Water Safety Instructor

City of San Diego • San Diego, CA

1d

About The Position

Water Safety Instructors instruct and lead a variety of swimming classes and plan, organize, and teach swimming lessons. They may lead specialized aquatic activities such as water exercise classes, swim team, and water polo. Classes and activities must adhere to City of San Diego and American Red Cross safety standards. The role also includes completing lesson plans and course records, maintaining course rosters and attendance reports, processing activity registrations, responding to community member questions and concerns, cleaning and organizing teaching materials, and performing other duties as assigned.

Employees are primarily employed on a part-time basis and may be assigned to work holidays, weekends, and evenings. They must be available to work as scheduled from June through August with no vacation leave, furnish and wear standard apparel prescribed by the Parks and Recreation Department, and periodically pass a performance test to retain employment. Tuberculosis testing is required upon hire and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.

Requirements

• Be at least 16 years of age on the date of application.
• Applicants under 18 must obtain a work permit before starting work, except qualifying 17-year-old high school graduates or applicants who have passed the CHSPE or GED, who must provide documentation instead.
• Acquire a valid American Red Cross Basic Swim Instructor Certification or American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification within 90 days of hire.
• Pass a pass/fail performance test before employment.
• Perform 25 yards each of front crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke consistent with American Red Cross Stroke Performance Charts, Level 3.
• Complete the water competency sequence: step into water and fully submerge; float or tread water for one minute; rotate one full circle and orient to exit; swim 25 yards without stopping; and exit the water without using steps or a ladder.
• Provide valid government-issued photo identification at the performance test; minors may use a current school-issued photo ID.
• Candidates aged 16 to 18 at the time of the performance test must bring a parent- or guardian-signed Release of Liability Waiver.
• Be available to work June through August as scheduled, with no vacation leave.
• Furnish and wear standard apparel prescribed by the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Periodically take and pass a performance test to retain employment.
• Complete tuberculosis testing upon hire and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.
• Successfully complete applicable pre-employment screening, which may include work eligibility confirmation, medical review and examination, drug and alcohol testing, reference checks, fingerprinting, and other screening where required.

Responsibilities

• Instruct and lead a variety of swimming classes.
• Plan, organize, and teach swimming lessons.
• Lead specialized aquatic activities such as water exercise classes, swim team, and water polo.
• Ensure classes and activities adhere to City of San Diego and American Red Cross safety standards.
• Complete lesson plans and course records.
• Maintain course rosters and attendance reports.
• Process activity registrations.
• Respond to community member questions and concerns.
• Clean up and organize teaching materials.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employees in Municipal Employees Association (MEA)-represented classifications are scheduled to receive general wage increases of 3.5% effective July 1, 2027, 2% effective July 1, 2028, and 2% effective January 1, 2029.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed