Job Description

Posting number: FY 23-00040

Department: Recreation and Parks

Division: Rec & Parks - Paul Nelson Pool

Job classification: Aquatics Safety & Education Specialist

Posting type: Open

Categories: Recreation

Summary

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CLOSING DATE: Continuous

SELECTION INTERVIEW DATE: TBD

DESIRED START DATE: ASAP

This recruitment is for an Aquatics Safety and Education Specialist assigned to safeguard swimmers, conduct or assist swimming instruction and aquatics education at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center, and to assist with instruction of adaptive aquatic programs.

The Aquatics Safety & Education Specialist position is an Individual Contributor role that provides safety and water skills for youth and adults of the community and provides pool patron safety. Their role enables the Santa Maria residents to gain skills and confidence in a water setting and to enjoy a healthy, safe, and pleasant environment to participate in recreational activities.

NOTE: This is a Limited Services job class (up to 19 hours per week) job class and is not benefit-eligible.

WHO WE ARE

The City of Santa Maria is a full-service city with a Council/Manager form of government with over 700 employees and serves approximately 108,000 constituents. The City is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The community is a harmonious balance of coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business. Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers reasonably priced housing, community festivals, quality schools, cultural arts, a local airport, wineries, and higher education institutions and is near locally accessible beaches.

WHAT WE DO

The Department of Recreation and Parks' mission is to enrich the lives of the residents of Santa Maria through quality recreation programs and services; and to provide safe and well-maintained facilities and parks, while anticipating the changing needs of the community. The department operates 234 acres of developed parkland in 28 neighborhood and community parks, part of the 1,774-acre Los Flores Ranch Park property, the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, and other community centers. The department provides programs in aquatics, youth and adult sports. It also manages the City's Urban Forest Program.

Examples of duties

Under general direction of assigned supervisor, safeguards swimmers, conducts or assists swimming instruction and aquatics education at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center, and assists with instruction of adaptive aquatic programs. Lead duties are not normally a responsibility of this classification but may act as lead worker for temporarily assigned employees, or special projects.

These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization. This position:

• Safeguards swimmers, enforces pool safety rules and regulations, and provides life guarding during activities such as public swim and aquatic instruction.
• Provides swimming instruction, aquatic education and skills evaluation of students registered in lessons.
• Supervises programs including accident prevention.
• Prepares written information relating to lessons, registrations, incidents/accidents, and assists Facility Specialist as needed.
• Assists with general facility maintenance and performs other facility duties as assigned
• Adapts patiently to the needs of various patrons.
• Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of the department director.
• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.
• May be required to work weekends, holidays and split shifts.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Individual Contributor:

Incumbents should have a solid foundation of the following core competencies identified by the organization to be essential and listed in order of importance:

• Team Player - Effective performers are team oriented, share resources, respond to requests, and support a spirit of cooperative effort.
• Customer Orientation - Effective performers are in touch with community needs and review the organization through the eyes of Santa Maria residents. They go out of their way to anticipate needs.
• Integrity - Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.
• Communicativeness - Effective performers recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings. They actively seek information from a variety of sources and disseminate it in a variety of ways. They use modern technologies to access and circulate information, even across great distances. They take responsibility for ensuring that their people have the current and accurate information needed for success.
• Initiative - Effective performers are proactive and take action without being prompted. They do not wait to be told what to do or when to do it. They see a need, take responsibility, and act on it. They make things happen.
• Composure - Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.
• Functional/Technical Expertise - Effective performers are knowledgeable and skilled in a functional specialty (e.g., finance, public works, planning, information technology, human resources, etc.), and remain current in their area of expertise.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.
• Learning Agility - Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.
• Drive/Energy - Effective performers have a high level of energy and are ambitious and passionate about their role. They have stamina and endurance to maintain a fast pace.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

Aquatics Safety and Education Specialist

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will be reliable, courteous, energetic and friendly; possess: effective communications skills; the ability to take direction and work independently; demonstrate an ability to provide exemplary customer service and perform other duties as assigned in a professional manner while presenting a positive public image.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 15 years of age (with work permit, if applicable), in good health, and possess appropriate physical strength to perform duties.
• Ideally, one year of experience as a Swim Instructor/Aide and one year as a Lifeguard is desired; and
• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards, and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
• Ability to teach infants, youth, adults, and those with special needs.
• Working with the public, including infants, youth, adults, and those with special needs; interact positively with staff.
• Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent).
• Use computer and other office equipment effectively.

Required licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment:

• Swim Instructor certification must be obtained within 90 days of employment.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Training (including CPR for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid).
• American Red Cross Title 22 Training (Emergency Response).
• Possession of a current (less than six months old) Tuberculosis clearance slip.

Supplemental information

A complete application is required.

The most qualified candidates will be selected to appear before a panel for an oral interview. Those applicants invited to interview will be notified electronically at the e-mail address provided by each candidate through the application process. Therefore, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide an accurate email address and to allow their inbox to receive emails in regard to this recruitment.

Selected candidates must complete a background investigation and live scan to the satisfaction of the City, as well as present a negative TB test prior to the final offer being made.

If you have job-related questions, please contact staff in the Human Resources Division at 805-925-0951 x2203. If you are experiencing any technical (computer-related) difficulties, please call the NEOGOV help line for technical assistance at 1-855-524-5627.