Swim Instructor I

Primary Responsibility: The Swim Instructor I provides and ensures that the highest quality swimming lessons are provided for all levels of instruction to infants, youth and adults. The duties listed below are representative of this position, but do not necessarily include all the responsibilities and duties that an individual in this position may be called upon to perform. The Swim Instructor I is responsible for observing and directing all class participants, providing feedback and appropriate corrections as per American Red Cross guidelines and Aquatics Management direction. Instructors provide a safe environment for participants, enforcing facility guidelines, and handling all necessary communications with Parks & Recreation management and participants regarding the class.

Supervised by: Aquatics Coordinator

Supervises: N/A

Salary Range: NE5 $17.79 - $24.05

Hiring Range: $17.79 - $20.94

Classification: Non-Exempt

Status: Part Time

Main Job Duties:

• Instructs swimming skills in group and private settings to participants of all ages and abilities. Organizes, sets up and stores all teaching supplies. Prepares lesson plans as needed.
• Completes and maintains all swimming and other necessary records/forms, i.e., incident reports, health forms, attendance records, supply requests, etc.
• Ensures the safety of all class participants. Cautions swimmers regarding unsafe areas. Enforces all general facility and pool, policies and rules.
• Communicate with parents and/or participants regarding participant's progress and how they may be able to assist in the participant's progress.
• Rescues swimmers in danger of drowning and administers first aid and CPR as necessary.
• Maintains order in swimming class.
• Inspects facilities for cleanliness.
• Performs pool cleaning and maintenance duties as needed.
• Handles and reports to Aquatics Coordinator any problems, concerns or emergencies that arise during classes.
• Attends staff meetings and in service training as appropriate
• Issue course completion certificates.
• Responsible for the safety of all people who enter the pool area or in the classroom.
• Responsible for the knowledge and understanding of the American Red Cross policies, procedures and Instructor responsibilities.
• Prepare materials, lesson plans and equipment for classes and program activities. Set-up and break-down materials used for instruction as necessary. Assure cleanliness of class area after each class.
• Maintain and upgrade professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs. Keep all certifications current.
• Establish and maintain a good public relations image for all Gilpin County Parks & Recreation programs and activities.

Additional Job Duties:

• Performs other appropriate functions as assigned by the Aquatics Coordinator and/or Parks and Recreation Director, such as help at events or in-services.

Qualifications:

• A thorough knowledge of the specified subject matter is required, including but not limited to: the theories, techniques, procedures and practices in the area of specialty, the theories and practices of teaching, and proven skills in the specified area.
• Ability to:

o Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations making proper judgments as to the correct course of action.

o Accurately and effectively transmit and receive information that is necessary to the accomplishment of goals and objectives, including effective written and oral communications in English; and the ability to listen.

o Establish and maintain courteous and effective working relationships with employees, the public and other agencies.

o Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.

o Exercise independent judgment.

o Effectively plan, instruct and supervise the assigned program.

o Practice excellent teaching skills, including a knowledge of the principles, methods and techniques of teaching in order to create a positive, fun and motivational class atmosphere.

o Instruct a variety of different classes preferred.

Must pass background check, including criminal.

Certifications / Training:

• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification highly desirable.

• Must possess FEMA IS100 and IS700a within six months of employment.

Mental / Physical Demands

• Ability to perform all physical movements required for course development and instruction.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to swim, walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance.
• Bend, crouch, stoop, reach, climb, and provide physical assistance to class participants as needed.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move over 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Experience:

• American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor preferred, training provided.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of requirements, duties and responsibilities. Gilpin County provides reasonable job-related accommodations for disabled persons. Must pass drug screen and pre-employment screening.

• Part-time and Temporary staff are ineligible for the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401A, Life Insurance, Short-term & Long-term Disability plans in additional to Long-term care. See the benefit details at the end of the job posting for part-time options.

Benefits for Part Time and Temporary Employees:

Sick Leave: Leave accrues at the rate of 1 hours of sick leave per 30 hours worked to a maximum of 45 hours per year.
Retirement: As a part time or temporary employee, you may participate in the optional 457b or 457 Roth plan. These plans may be started, stopped, and changed anytime during your employment.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): EAP is provided through Triad All One Health for employees and members of your household. Services are confidential and available 24/7. A wide variety of services including but not limited to: Emotion well-being support with up to 6 Counseling sessions per issue each year. Daily life assistance guidance on a variety of topics. Online resources with articles, assessments, search tools, webinars. Free 30-minute consultations on legal services and financial services. A discount center to find deals on products, services, travel and more!

