Director of Aquatics Operations & Safety

The YMCA of Greenville is a dynamic and rapidly growing association that seeks to strengthen the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The Director of Aquatics Operations & Safety supports the work of the YMCA of Greenville, a leading nonprofit charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Reporting to the Executive Branch Director, the Director of Aquatics Operations & Safety provides leadership and oversight for all aquatics operations, ensuring a safe, compliant, and well-maintained environment. This role is responsible for staffing, risk management, and operational excellence while ensuring the aquatic environment consistently reflects YMCA standards for safety, cleanliness, and member experience. The aquatics area is a highly visible and impactful space within the YMCA. This role ensures that every interaction in and around the pool contributes to a safe, welcoming, and positive member experience.

Not only will you be part of amazing mission driven work, but we also offer the following benefits:

• Access to your Earned Wages before scheduled Pay Days!
• 12% Retirement Contribution, once fully vested
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan
• Separate Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Medical Benefits
• Company Paid Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 11 Company Paid Holidays, plus 2 Floating Holidays
• Household Membership to the YMCA of Greenville
• 50% Discount on Programs, including Childcare, Sports, Aquatics, and Personal Training

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. 

We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. 

We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. 

We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. 

We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. 

We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

*Compensation will be determined commensurate qualifications and experience.*

Aquatics Operations & Safety

• Oversee and approve all aquatics schedules, including allocation of pool space, ensuring alignment with safety standards, staffing capacity, and program priorities.
• Oversee all day-to-day aquatics operations, including pool schedules, staffing, and facility readiness and member experience.
• Ensure compliance with all YMCA, local, state, and health department regulations.
• Serve as the final decision-maker on matters related to aquatics safety, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain and enforce safety protocols, emergency procedures, and risk management practices.
• Monitor and respond to incidents, ensuring proper documentation and follow-up.
• Collaborate with the Director of Aquatics Programs & Experience to support program delivery, ensuring appropriate staffing, scheduling, and safe operations.

Aquatics Department Leadership (Shared Accountability)

• Partner closely with the Director of Aquatics Programs & Experience to ensure the overall success of the aquatics department.
• Share responsibility for delivering a safe, high-quality, and engaging aquatics experience across all branches.
• Collaborate on scheduling, staffing, program delivery, and member experience to ensure alignment between operations and programming.
• Maintain regular communication and joint planning to support department goals, priorities, and performance outcomes.
• Share accountability for key aquatics metrics, including safety outcomes, member satisfaction, program participation, and staff retention.

Water Safety Programming

• Support the implementation of water safety programs, including swim lessons and drowning prevention initiatives.
• Ensure all water safety programming is delivered safely, in compliance with YMCA standards and risk management practices.
• Maintain a visible and engaged leadership presence in aquatics areas to support staff, safety, and member experience.
• Serve as the lead for aquatics-related incident response, ensuring timely action, proper documentation, and follow-up in alignment with YMCA policies.
• Partner with the Director of Aquatics Programs & Experience on program planning and community initiatives. Ensure programming is delivered in alignment with YMCA safety standards and risk management practices.
• Promote water safety awareness through outreach, events, and partnerships.
• Monitor program effectiveness and participation, making adjustments to improve impact and accessibility.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise lifeguards and aquatics staff.
• Develop and manage aquatics staffing models to ensure adequate coverage, safety compliance, and efficient use of labor resources.
• Ensure all staff maintain required certifications and training.
• Lead and oversee lifeguard certification and recertification courses, including instructor development and course delivery.
• Support and provide operational guidance for safety-related training programs (e.g., babysitting courses), ensuring safe delivery, appropriate staffing, and alignment with YMCA standards.
• Provide ongoing coaching, supervision, and performance management.
• Develop a strong safety culture among aquatics staff.

Member Experience & Aquatic Environment

• Promote a culture of safety, hospitality, and engagement within aquatics areas.
• Ensure the pool deck, locker rooms, and surrounding areas reflect high standards of cleanliness, safety, and member experience.
• Ensure staff are visible, approachable, and responsive to member needs.
• Address member concerns related to aquatics operations and environment.

Facility & Operational Coordination

• Partner with facilities teams to ensure proper maintenance and functionality of aquatics areas.
• Oversee equipment use, inspections, and operational readiness.
• Support efficient scheduling and utilization of aquatic space.

Financial & Administrative Oversight

• Manage aquatics staffing budgets and operational expenses.
• Monitor staffing efficiency and operational costs.
• Support financial performance through effective resource management.

Other Expectations

• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers.
• Attend/complete required abuse risk management training
• Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising consumers.
• Follow mandated reporting requirements.
• Adhere to job specific abuse risk management responsibilities.
  • Maintenance Employees-ensure unused rooms and closets remain locked; routinely monitor high-risk locations (locker-rooms and bathrooms), etc.
  • Front Desk Personnel- ensure consumers are properly signed in and out, ensure only authorized adults are allowed in the facility, etc. 
• Follow employees and volunteers screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse risk.
• Provide employees and volunteers with ongoing supervision and training related to abuse risk.
• Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with consumers.
• Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk.
• Respond quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinary procedures.
• Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors.
• Follow mandated reporting requirements.
• Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment to protect their consumer from abuse.
• Report essential abuse risk management information to the board of directors.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

• Program Project Management
• Change Leadership
• Collaboration
• Operational Effectiveness
• Personal Growth

*Compensation will be determined commensurate qualifications and experience.*

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Sports Management, Public Health, Business Administration, or a related field and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive aquatics or facility operations experience, including supervisory responsibilities.
• Experience managing staff, schedules, and operations in an aquatics or similar high-risk environment.

Certifications (Required or Ability to Obtain)

• Current certifications in:
  • Lifeguarding (YMCA or equivalent)
  • CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer
  • First Aid
• Ability to obtain YMCA Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) or equivalent within a defined timeframe (e.g., 6–12 months).
• YMCA swim lesson instructor
• Certified Pool Operator (CPO) or Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO), or ability to obtain within 6–12 months.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of aquatics safety standards, risk management, and emergency procedures.
• Knowledge of state/local health department regulations related to aquatic facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across functional areas, particularly in shared leadership structures.
• Ability to align priorities and decision-making with peers to support overall department success.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage performance, and build a positive staff culture.
• Demonstrated experience managing risk, compliance, or safety programs in a high-risk environment.
• Ability to lead incident response and enforce safety standards with consistency and accountability.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.

Preferred (but not required)

• YMCA experience or familiarity with YMCA aquatics standards and programs.
• Experience with water safety programming, swim lesson oversight, or drowning prevention initiatives.
• Experience managing budgets and operational expenses.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The 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.

• Frequently move throughout the facility.
• Frequent travel between branches and facilities.
• Ability to walk facilities, including aquatic and outdoor program environments.
• Occasionally lift and transport objects up to 40 lbs.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and on call as required.
• Maintain a stationary position for more than 2.5 hours per day.
• Constantly communicate on the phone or in-person.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office machinery.
• Frequently bend, or stoop.