Aquatics Director

Overview

The YMCA of Rock River Valley is seeking a cause-driven leader to serve as the Aquatics Director. The Aquatics Director is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and growth of YMCA aquatic programs at designated locations. This position ensures a safe, high-quality experience for all staff, volunteers, members, program participants, and guests. The role involves creating a positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals and adheres to strong safety practices in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures.

The Director will lead a team to build positive relationships with staff, volunteers, members and program participants through effective listening and communication, and will focus on building connections within the YMCA and the community.

The YMCA seeks to provide a flexible, results-oriented work environment. To support the branches, programs, and people they serve, directors will be asked to spend a majority of their time on-site observing, supporting and leading. While occasional remote work may be permitted with prior approval from the supervisor, directors are required to maintain a consistent on-site presence and should not expect regular remote work arrangements.

• Develops strategies to motivate staff and achieve goals. Provide clear job expectations for all aquatic roles.
• Serves as a member of their branch, Aquatics Department and YMCA Leadership Team. Will attend all scheduled meetings, including, but not limited to, branch team meetings, operation meetings, and leadership meetings.
• Fosters a culture that builds trust and treats all team members with respect; constructively and immediately deals with conflict; gains commitment and provides clarity; holds team members accountable and cultivates peer accountability; and achieves results to meet strategic and operational goals.
• Provides direct supervision to leads and frontline staff to ensure their professional development and success.
• Recognizes, develops, and strategizes department staffing needs, including, but not limited to, swim lesson instructors, lifeguards, and adaptive swim lessons instructors.
• Manages and supports staffing, scheduling, payroll and programming. Follows all YMCA policies and industry-leading practices as well as local, state and federal regulations and laws.
• Creates, implements and documents an annual in-service calendar that meets or exceeds leading industry standards, YUSA standards and the association's general liability insurance recommendations. All in-services are to be led by YUSA Lifeguard Instructors.
• Seeks and provides regular feedback, including meetings with aquatic staff and leads, swim lesson team, and association aquatic peers.
• Participates in quarterly program cabinet meetings to support the aquatic department in program development, staff training, program quality standards, recertification, audits and resource development. Participates in other committees as requested.
• Supports their Branch Executive Director through hosting and leading annual branch meeting.
• Collaborates with their Branch Executive Director in the hiring process of Aquatic leadership positions.
• Partners with association peers to develop the Association Aquatics Staff Handbook, ensuring all policies and procedures are up to date annually.

• Operational management of branch-specific assigned locations and programs.
• Develops and implements quality control measures to ensure delivery of quality programs, integrated marketing approaches, smooth enrollment processes, coordination of recruitment strategies and regular reporting progress of core outcomes.
• Ensures quality programming and “best in class” member experience, expanding program offerings and developing new aquatic program opportunities.
• Responds promptly to member and participant concerns, typically within 24-48 hours, across phone, email, and other communication channels.
• Develops and implements strategies to build capacity and drive participation in designated program areas using participant usage, enrollment and feedback data.
• Responsible for meeting, and/or exceeding…