POSITION PURPOSE / IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION
The Assistant Recreation Specialist - Aquatics is responsible for assisting in supervising front-line aquatics operations. Assists in the oversight of recreation programs involving coordination, planning, and supervising staff. Work involves assisting the Recreation Supervisor - Aquatics in the management of recreational programs, supervising lifeguards, and ensuring employee and guest safety in and around that natatorium. 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. This position may work up to 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.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CULTURAL VALUES/GENERAL COMPETENCIES
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 takes 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, 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 communications
- 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
- Maintain StarGuard Elite Lifeguard and Lifeguard Instructor Certifications
- Enforce pool safety rules with staff and public
- Respond calmly and effectively, and handle emergency situations, making proper judgements as to the correct course of action
- Coordinate, develop, and implement recreational programs under supervision of the Recreation Specialist - Aquatics
- Lead the lifeguard team in daily operations and tasks
- Instruct aquatic classes of various types, including but not limited to swimming lessons, lifeguard training, and lifeguard in-services
- Support the Hydro Systems Specialist in keeping pool operations safe and functional; demonstrate basic knowledge of pool mechanical operations and chemical testing
- Operate standard office equipment such as copy machines, computers, and telephone
- Work efficiently in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and RecTrac, and Outlook; type a minimum of 25 words per minute
- Demonstrate knowledge of proper telephone, office, and e-mail etiquette; communicate effectively with recreation and city team
- Work with the public effectively and establish effective working relationships with other employees
- Support the department’s guest service philosophy and the City’s SPIRIT values
Leadership/Supervisory - Every employee in this position is accountable to:- Foster a participatory organizational climate that is open, positive, reinforcing, and supportive
- Encourage employees to be accountable for their work and take ownership in what they do
- Demonstrate leadership and courage by making or supporting decisions that reflect the organizational mission and goals even when the decision may be unpopular to some
- Demonstrate collaboration and conflict resolution skills with other departments and employees
- Help employees to see the value of developing their skills, and assist them in eliminating barriers to their development; encourage employees to step outside their comfort zone to develop their skills
- Assist Recreation Specialist in providing meaningful, timely employee feedback and appraisals, and effectively address employee performance problems
- Effectively supervise, mentor, and motivate in a team environment
JOB SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities and Tasks - Presence - Establish a strong presence as a leader as a member of the aquatics management team
- Maintains regular and punctual attendance
- Exhibit strong interpersonal communication with the aquatics team, facility team, and guests
- Support and model quality internal and external guest service
Professionalism - Exhibit professionalism in supervision, conduct, and image
- Maintain clean and organized office spaces
- Maintain professionalism and confidentiality
- Lead, supervise, and maintain a high level of cleanliness
Involvement - Stay involved in and contribute to the daily operations and safety of the natatorium
- Maintain a safe environment for guests and aquatic staff
- Provide consistent coaching and correction to lifeguard staff
- Monitor and manage lifeguard rotations to accommodate any number of swimmers for optimal safety
- Monitor and oversee activities in the swimming pool areas to prevent drowning injuries or accidents
- Provide all duties required as a certified lifeguard including rescues, activating the emergency action plan, providing first aid and/CPR care, etc.
