Head Lifeguard - Countryside Recreation Center

The Head Lifeguard position is responsible for ensuring the safety of guests, surveillance of the pool facility and surrounding areas, and enforcement of policies, rules, guidelines, and regulations governing the conduct of patrons using municipal swimming pools. This position assists management in mentoring and training hourly lifeguards and with monthly staff in-services. Responsible for taking initiative and motivating hourly lifeguard staff with daily tasks. Strong sense of safety, application of fist aid and CPR/AED competencies, and ability to initiate the Emergency Action Plan and lead care in medical emergencies. Aquatic program positions are safety sensitive. Work schedule varies based on the facility schedule, closures, and programming, with shifts primarily focused on closing hours, weekends, and holidays. The work schedule is subject to change throughout the year. The position requires ability to travel and work at various facilities as needed.

This is an hourly position dedicated to Countryside Recreation Center for the summer. Head Lifeguard positions are to be split up between the seven operating days. One position will be 32 hours per week, one will be 24 hours per week.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster offers a bonus of up to $1,500 per year depending on the employee’s fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Laotian and/or American Sign Language (ASL).

The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: Westminster’s purpose is to provide core services and foster economic resilience to give our community the opportunity to thrive. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – Pride – Integrity – Responsibility – Innovation – Teamwork).

This position supports the goals of the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department, which enhances the quality of life for all Westminster citizens by providing diverse leisure, recreational and informational services and resources; and acquiring, developing and maintaining first-class parks, facilities, open space and recreational trails. This position works towards the accomplishment of the Departments mission: Together we create exceptional opportunities for a vibrant community with a commitment to nature, wellness and literacy.

Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communication
• Demonstrate accountability for work and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

• Demonstrate preventative lifeguarding and current lifeguard techniques, standards, and procedures related to rescue of drowning swimmers or any user in a distressful situation in or around the swimming pool
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations, making proper judgments as to the correct course of action
• Rescue swimmers in danger of drowning, regardless of situation and even if possible drowning victim resists rescue efforts
• Demonstrate ability to perform first aid, CPR, and AED procedures common in swimming pool operations and within certification standards
• Enforce pool safety rules firmly and courteously with the public in a professional manner
• Assist hourly lifeguards with enforcing or communicating rules to the public
• Use cleaning agents, brushes, and scrub pads on pool surfaces and aquatics equipment and assist supervisor team in training for safe use of such product
• Instruct swimming classes of various age groups and ability levels
• Use computers for e-mail communication through Outlook and for timesheet entry
• Work courteously with the public and support the city guest/host philosophy and SPIRIT values
• Pass the City of Westminster’s swim and lifeguard skills test
  
  

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

1. Reliability – Maintain reliability as a head lifeguard and member of the aquatics leadership team
   • Maintain regular and punctual attendance 
   • Communicate effectively with City staff and guests
   • Support and model quality internal and external guest service 
2. Professionalism – Exhibit professionalism in conduct and image
   • Maintain clean and organized office spaced
   • Maintain office etiquette in a shared space
   • Maintain professionalism and confidentiality
   • Lead cleaning operations in and around the natatorium
3. Deck Management – Maintain safety in and around the pool area
   • Monitor activities in swimming pool areas and takes action to prevent drowning, injuries, or accidents
   • Demonstrate leadership, take initiative, and make recommendations for safe lifeguard ratios and rotations
   • Oversees deck operations when aquatic supervisors are not present
4. Responsibility – Take the lead role in emergencies in or around the pools
   • Maintain cognizance and initiate the Emergency Action Plan as necessary
   • Assist in completing incident, accident, and save reports
5. Task Completion – Lead and accomplish daily maintenance, janitorial, and aquatic-related tasks.
   • Monitor and ensure completion of opening and closing duties
   • Test water quality and make necessary adjustments to comply with established health standards
   • Take initiative to perform cleaning duties including but not limited to the pool, deck, and mechanical rooms
   • Communicate issues to the aquatics management team
   • Utilize assigned software and city-designated software platforms to communicate, document, and complete assignments
   • Assist and participate in staff motivation to complete daily tasks
   • Maintain records for water quality/balance and mechanical issues
6. Teaching – Lead aquatic programming and training, including staff in-services, certifications, and swim lessons
   • Conduct classes in swimming for various age groups and levels of ability
   • Assist with leading monthly in-service trainings and lead lifeguard meetings as scheduled Assist in teaching lifeguard certification classes
   • Assist, act as a leader, and set example to other lifeguards on proper class instruction and lifeguard skills
   • Participate in and contribute to teambuilding activities
7.   Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.

Required:

• High school diploma or GED
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• One (1) full year of experience as a lifeguard at a year-round public pool or two (2) summer seasons at a seasonal pool
• CPR/AED for Lifeguards certification, Basic First Aid certification, and Lifeguard Training certification
• Ability to obtain StarGuard Lifeguard Instructor Certification within one year – training provided by the City
• Ability to obtain Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Certification within one year – training provided by the City

Preferred:

• Two (2) full years of experience as a lifeguard at a year-round public pool
• StarGuard Lifeguard Certification
• Certified water safety instructor (WSI) or the equivalent 

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.

Physical Requirements

Work performed is physical in nature and involves sufficient physical strength and stamina:

• Constant sitting, standing, and walking throughout pool area to observe patrons’ adherence to facility rules, and inspect for safety hazards
• Constant near and far visual acuity to observe pools for possible troubled swimmers and safety hazards; constant audial acuity to be aware of troubled individual that may be out of line of sight
• Frequent crouching/squatting, kneeling, and bending/twisting to perform pool maintenance and rescue duties; frequent climbing and balancing to ascent and descend elevated lifeguard stands
• Frequent light grasps to hold rescue tubes throughout shift and safely use maintenance items; occasional firm grasp and fine motor skills to perform water testing, first aid, and other emergency functions
• Occasional reaching overheard to pull up to lifeguard stands; frequent reaching below shoulder to perform pool maintenance and emergency functions
• Occasional lifting of ten (10) pounds from floor to overhead to move equipment and supplies; occasional lifting of up to 75 pounds from floor to chest to assist in moving furniture, equipment, and patrons on backboards
• Occasionally carry 75 pounds up to 50 feet and 50 pounds up to 100 feet to perform emergency rescues; occasionally push/pull 75 pounds to remove individuals from pool area in an emergency situation, and set up bleachers for events and lane ropes for lap swim

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is constantly performed in a high-volume indoor pool setting with constant exposure to loud noise and wet/humid conditions. Work includes periods of high activity and stress during emergency situations. Sufficient physical strength, stamina, and conditioning are needed to rescue swimmers in danger of drowning who may resist rescue.

Required Materials and Equipment

Knowledge of lifeguard equipment to include but not limited to rescue tubes, backboards, bag valve masks, AED, whistles, chemical testing kits, basic pool chemicals, telephones, two-way radios, and megaphones. Uses cleaning chemicals and cleaning equipment such as pool vacuum, hose, pressure washer, and scrubbers. Operates personal computers and other standard office equipment.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history
• Physical and drug screen
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States
• Must be able to provide proof that all required certifications are current by the first day of employment
• Must be able to pass the City of Westminster’s swim and lifeguard skills test, and demonstrate CPR, rescue breathing skills, and the use of an AED