Aquatic Center Age Group Development / Event Coordinator

Position Title: Aquatic Center Age Group Development Coordinator and Event Coordinator

Department: Athletics/Operations and Maintenance

Immediate Supervisor: Aquatic Center Manager

Summary:
The Aquatic Center Age Group Development Coordinator / Facility Event Coordinator is responsible for leading the development and performance of the Linn-Mar Swim Team's Age Group program (Prep, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum groups) while coordinating and managing aquatic events hosted at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center.

This position plays a critical role in building the developmental foundation of the swim team by designing and implementing a comprehensive training program that emphasizes technical skill progression, athlete retention, and long-term competitive success. Additionally, the role oversees event operations, specifically ensuring all middle school and high school events, in addition to club competitions are executed efficiently and professionally.

This position serves as a key connector between swim lessons, age group development, and senior-level performance—supporting a unified aquatic pathway from beginner to high-performance athlete. All full-time aquatic center employees are asked to respond to any incident within the facility, enforce rules, be responsive to visitor/staff requests and ensuring the safety of all participants in the Aquatic Center. In this role, regular communication with Aquatic Center Manager and Youth Swim Team Coordinator on status of the team and facility and any concerns in operations or procedures is required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (other duties may be assigned)

•    Age Group Coaching & Athlete Development
o    Serve as Head Coach for all Age Group practice groups (Prep, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum)
?    Design and implement seasonal training plans, daily workouts, and athlete progression models
?    Promote athlete retention, development, and advancement into senior-level programming
?    Emphasize proper technique, skill development, and long-term athlete development principles
?    Provide individualized feedback and goal setting
•    Staff Leadership & Program Oversight
o    Supervise and support assistant coaches working within Age Group practice groups
o    Lead practice group organization and curriculum alignment
o    Conduct regular individual staff meetings and program evaluations
o    Assist in leading coach development sessions
o    Assist in recruiting and onboarding qualified coaching staff
o    Ensure staff are coaching in alignment with industry best practices (e.g., USA Swimming, America Swim Coaches Association)
o    Assign coaches to appropriate levels based on skill and experience and maintain appropriate student-to-coach ratios
•    Communication & Family Engagement
o    Serve as primary point of contact for Age Group families regarding practices and competitions
o    Communicate practice schedules, meet expectations, and athlete progress
o    Provide guidance to families regarding long-term development and swim team pathways
•    Meet Operations & Athlete Entries
o    Manage meet entries for all swim team Age Group swimmers (selection, deadlines)
o    Coordinate athlete participation in local and championship competitions
o    Assist with team logistics for meets (entries, lineups, planning)
•    Facility Event Coordination
o    Serve as Event Management Lead for Middle school competitions, High school swim meets, and Non-USA Swimming events
?    Leads planning and execution of aquatic events, including staffing, logistics, and facility readiness
o    Participate in the club swim team event volunteer committee
?    Collaborates with volunteer groups to support meet operations.
•    Program Alignment & Collaboration
o    Collaborate with: 
?    Aquatic Center Manager
?    Youth Swim Team Coordinator
?    Lessons Coordinator
o    Help bridge the gap between: 
?    Swim lessons ? Age Group program
?    Age Group ? Senior program
o    Support evaluation events, clinics, and program growth initiatives
•    Safety & Certification
o    Ensure strict adherence to Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) and water safety standards
o    Partner with Aquatic Center leadership to proactively identify and mitigate safety risks
o    Respond to any injuries or incidents around the Aquatic Center facility quickly and appropriately.
•    Miscellaneous
o    Participate in all required meetings and trainings. 
o    Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, adhere to specified uniform requirements. 
o    Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position is essential to the continued growth and success of Linn-Mar aquatic programming, ensuring a strong developmental pipeline while maintaining high-quality event operations that support athletes, families, and the community.

