Executive Director of Competitive Swim

Executive Director needed to lead a high-performing swim team, elevate operations, and champion athlete and coach success.

Job Description

The Executive Director of Competitive Swim reports directly to the Vice President of Youth Development and provides strategic leadership, supervision, and direction for all competitive swim team programming across multiple YMCA branches. This role oversees the overall operations, staff management, and growth of the YMCA Swim Team program while ensuring alignment with YMCA mission, values, and policies.

Qualifications

• Education or significant personal experience in competitive swimming.
• Competitive swim coaching experience preferred
• Safety training for coaches and/or Lifeguard Certified (If you do not currently have, you must obtain within 30 days of hire or at first available training)
• Required or able to obtain within 30 days of hire:
• Safety Training for Swim Coaches and/or Lifeguard Certification CPR/AED, First Aid, Oxygen Administration, Bloodborne Pathogens Foundations of Coaching 101 Principles of YMCA Competitive Swimming
• Demonstrated maturity, stable temperament, and professionalism.
• Strong communication skills with athletes, parents, staff, and leadership.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the YMCA of Greater Spartanburg.
• Physical requirements: carrying, seeing, hearing, speaking, running, crouching, lifting (25lbs), and walking
  
  

Essential Functions

Program Leadership & Operations

• Provide overall leadership, management, and direction of the competitive swim program in coordination with support staff.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality programming at all swim team locations.
• Organize and manage the year-round swim meet calendar, including registration coordination and logistics.
• Monitor program enrollment and retention to support sustainable growth and program excellence.
• Responsible for facilitating college recruitment process
• Promote the Aquatic Center as a host venue for local, regional, and national swim events.
• Prepare, implement, and evaluate the swim team’s annual operating budget.
• Serve as a contributing member of the YMCA leadership team.
• Support exceptional member service standards across aquatics and swim team operations.
• Provide leadership for swim team fundraising initiatives, including the Annual and Capital Campaigns.
• Support membership promotion, engagement, and retention throughout the association.
• Participate in swimmer recruitment and retention efforts, including outreach to area summer league programs in Spartanburg and Greenville.
  
  

Staff Management & Development

• Recruit, hire, schedule, supervise, and evaluate all swim team staff.
• Conduct annual and as-needed performance evaluations and provide ongoing training opportunities.
• Ensure all staff maintain required certifications, including CPR, First Aid, and safety credentials.
• Maintain compliance with all YMCA policies and procedures.
• Lead weekly key staff meetings and monthly all-staff meetings.
  
  

Swim Program Supervision

• Provide vision and leadership consistent with YMCA philosophy for all competitive swim programs.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop coaching staff across all swim team sites.
• Maintain effective communication with YMCA staff, Aquatic Directors, and leadership.
• Collaborate with YMCA leadership to establish annual program goals and lead staff in achieving those goals.
  
  

Direct Coaching Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and conduct team practices aligned with program goals, guidelines, and policies as needed.
• Swim meet attendance as assigned
• Prepare and submit swimmer entries via Team Unify for Meet Director review.
• Maintain swimmers’ attendance records, practice logs, and skills evaluations for each group.
• Make decisions regarding training group placements or adjustments.
• Assist with extracurricular practice group activities.
  
  

Parent Communication and Education

• Coordinate and support parent education initiatives with coaching staff.
• Facilitate communication between parents and coaches when concerns arise.
• Maintain availability to parents before practices and during designated office hours.
• Respond promptly and professionally to swim team-related communications.
• Participate in parent meetings at the start of each swim season and conduct conferences as needed.
  
  

Supervisory and Administrative Duties

• Plan and schedule all age group practices, including lane assignments and facility usage.
• Coordinate team travel logistics and scheduling.
• Lead yearly performance evaluations.
• Maintain assigned office hours and complete administrative duties.
• Organize and run weekly key staff meetings and monthly all staff meetings.
• Input and maintain swimmer registration data in YMCA membership systems.
• Create and distribute weekly team communications and announcements.
• Complete special projects as assigned.
  
  

Other Responsibilities

• Attend at least one YMCA training, coaching clinic, or educational seminar annually.
• Serve as a positive role model by demonstrating YMCA values and a strong work ethic.
• Comply with YMCA of the USA Swimming & Diving, ASCA, and USA Swimming Codes of Ethics.
• Contribute to the sport at the local or national level (i.e. YMCA branch committees, committee work within the LSC)
• Maintain all required coaching certifications.
• Participate in swimmer recruitment and retention efforts when assigned
• Attend team activities when assigned
• Act as a primary responder in case of injury, accident, or illness in the pool area and provide backup to the lifeguard as needed in emergencies and crowd control.