Water Safety Instructor

Position Description

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve. A nationally accredited team of passionate professionals devoted to building better lives and a better community through the power of parks and recreation. Our talented team at Durham Parks and Recreation is devoted to community service and provides a diverse range of programs, services, opportunities, and experiences while being united through our core pillars of creating equitable economic impacts;

advancing conservation; rejuvenating health and wellness; enhancing quality of life and sustaining social equity.

Hourly Rate: $19.37

Various shifts:
Saturdays 8am – 12pm / Weekday mornings 8am - 10am and Weekday evenings 5pm - 8pm.

Position is the lead instructor or will assist a lead instructor with the demonstration of swimming skills. Incumbent leads or assists with facilitating swim lessons and provides program support in a swimming pool environment for a diverse population of all ages and skill sets.

• Takes responsibility for the health, well-being, and safety of program participants
• Ensures that lifeguards are stationed at appropriate locations on the pool deck to maintain proper supervision during swim lesson classes.
• Teaches swim classes using the guidelines and principles provided by the American Red Cross for the Learn-to-Swim program.
• Completes assessment of overall class abilities and skills needing improvement.
• Evaluates student progress and achievement and determines which levels students have completed, and which skills need improvement.
• Establishes and maintains positive interactions with class participants and facility patrons.
• Provides constructive feedback to participants, parents, and guardians.
• Acts as a role model by demonstrating patience and a calm demeanor while instructing to garner the respect and trust of participants.
• Completes report cards that are given to participants, parents, and guardians at the end of the session, detailing what the participant has learned and what level the participant has completed.
• Works closely with the lead instructor to keep them apprised of concerns and challenges.
• Assists the swim lessons coordinator with recording daily attendance for classes.

• Basic aquatic skills and all swimming strokes.
• Legal and ethical standards for instructing and safeguarding children.
• Health and safety requirements for the swimming pool environment.

• Teaching swimming lessons or basic swim strokes.
• Communicating instructions effectively to individuals and groups.
• Interacting positively and productively with all ages and skill levels.
• Organizing and leading group activities.
• Exhibiting character through positive encouragement, dependability, integrity, and adaptability.

• Ability to read, write and follow directions.
• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• Valid current certification as an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor or equivalent such as Ellis Water Safety Plus Course, Start Guard Starfish Swimming Instructor, or YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor.
• Valid Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED – with Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto Injector or obtain Certification within the first six months of employment.

• Willing to teach all levels of swim lessons from parent and child classes to adult classes.
• Able to attend 2-4 hours of required training 4 times in the year.
• Able to communicate through email and/or text messages.