Lifeguard

We offer FREE in-house, American Red Cross, lifeguard training and certification sessions, with upcoming courses available:

• Fall 2024 schedule coming soon

OUR CULTURE:

Guiding Principles describe our behaviors to support our organization’s work throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in goals, strategies, and leadership. Our Guiding Principles are as follows: We CULTIVATE-We grow staff and volunteer leaders who will be stewards of the Y mission, resources, and opportunities. We OWN-We think long-term and act on behalf of the organization, beyond our own team. We WELCOME-We are inclusive of all people and all communities. We SERVE-We provide timely and excellent service to members, volunteers, community, and each other. We LEARN-We are never done learning and always seek to improve. We are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them. We UNITE-We work together to achieve big goals and speak as one voice. We RESPECT-We treat others with kindness and speak positively about other people in all situations. We PLAY-We celebrate, appreciate, and have fun

The YMCA of Great Grand Rapids utilizes a Membership By Design framework, which is a member involvement and community building model for YMCAs across the country. All staff members—front-line, management, full- and part-time—and volunteers have a role to play in member engagement. These responsibilities can be broken into six steps:

1. Enrollment: Staff and volunteers encourage potential members to enroll in programs and activities that meet their needs.
2. Satisfaction: Staff and volunteers ask members continually about their satisfaction with a program or activity, track responses, listen to suggestions, and respond promptly in a manner consistent with the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
3. Relationship Building: Staff and volunteers are open, friendly, and approachable to all YMCA members and participants. Staff and volunteers initiate interaction with and between members.
4. Education and Conversion: Staff and volunteers know about and share their knowledge of the YMCA, its programs, its policies, its mission, its values, and how it benefits members and the community.
5. Volunteerism and Leadership: Staff and volunteers create opportunities for members to volunteer in their areas of interest, and they ask members to do so whenever appropriate.
6. Ownership: Staff and volunteers encourage members to “own” the YMCA, using words such as “we,” “us,” and “our association” (and actions that match those words) to include members as well as staff and volunteers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Lifeguard is responsible for guarding the aquatic facility and/or aquatic activities to secure the safety of pool occupants and program participants. The Lifeguard will ensure a safe, fun area for children and adults to interact and enjoy. This position requires early morning, evening, and weekend responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Enforces aquatic rules and procedures
• Keeps deck free of obstructions
• Maintains supervision of participants
• Administers necessary First Aid and CPR
• Handles parent/member complaints
• Maintains all areas in clean, presentable fashion
• Maintains pool count
• Maintains pool and deck equipment
• Checks and records pool temperature/air temperature and chemicals
• Enforces policies on showers and proper attire
• Enforces safety standards and follows emergency procedures
• Ensures State of Michigan’s Department of Health requirements are met

Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

COMPENSATION

$15.50 - $19.38 ; Part-Time; Non-Exempt (up to 25hrs/week)

BENEFITS:

• Free YMCA Individual Membership
• 10% retirement contribution upon eligibility, learn more here.
• 403(b) retirement savings account
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program and resources for you and your family
• Community Discounts, and more

QUALIFICATIONS:

High school education; up to one month of related experience; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Ability to interact with people of all ethnic backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles. Employee must be at least sixteen years of age or older. YMCA experience preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION

• YMCA or American Red Cross Lifeguard certification (required, offered in-house at no cost)
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for rescue (required)
• First Aid Certification required within the first 60 days
• AED-Oxygen Certification required within the first 60 days
• Blood Borne Pathogen training
• State of Michigan criminal background clearance (ICHAT)
• Lifeguard Instructor certification (preferred)

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

Critical Thinking & Decision Making

• Recognizes own biases and suspends judgmental thinking.
• Responds to challenges with possible solutions in a timely manner.

Functional Expertise

• Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.
• Uses best practices, guidelines, and industry standards as a framework to improve performance.

Emotional Maturity

• Acts in alignment with personal and organizational values in all situations.
• Remains calm and objective when under pressure or when challenged by others.
• Accepts responsibility for behavior.
• Leads with empathy, anticipating how actions and words impact others.
• Operates with openness and a willingness to receive ongoing feedback from all levels of the organization.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must be able to:

• Physically perform all skills required of a lifeguard.
• Hear noises and distress signals in the aquatic environment, including in the water and anywhere around the zone of responsibility, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Remain alert with no lapses of consciousness.
• See and observe all sections of an assigned zone of responsibility, with our without reasonable accommodations.

TRAVEL

0-5% of local travel within the state of Michigan; occasional out-of-state travel may be required for educational conferences or training.