POSITION PURPOSE / IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATIONRecreation Specialist/Aquatics position is a professional level position that oversees aquatics operations, programs, and rentals specifically of the aquatics areas at the Swim and Fitness Center. The Swim and Fitness Center venue is a large high-use multifunction aquatic center offering a variety of leisure and fitness amenities as well as programs to meet the needs and demands of diverse user groups. This position ensures safety, staff supervision, guest service, aquatics programming, administration, and general maintenance and cleanliness of the aquatic areas. As part of the Westminster Aquatics Recreation Facilities team, this person works with the team to evaluate and recommend policies and procedures as well as implement and follow City, Department, and Division practices, policies, and procedure. This is a safety-sensitive position.
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 has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CULTURAL VALUES/GENERAL COMPETENCIESThe 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: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. 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 - People - Integrity - Respect - 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 department’s 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:- Perform all positions within the aquatics area, focusing on the Swim and Fitness Center’s natatorium, to include lifeguarding, instruction, deck supervision, pool maintenance, and water testing and chemistry adjustments
- Demonstrate proficiency supervising large and diverse groups of aquatic staff, forecasting scheduling needs, and maintaining a pristine/clean facility
- Demonstrate all lifeguard skills and extensive knowledge of aquatics operations, swim lesson programs, and water fitness programs and philosophy
- Demonstrate proficiency with computer software such as Microsoft Office Suite, RecTrac, WhentoWork.com scheduling software, JD Edwards, staff performance tracking, and task management software
- Demonstrate proficient writing skills and attention to sentence structure, grammar, and spelling
- Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations, and make proper judgement as to the correct course of action
- Demonstrate sufficient physical strength and condition to rescue swimmers in danger of drowning
- Demonstrate knowledge of pool water sanitizing and chemical balancing, and the ability to perform adjustments to keep water sanitized and balanced
- Impart the department’s guest/host philosophy to all staff members and guests
- Keep personal information, incidents, and sensitive material confidential
- Interpret and enforce swimming pool capacities and rules of the facility
- Demonstrate knowledge of first aid procedures common in swimming pool operations
- Demonstrate knowledge of UV and/or conventional forms of disinfection in public swimming pool water treatment
- Maintain pool chemical feed systems
- Supervise a progressive swim lesson program and water fitness program
- Complete routine mechanical tasks required to operate a large natatorium
- Demonstrate strong proficiency in recruitment of part-time / hourly aquatic staff
- Demonstrate strong proficiency in on-boarding new employees
- Provide ongoing evaluation of activities, programs, and events on staff for job performance, effectiveness, community needs and quality of programs
- Maintain records and statistics and completes reports such as staffing, attendance, equipment replacement, performance, effectiveness, etc., as assigned
- Effectively supervise, mentor, and motivate in a team
- Maintain a high level of staff accountability including staff discipline and corrective action
- Maintain budget including accounting/purchasing records
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 assists them in eliminating barriers to their development; encourage employees to step outside of their comfort zone to develop their skills
- Provide meaningful, timely employee feedback and appraisals, and effectively address employee performance problems
JOB SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities and Tasks 1. Safety
- Creates and administers Emergency Action Plan to include severe weather evacuations and critical injuries/accidents
- Writes and reviews incident and accident reports, and provides information on how incident or accidents could have been avoided
- Evaluates natatorium and staff safety and continuously educates staff on good safety practices
- Anticipates potential for safety concerns and mitigates to minimize potential incidents
- Monitors mechanical functions and reports issues immediately; takes action to place area of features out of order in case of safety issue; and ensures proper chemical and pool to meet county and state health requirements
- Monitors and documents standard chemical tests
- Submits maintenance requests and follows through to ensure completed to satisfaction
- Ensures and oversees proper storage of chemicals and cleaning supplies used in the area and ensures staff training and handling of all chemical supplies, use of personal safety equipment, and updates the SDS book
- Ensures proper training and disposal of blood-borne pathogens and/or hazardous chemicals and waste
- Practices good judgment and sets rotations to optimize safety, surveillance, and accident prevention with reasonable balance of available resources
- Monitors staff skills, and conducts and document trainings
- Follows and administers safety-sensitive position
- Follows and administers random drug testing policy
- Supports consistent rule enforcement
- Maintains high level of teamwork and fosters a positive work environment. Redirects and/or addresses negative attitudes and behaviors that affect overall aquatics staff's ability to work as a team
- Serves on center safety committee or appoints an aquatics representative
- Oversees AED program for aquatics facilities
2. Staff Supervision
- Recommends and administers routine personnel matters affecting the aquatics staff, including interviewing applicants, hiring, training, evaluating, scheduling, payroll processing, coaching, monitoring and documenting training and certifications, skill audits, disciplining, promoting, terminating, and all other aspects of supervising
- Oversees and tracks required staff certifications, and continuously checks and documents skill levels and knowledge of staff
- Communicates effectively so that staff clearly understand position expectations and how their roles fit within the division, department, and City
- Recruits, interviews, and makes hiring recommendations
- Trains new staff, and conducts, organizes, and implements ongoing trainings and in-services for new and existing staff members
- Schedules staff for lifeguard and program shifts
- Coaches and works with employees offering choices and alternatives to redirect performance issues
- Ensures City SPIRIT values are incorporated into the daily culture of the workgroup
- Provides staff with positive and constructive feedback with the objective to create confidence and/or improve job performance
- Completes effective performance reviews in a timely manner
- Delegates and creates staff accountability for position duties
3. Guest Service
- Demonstrates an improvisational ability to handle internal and external conflict situations constructively and diplomatically
- Responds and handles guest concerns in a timely and positive manner, to include comment cards, surveys, phone calls, etc.
