Description

Mountain Recreation offers a fun, exciting environment to our participants and staff alike; one that fosters skill building, movement, life skills and fun! Applicants must be enthusiastic, have strong skills in working as a team with coworkers and show strong communication and class management skills. 

Mountain Recreation is looking for vigilant and qualified individuals to join our Aquatics team. The safety and well-being of our patrons are of utmost importance, and we are looking for dedicated individuals who are passionate about ensuring a safe and enjoyable aquatic environment. The Head Lifeguard serves as a part of the leadership in the Aquatics team and oversees daily pool operations and acts as a manager on duty in the absence of the Aquatics Supervisor, Coordinator, and Specialist. 

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POSITION DETAILS

Job Title: Head Lifeguard

Location: District-wide • Gypsum Recreation Center (Gypsum, CO), Gypsum Creek Pool (Gypsum, CO), Eagle Pool and Ice Rink (Eagle, CO)

Schedule: Part-Time; Year-Round 

Work Environment: Work schedule is varied and may require evenings, weekends, and holidays. Hours vary depending upon specific program needs. 

Duties may be performed either indoors or outdoors; work environment and physical demands described below are representative of those an employee will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequent exposure to the sun, wet and/or humid conditions, or other outdoor weather conditions
• Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, toxic, or caustic chemicals (such as chlorine)
• Exposure to moderate levels of noise
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Physical exertion includes frequent walking, bending, and standing for long durations.

The flow of work and character of duties involve a high degree of mental and visual attention much or all the time. This position also requires the ability to maintain focus for multiple hours at a time in sunny, hot, humid conditions. Job stress may include dealing with crowds, uncooperative participants, difficult individuals, emergency response, sun exposure to illness, and periods of continuous demand.

Supervision Required: Directly supervised by the Aquatics Specialist, Aquatics Coordinator, and Aquatics Supervisor

Supervision Exercised: Assists in supervision of part-time and seasonal lifeguards, water safety instructors, volunteers, and coaches.

Salary: $17.88-$22.35/hour; DOE; staff in this position are eligible for a $1/hour incentive for Spanish/English bilingual and can pass the language competency test.

Benefits: 3.75% employer contribution to a 401(a) retirement account, accrued sick leave in accordance with HFWA, access to all three Mountain Recreation facilities and complimentary membership for employee to Gypsum Recreation Center, 20% off discount for employee and immediate family for facility programs, discounted punch cards for immediate family members to Gypsum Recreation Center, student scholarship opportunities, opportunity to sign up for Vail Valley Partnership’s One Valley Healthcare Plan—an affordable healthcare program providing medical coverage for employees and their families.

Mountain Recreation believes everyone, including staff, deserves to be healthy and happy through creating a culture of accountability, flexibility, and providing world-class benefits. For more information on employee benefits, check out our website https://mountainrec.org/benefits-overview/ 

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ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

General Statement of Duties: Provide for the safety and enjoyment of Mountain Recreation guests by anticipating, recognizing, responding to, and managing emergency situations as part of a professional lifeguard team. Will follow the responsibilities and requirements of a lifeguard but is also the responsible for the pool facility and lifeguard staff. Will make final decisions and ensure facility, maintenance, and staff are operating effectively and safely in the absence of the Aquatics Specialist, Aquatics Coordinator, and/or Aquatics Supervisor. 

Examples of Duties:

• During the absence of the Aquatics Supervisor, assumes day-to-day managerial responsibility and authority over the facility including supervisory duties, risk assessment, security, safety, operational duties, and customer relations. 
• Serves as the leader of the lifeguard team during specific work shifts, includes monitoring lifeguard rotation schedules, issuing directives, and monitoring work performance. May recommend personnel actions to the Aquatics Supervisor. 
• Monitors activities in and near the water through patron surveillance 
• Prevents injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous situations or behaviors. 
• Enforces facility rules and regulations and educates patrons about them. 
• Recognizes and responds quickly and effectively to all emergencies. 
• Administers first aid and CPR when appropriate, including properly using AED equipment.
• Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff and management. 
• Tests the pool water chemistry.
• Performs cleaning, maintenance, and organization tasks. 
• Completes records and reports.
• Performing opening duties, closing duties or facility safety checks and inspections.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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Requirements

COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Considerable knowledge of: Effective lifesaving methods; knowledge, capability, and comfortability with American Red Cross lifeguarding, CPR, AED, and first aid skills.

Skills and abilities: 

• Strong communication skills, able to communicate well with patrons, staff, and volunteers.
• Provide excellent customer service to all guests. 
• Establish and maintain positive, respectful, and cooperative relationships with all contacts.
• Able to lead lifeguards and other staff, assigning duties as needed and leading staff to accomplish needed tasks.
• Knowledge of municipal rules and regulations related to the use of pool area and communicates the rules and regulation effectively to staff and patrons.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.
• Handle stressful working conditions and emergencies.
• Ability to recognize potentially harmful situations and take immediate and appropriate action.
• Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must be able to get in and out of the swimming pool without a ladder from any area of the pool.

Tools and Equipment Used: Safety and rescue equipment, small hand tools for minor pool maintenance, phone/walkie - talkie, chemical test kit, pool vacuum, brushes, pressure washer, and various pool cleaning materials.

Requirements:

Education and experience

• Be 16 years of age or older; AND
• Previous related volunteer or work experience with aquatic safety, lifesaving and first aid; OR
• Any satisfactory combination of experience and training.
• Possess or be able to obtain a valid State of Colorado driver’s license.

Certifications

1. American Red Cross Lifeguard certification (required)
2. American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification (preferred)
3. American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor certification (preferred)

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

You are welcome at Mountain Rec for who you are, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what keeps you active. Recreation is for everyone—and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our organization, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward-thinking! So, bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It is in our differences that we will find the power to keep revolutionizing the way we PLAY.