•    Staff Oversight & Management
o    Assist with hiring, onboarding, and training of coaching personnel
o    Supervise staff and volunteers during hosted events
o    Ensure appropriate staff coverage for practices, meets, and events
•    Performance Evaluation
o    Conduct formal and informal performance evaluations for age group coaching staff
o    Provide consistent feedback, goal setting, and corrective action when needed
o    Recognize and reward high-performing staff members
o    Maintain documentation related to employee performance and development
•    Communication & Culture
o    Serve as the primary point of contact for age group staff
o    Facilitate communication updates
o    Foster a positive, professional, and team-oriented work environment
o    Address staff concerns, conflicts, and scheduling needs in a timely manner
o    Coordination with other facility programming
•    Collaborate with: 
o    Aquatic Center Manager
o    Swim Team Head Coach and Senior Staff
o    Help align team staffing with team, school, and event schedules
o    Support staffing needs for special events, clinics, or evaluations

Minimum Education or Experience:
Education
•    Required:
o    Bachelor's degree
•    Preferred:
o    Education within the following fields:
?    Exercise Science
?    Education (Physical Education, Elementary, or related)
?    Recreation, Sport Management, or Kinesiology
?    Communication
?    Or a closely related field

Experience
•    Required:
o    Minimum of 3–5 years of competitive swimming coaching experience, preferably with Age Group swimmers
o    Prior experience working with youth in a structured team or instructional setting
•    Preferred:
o    Experience as a lead or head coach for Age Group programs
?    Experience with: 
•    Meet entry systems (e.g., TeamUnify, Hy-Tek)
•    Event management or hosted competitions
•    Staff supervision or program leadership
•    Experience within a USA Swimming club or school-based program
•    Required Certifications (at Time of Hire or Shortly After)
o    USA Swimming Coach Certification (or ability to obtain upon hire)
o    CPR/AED and First Aid certification
o    SafeSport Training
•    Preferred Certifications
o    ASCA Coaching Certification
o    Lifeguarding certification (helpful for event management oversight)
o    Certified Pool Operator (CPO) (optional but valuable)

Professional Standards:
•    Demonstrate a commitment to athlete development, and positive coaching practices
•    Maintain professionalism in all interactions with athletes, families, staff, and officials
•    Uphold Linn-Mar Community School District policies and swim team standards
•    Foster a positive, disciplined, and team-oriented culture
•    Exhibit leadership, accountability, and consistency in program expectations
•    Commit to ongoing professional development in coaching and athlete performance
•    Demonstrate flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and extended meet schedules
•    Plans work to efficiently meet schedules and deadlines. Organizes equipment and work areas. Adjusts schedule to meet facility/staff needs. 
•    Professional, positive and helpful approach with visitors and District employees. Displays loyalty toward the organization.  Demonstrates a capacity to understand internal and external customer requirements and produces a professional level of service that is satisfactory.
•    Demonstrates openness to new organizational structures and procedures.  Willingly takes direction and will modify one's preferred way of doing things.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed here are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

•    Knowledge
o    Competitive swimming techniques, stroke development, and training principles
o    Long-term athlete development and age group progression models
o    USA Swimming rules, meet structures, and entry systems
o    Event management practices and facility operations
•    Skills
o    Strong coaching, leadership, and staff management skills
o    Excellent communication with athletes, families, and staff
o    Organizational and time-management skills for balancing coaching and events
o    Ability to analyze performance and implement technical corrections
o    Problem-solving and decision-making in fast-paced environments
o    Data tracking and performance evaluation
•    Abilities
o    Ability to lead a multi-level age group program of 100 athletes with diverse needs
o    Ability to manage large-scale aquatic events with multiple stakeholders
o    Ability to collaborate effectively across programs and departments
o    Ability to maintain high standards of athlete performance
o    Ability to build a positive coaching culture that supports long-term success 
o    Ability to work varying shifts, including weekends and evenings.
o    Ability to perform coaching and management duties requiring physical endurance, coordination, and situational awareness."

Physical Demands & Work Environment:    
The employee must be able to perform duties in an aquatic environment, including standing, walking, swimming, and assisting with water rescues. The role requires physical endurance, the ability to lift and assist individuals, and frequent bending, reaching, and movement. Must be able to work in wet, humid, and high-noise conditions.