Aquatic Director

Job Title: Aquatic Director                                    Job Grade: 11
FLSA Status: Exempt                                             Job Code: A3
Status: Full Time                                                    Leadership Level: Team Leader
Reports to: Executive Director                               Revision Date: 9/30/2026
                                                                                                                            

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Provides leadership and management for the branch’s large-scale aquatic department while advancing the YMCA’s mission and branch priorities. Serves as a member of the Branch Leadership Team and leads aquatic operations, staff, and programs that promote water safety, healthy living, skill development, and lifelong participation in aquatics. Oversees the quality, growth, financial performance, safety, and sustainability of lifeguard services, swim lessons, water fitness, certification courses, aquatic rentals, and other assigned initiatives while creating a safe, welcoming, and mission-driven environment for members and participants. Collaborates with Aquatic Director at other branches to run a cohesive association aquatic program. 
 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

BRANCH LEADERSHIP—Serves as a member of the Branch Leadership Team and participates in Team Leader meetings, Association Aquatic Focus Groups, planning sessions, leadership development, and branch initiatives. Supports Association priorities, collaborates with department leaders, participates in special events, and serves as Director on Duty as assigned. 

MISSION ADVANCEMENT—Advances the YMCA’s mission by building relationships, communicating impact, strengthening the YMCA brand, supporting fundraising and donor stewardship efforts, engaging volunteers, and developing collaborative partnerships that expand aquatic participation, promote water safety, and strengthen community impact. 

MEMBER EXPERIENCE—Creates exceptional experiences through intentional relationship building, excellent customer service, consistent communication, and responsive problem solving. Builds lasting relationships with members, participants, families, swim team athletes, and community partners while promoting participation across YMCA programs and services. 

FACILITY MANAGEMENT— Oversees the daily operation, appearance, cleanliness, safety, and readiness of aquatic facilities, equipment, and support spaces. Coordinates inspections, preventative maintenance, repairs, equipment replacement needs, and facility improvement recommendations with branch and facilities leadership. 

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—Develops and manages assigned departmental budgets in partnership with branch leadership. Monitors financial performance, analyzes participation and financial trends, prepares variance information, and implements strategies to achieve enrollment, revenue, retention, and expense goals while ensuring responsible stewardship of YMCA resources. 

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT—Leads the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of assigned aquatic programs, including lifeguard operations, swim lessons, private lessons, water fitness, Lifeguard/CPR/O2/First Aid certification courses, pool rentals, and specialty programs. Coordinates staffing, schedules, equipment, pool space, enrollment, and other operational needs while monitoring quality, participation, safety, compliance, outcomes, and opportunities for growth and improvement. 

RISK MANAGEMENT—Maintains the highest standards of aquatic safety by ensuring compliance with YMCA, state, local, and health department regulations. Oversees lifeguard readiness, emergency action plans, pool chemistry, incident reporting, inspections, certification compliance, emergency drills, child abuse prevention and risk management procedures to provide a safe environment for all participants. Ensures timely completion, review, and follow-up of incident reports and corrective actions. Collaborates with the Risk Manager to implement association-wide aquatic safety standards, address identified risks, and support consistent safety practices across YMCA branches. 

TALENT MANAGEMENT— Recruits, hires, trains, develops, schedules, supervises, evaluates, and recognizes lifeguards, swim instructors, coaches, water fitness instructors, LGI/CPR/FA Trainers, and aquatic support staff. Ensures staff maintain required certifications and provides ongoing coaching, performance management, payroll administration, and department in-service training. Creates a culture of safety, teamwork, accountability, and exceptional service. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education 
Bachelor's degree in Recreation, Sports Management, Exercise Science, Physical Education, Education, Business, or a related field required. 

Experience 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities  

Certifications & Training Requirements: 

Employment Requirements: 

 
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:  

 

Program Growth & Participation  
Financial Performance  
Program Quality & Member Experience  
Staff Recruitment, Retention & Development  
Safety & Risk Management  
Certification & Regulatory Compliance  
Community Engagement & Mission Impact  
Operational Excellence 

 

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.