Swim Instructor

Make an impact in your community by teaching lifesaving skills and fostering confidence in young swimmers. As a Swim Instructor at the YMCA of Springfield, you'll work in a supportive, mission-focused environment that embraces diversity and values your unique strengths. Help us create positive experiences that last a lifetime. The Swim Instructor will lead and instruct classes in a safe, enjoyable, and positive environment that promotes member wellness and engagement in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures. This position is available at locations including the Downtown Branch, Kerasotes Branch, and Lincoln Branch.

This is an evergreen role, meaning we are always accepting applications for this position due to ongoing hiring needs.

Through their planning, actions and daily work, this role creates and fosters an environment to effectively create positive, nurturing relationships with children, while building cooperative relationships with parent/caregivers while promoting and supporting the potential of all youth in the program and facilitates peer-to-peer connections as part of their YMCA experience. 

• Instructs swimming lessons in accordance with Springfield YMCA guidelines. 
• Builds effective, authentic relationships with students and parents, helping them connect with each other and the YMCA, leading to parent involvement and identification of potential volunteers. 
• Communicate aquatic programs and scheduling information effectively. 
• Maintains records as necessary: attendance, performance evaluation, etc. 
• Attends staff meetings and trainings as scheduled. 
• Follows all Springfield YMCA policy and procedures, including emergency and safety procedures. Completes related reports as required. 
• Organizes and maintains instructional equipment, reports damaged equipment to Lesson Coordinator. 
• Trains and supervises instructor candidates as assigned. 

The YMCA of Springfield Model Aquatic Policy and Staff Manual outline additional functions and expectations for certification and as applicable supervision for Swim Instructor Level 1 – 4. 

OUR SERVICE EXPECTATIONS: 

• Display a friendly, helpful and positive disposition. 
• Provide customer service that is thorough, timely, organized and accurate.  
• Help ensure the Y is meeting member and participant needs by utilizing good listening skills, attentiveness, objectivity and patience in all situations. 
• Place members and participants as the first and highest priority showing kindness and compassion at all times.  
• Demonstrates the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through all daily activities and responsibilities 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below 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. 

• Minimum age of 14. (under 16 years, must obtain a work permit) 
• Certifications: CPR for the Professional Rescuer, AED, Basic First Aid and Emergency Oxygen.   
• Swim Lesson University certification or equivalent. 
• Ability to maintain certification-level of skill and preparedness. 
• Must demonstrate swim instructor skills in accordance with Springfield YMCA standards. 
• Have leadership competencies in the identified key areas. 
• Ability to learn quickly. 
• Ability to work with integrity, discretion, and a professional approach. 
• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, social, economics, etc.). 
• Ability to complete all required trainings within 60 days of employment, including but not limited to CPR, first aid, Living Our Cause, DCFS Mandated Report, IL Gateway Registry Modules and to maintain these certifications as current as outlined by regulations or requirements.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations ability to act swiftly in an emergency.  

• Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate. 

• Ability to lift equipment, and to lift a small to average size child. 

• Position requires bending, leaning, kneeling, walking and swimming. 

• Exposure to communicable diseases and body fluids. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. 

• Free 1 Parent Family Membership
• 8% Retirement for Vested Employees
• Paid Leave for All

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.