- Complete timely and accurate incident, accident, and save reports
- Inventory supplies, orders, and equipment
Supervising - Provide consistent supervision in and around the natatorium
- Assist with daily operations of recreation programs, equipment, and facilities
- Work closely with the other aquatics team members and Hydro Systems Specialist to test pool water make necessary chemical or mechanical adjustments, and maintain pool equipment
- Ensure daily chemical testing, cleaning and statistical checklists are completed
- Monitor circulation, filtration, and water/HVAC flow
- Assist the Hydro Systems Specialist in ensuring safe and balanced water; provide water testing, basic mechanical adjustments, and water calibrations as instructed
Programming - Assist the Recreation Specialist - Aquatics in programming and scheduling the natatorium
- Schedule or assist in scheduling aquatic staff to meet usage patterns and safety requirements of pool area
- Spend majority of your daily shift on or around the pool deck
- Scheduled in lifeguard rotations
- Assist with RecTrac, program management, and contacting participants/guests as needed
Teaching - Lead and supervise teaching, training, recruiting, and certification programs
- Coordinate and conduct in-service trainings for lifeguard and aquatic staff
- Teach specified classes such as CPR, AED, first aid, lifeguard training, progressive swim lessons
- Prepare lesson plans as needed; ensure instructor communication by overseeing progress reports, report cards, and parent evaluations
- Assign instructors to appropriate levels
- Recruit, train, and hire hourly/seasonal staff
- Conduct staff evaluations, skill audits, and lifeguard observations
- Teach classes as needed as a substitute and a regularly scheduled instructor for both aqua fitness and swim lessons
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.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS/PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses and Certifications Required :- High school diploma or GED
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Experience with program administration and guest service
- 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 :- One year of experience working in recreation/leisure services as a lead or supervisor
- Some college level courses in recreation or education or a closely related subject field
Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.
Physical Requirements
Work is physical in nature and involves: - Constant near acuity and hearing is needed to perform daily functions and communicate with patrons and staff
- Constant standing, walking on uneven terrain, pool decks, and climbing stairs in a multi-level facility to observe recreation center activity and events for safety and hazards
- Constant near and far acuity to observe program participants for possible troubled swimmers and safety hazards; constant hearing to be aware of troubled individuals that may be out of line of sight
- Frequently lifting of fifty (50) pounds from floor to waist, thirty-five (35) pounds from floor overhead; frequent carry, push, pull fifty (50) pounds of supplies, equipment, and material up to 100 feet for event set up; Occasional carrying of up to 100 pounds of equipment, supplies and materials up to ten (10) feet
- Due to the occasional use of hand tools fine motor skills along with firm grasp and frequent reaching below shoulder and overhead is needed
- Occasional lifting of ten (10) pounds from floor to overhead to move equipment and supplies; occasional lifting of up to seventy-five (75) pounds from floor to chest to assist in moving furniture, equipment and patrons on backboards
- Occasionally carry seventy-five (75) pounds up to fifty (50) feet and fifty (50) pounds up to 100 feet to perform emergency rescues; occasionally push/pull seventy-five (75) pounds to remove individuals from pool area in an emergency situation, set up bleachers for events and lane ropes for lap swim (Aquatics programs)
WORKING CONDITIONS Work in this position is performed primarily indoors in an office and at recreation centers, with occasional work out of doors for seasonal programs.
In Aquatic programs 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
Equipment used may include computers, keyboards, copy/fax machines, telephones, calculators, televisions, audio/visual equipment (DVD, CD, etc.), public service announcement equipment, small hand tools such as hammer, screwdrivers, tape measurers, and a variety of recreational equipment and maintenance tools.
In aquatics programs 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, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
- Pre-employment drug screen and physical
- Must be legally entitled to work in the United States
The City of Westminster offers a comprehensive benefit package including:
- Health and Dental
- Flexible Spending
- Pension/ Retirement Plans
- Term Life Insurance
- Long-term Disability
- Survivor Benefits
- Wellness Program
- Education and Training Reimbursement
- General leave that provides vacation, holidays, and illness leave
For a more detailed overview of our General Non Exempt employee benefit package:
Benefit Package
The City of Westminster does not participate in the Social Security system.In lieu of social security contributions, the city contributes to a 401(a) defined contribution plan on your behalf.
401(a) Contribution Rates:Employee Mandatory Contribution: 11% of your base pay. Contributions are pre-tax and fully vested.
Employer Contribution: 11.25%of your base pay.
Employer Contribution Vesting Schedule - Less than 3 years - 0%
- 3 years- 60%
- 4 years - 80%
- 5+ years - 100%
The City of Westminster provides employees with innovative and practical ways to improve their commute through two key features, EcoPass and Commute Benefits powered by Commutrics. EcoPass provides unlimited trips on RTD's core transit services and Commute Rewards allows you to record your trips and get rewards based on your commute mode.
Closing Date/Time: 4/29/2024 8:30 AM Mountain