Retirement: Gilpin County offers optional 457b or 457 Roth plans. The optional 457b plans may be started, stopped, and changed anytime during your employment

Gilpin County Parks & Recreation: Employees receive free membership, as well as 20% discounts on most services such as childcare, leagues, rentals, in house classes but does not include contract classes.

Benefits for Full Time Employees:

Paid Holidays: Gilpin County provides 13 paid holidays per calendar year. An employee will be paid ten (10) hours per holiday.

Vacation: The first year of employment, (based on the anniversary of the hire date) full-time employees are given 40 hours of vacation and earn 3 hours of paid vacation leave bi-weekly. After that time, leave shall accrue as follows:

Full-Time employees are encouraged to take their earned vacation leave each year. Vacation time accrual shall cap at the maximum amount and shall not exceed the maximum accrual amount, based on total months of service.

Sick Leave: Full-Time employees shall accrue four (4) hours of sick leave each bi-weekly pay period. The maximum sick leave that may be accumulated by such an employee is 600 hours.

Medical Plans: Gilpin County offers two medical plans with Kaiser and United Health Care. Gilpin County offers a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for all employees to cover co-pays, deductibles, and other medical expenses. Employees are eligible for benefits the first of the month following 30 days of service. This HRA card will have $3,000.00 on it for an individual or $6,000.00 for a family. Both plans have a max out of pocket for $1,000 individual or $2,000 per family after the use of the HRA card for in network expenses.

United Health Care Monthly Employee Cost:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$80.85/$167.72/$149.40/$234.30

Kaiser Permanente Monthly Employee Cost:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$72.60/$152.62/$134.47/$210.90

Dental Plan: Gilpin County offers dental coverage through Delta Dental with PPO and Premiere network coverages. Individual deductible at $50 and family deductible at $150. In network coverage for preventative and diagnostic services are covered 100%, basic services covered at 80%, major services at 50%, and ortho covered at 50% with a $2,000 max. The plan offers a “Right Start 4 Kids” plan that covers most children basic services up to their 13th birthday at 100% with no deductible (some exclusions apply). Annual max this plan pays for covered dental services is $2,000 per individual covered on the plan.

Delta Dental Monthly Employee Costs:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$0.00/$28.71/$54.00/$72.50

Vision Plan: Gilpin County offers vision coverage through VSP. In network coverage includes copays at $10 copays with an allowance of $175 per pair of either one prescription eyeglasses or contacts yearly on a 12-month calendar basis and discounts on Lasik.

VSP Vision Monthly Employee Costs:
Employee Only/Employee and Spouse/Employee and Child(ren)/Employee and Family
$0.00/$3.20/$3.40/$5.60

Retirement: Two retirement savings plans are available through the Colorado Retirement Association: 401(a) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

• The 401(a) has a 5% required full match with a 4-year vesting period.

• The 457 Plan is optional and has Pre-tax and Roth Options available. After four years of service, this plan could also include a County match as described below.

Social Security, as required by law: 6.2% required full match.

Effective July 8, 2025, for all new employees hired on or after this date, the graduated vesting schedule for the 5% match on employees’ 401(a) plan is as follows:

Starting January 1, 2026, two new voluntary retirement plan matches will be initiated, with one plan for POST (law enforcement officers) and a second for all other employees, based on years of service. The employee would need to make voluntary contributions into a 457 account at the minimum level in order to be eligible for the County match into the employee’s 401(a).

POST 401(a) eligible positions, 1:1 match

All other 401(a) eligible positions, 1:2 match

Short-Term Disability: Short-term disability pays 60% of your earnings with a max of $1,000 per week for up to 11 weeks. Benefits begin on day 15 and your first two weeks you will have to cover with sick, personal, or vacation time. Gilpin County covers 100% of the premium cost of this plan for the employee.
Long-Term Disability: Long-term disability kicks in after 90 consecutive calendar days of a qualified disability. The plan will pay 60% of your earnings with a max of $5,000 monthly. Gilpin County covers 100% of the premium cost of this plan for the employee.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): EAP is provided through Triad All one Health for employees and members of your household. Services are confidential and available 24/7. A wide variety of services including but not limited to: Emotion well-being support with up to 6 Counseling sessions per issue each year. Daily life assistance guidance on a variety of topics. Online resources with articles, assessments, search tools, webinars. Free 30-minute consultations on legal services and financial services. A discount center to find deals on products, services, travel and more!

Gilpin County Parks & Recreation: Employees receive free memberships, as well as 20% discounts on most services such as childcare, leagues, rentals, in house classes but does not include contract classes.