- Keeps an open mind to different ideas, suggestions, and approaches to problem solving
- Follows the department's guest/host service philosophy
- Conducts formal and informal guest satisfaction surveys, analyzes survey results, and makes recommendations; collects and reports data for performance measures
- Demonstrates internal guest service to meet the same excellence in guest service standards
4. Aquatics Programming
- Develops and oversees the aquatics program, which includes various levels of swim lessons (group and private), recreation swim programs, water fitness classes, party room rentals, and lifeguard training
- Reviews instructor evaluations and makes necessary corrections
- Develops class descriptions and inputs brochure information and classes into RecTrac
- Develops programs to meet demand and support division core services
- Creates lesson plans and progress reports for classes
- Schedules pool space to balance programming and leisure demands
5. Administration
- Monitors revenue and expenditures, and makes projections and adjustments as necessary
- Tracks personnel budget to keep within allotted resources
- Generates statistical reports
- Handles general record keeping
6. General Maintenance
- Conducts or oversees aquatics area daily, weekly, and monthly inspections and cleaning duties
- Plans, organizes, and implements aquatics area annual maintenance shut-down duties in coordination with Hydro Systems Specialist
7. Maintains regular and punctual attendance
Other Duties and Responsibilities - Teaches swim lessons and serves as a lifeguard when needed
- Assists supervisory staff with overall building supervision
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 :- Graduation from high school or completion of a GED
- 21 years of age or older
- A minimum of one (1) year of experience managing a modern public aquatic or leisure facility
- A minimum of one (1) year experience programming, organizing, supervising, developing, promoting and implementing aquatic related programming
- Current lifeguard training certification including professional rescuer CPR/AED and basic first aid
- Supervisory experience
- Bachelor's degree in recreation or a related field
Preferred :- Experience supervising a progressive swim lesson program
- AFO/CPO certification
- Swim instructor and instructor trainer certifications (WSI and WSIT)
- StarGuard (lifeguard)
- StarGuard Elite (SGE) Instructor - Level 2 or Higher
- Experience supervising water fitness programs
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 areas to observe patrons’ adherence to facility rules and to inspect for safety hazards
- Constant near and far acuity to observe pools for possible troubled swimmers and safety hazards; constant hearing 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 descent elevated lifeguard stands
- Frequent light grasps to hold rescue tubes throughout shift and safely use maintenance items; occasionally firm grasp and fine motor skills to perform water testing, first aid, and other emergency functions
- Occasional reaching overhead to pull up to lifeguard stands; frequent reaching below shoulder to perform pool maintenance and emergency
- 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.
- Occasional carry seventy-five (75) pounds up to fifty (50) feet, and fifty (50 pounds up to 100 feet, to perform emergency rescues; occasionally push and/or pull seventy-five (75) pounds to remove individuals from pool area in an emergency situation, and to 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 emergencies. Sufficient physical strength, stamina, and conditioning are needed to rescue swimmers in danger of drowning who may resist rescue.
Required Materials and Equipment Personal computer, water testing kits, chlorine tanks, cleaning chemicals and cleaning equipment such as pool vacuum, hose, pressure washer, scrubbers, telephones, pumps and gauges, safety devices which include rescue tubes, backboard, whistles, two-way radios, megaphones, mobile devices (e.g., tablets/smartphones), AED, bag-valve masks, air packs, first-aid supplies, and PA and stereo systems.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS - Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
- Drug screen
- Physical exam
- Must be legally entitled to work in the United States
- Must be able to provide proof all required certifications are current by the first day of employment
- Must be able to pass the City's swim and lifeguard skills test, and demonstrate CPR, rescue-breathing skills, and the use of an AED
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
- General leave that provides vacation, holidays, illness leave and administrative leave
- Education and Training Reimbursement, and
- Exempt Reimbursement Program
For a more detailed overview of our Exempt and Administrative Officer 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: 6/24/2024 8:30 AM Mountain
