, and participants and serves as a positive ambassador of the YMCA mission and core values.
• Maintains attentiveness and remains free from distractions while actively instructing and supervising participants.
• Begins and ends classes on time and maintains organized and efficient class transitions.
• Demonstrates professionalism, maturity, and sound judgment when interacting with participants, parents, members, and fellow staff.
• Communicates concerns, behavioral issues, incidents, and participant needs promptly to supervisors and completes all required documentation.
• Accepts coaching and feedback professionally and demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and instructional excellence.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding participants, families, staff, and YMCA operations.
• Promotes YMCA programs and services and assists with participant evaluations and stage recommendations to support enrollment growth and member retention.
• Maintains all required certifications and successfully completes required audits and continuing education requirements.
• Demonstrates flexibility and willingness to teach various age groups, skill levels, and class formats based on operational needs.
• Collaborates effectively with lifeguards, deck supervisors, coordinators, and other instructors to maintain a safe, professional, and high-quality aquatic environment.
• Completes all other duties as assigned.
• Understands that participant safety, instructional quality, and professionalism are the highest priorities and that failure to maintain these standards may result in corrective action up to and including termination.
• Maintains a minimum attendance rate of 90% for all scheduled classes, meetings, trainings, and assigned shifts, demonstrating reliability, professionalism, and punctuality.
• Recognizes that consistency and quality instruction are essential to participant success and member satisfaction. Class cancellations and absences should be limited to unforeseen emergencies and should not become a common occurrence. Instructors are expected to communicate scheduling conflicts promptly to leadership and provide as much advance notice as possible. Excessive absences, tardiness, or avoidable cancellations may result in corrective action and/or removal from teaching assignments.
• Must be able to work in indoor and outdoor aquatic environments and may be exposed to heat, cold, humidity, direct sunlight, wind, rain, changing weather conditions, pool chemicals, and wet or slippery surfaces.
• This is an in-person job and duties as such cannot be performed remotely.
• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with youth.
• Attend required abuse risk management training.
• Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising youth.
• Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed