Make a splash this summer while making a difference in kids’ lives!Join our aquatics team and help provide a safe, fun, and engaging experience for youth in our community. This summer position includes opportunities at two program locations, with consistent schedules that remain the same for the entire season once assigned.

Staff may be scheduled at one or both sites, and double shifts may be available depending on availability.

Program Locations & Shifts

Mayor’s Circle of Excellence (MCE) Program
Lincoln Avenue School – 216 Lincoln Ave, Orange, NJ
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Select days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday

East Orange YMCA
100 N. Arlington Ave, East Orange, NJ
Shift 1: 8:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Shift 2: 12:35 PM – 3:45 PM

Scheduling aligns with student group attendance for East Orange YMCA location:

• Staff scheduled on Mondays must also work Wednesdays
• Staff scheduled on Tuesdays must also work Fridays

Bonus Opportunity:
Our aquatics center operates year-round, and strong summer staff may have the opportunity to continue working with us beyond the summer season.If you enjoy working with kids, being part of a team, and spending your summer around the pool, we’d love to meet you!

POSITION SUMMARY:

Teaches YMCA swim lesson program classes while maintaining safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck, and surrounding areas. Creates a safe and positive atmosphere that promotes member safety and engagement in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Responsible for teaching YMCA swim lesson program classes of up to 12 children. Instructors must teach in the water for every class.

2. Must be able to teach freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, elements of butterfly and elementary backstroke and sidestroke.

3. Teach the correct skills for the level of class and evaluates student progress based on criteria.

4. Make eye contact with students and communicate in terms of students understanding. Asks students questions to monitor their understanding and provide students with feedback on their activities.

5. Use positive motivation. Use teachable moments to speak about character development and address behavior with appropriate techniques.

6. Must be able to see all students at all times during lesson, never turns back on class.

7. Must be skilled in observing the behavior of swimmers in the water and be ready at all times to stop dangerous behavior.

8. Maintains effective, positive relationships with the members, participants and other staff.

9. Use a variety of organizational patterns maximizing swim time for every student. Smoothly keep class moving from one activity to the other.

10. Use teaching aids and equipment appropriately with activities and incorporate games in to classes.

11. Balance working with students individually and allowing students to practice on their own.

12.Keeps accurate attendance and all other class records current and organized.

13.Clean area after every swim lesson class.

14. Attends all staff meetings and training as required.

The Y: We’re for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Other Duties/Expectations:

Must be 5-10 minutes early to every shift and record time worked correctly with limited mistakes. Must find coverage if unable to attend a shift. Contact must be made ahead of time if a scheduled shift cannot be worked.

Flexibility, may be asked to substitute for other employee’s shift or work beyond assigned shift in an effort to ensure safety and proper coverage.

Mandatory attendance for in-services. In-Service meetings will be scheduled in advance.

In the event of pool closure, must accommodate an alternate date for swim lesson.

For Private Swim Instruction, must complete accurate private lesson timesheet at the end of each workday. Must complete and maintain all records assigned as current and up-to-date.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Ys values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum age of 16 years.

Proven knowledge of various swim strokes and teaching levels.

Previous experience teaching swim lessons preferred.

Strong vocal ability to project instruction clearly during lessons.

Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills.

Strong problem-solving skills.

Must achieve YSL or American Red Cross certification within 1st year of teaching swim lessons. The Y: We’re for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Physical Demands:

1. Ability to swim at least four laps (200 yards) of freestyle and be able to scissor kick (sidestroke) or breaststroke kick.

2. Must be willing and able to teach in the water for each class. Must be able to enter and exit pool without assistance.

3. Must be able to remain alert.

4. Adequate ability to hear noises and distinguish distress signals.

5. Ability to lift up to 55 lbs.

6. Ability to communicate verbally, including projecting voice across distance in normal and loud situations.