Job Description

Job Location: Dean & Barbara White Southlake YMCA - Crown Point, IN 46307
Position Type: Part TimePay starts at $12.50 per hour and up based on experience.
Be the One Who Keeps Our Pool Safe. Join Our Lifeguard Team!
Do you enjoy being active, working with people, and helping create a safe and welcoming environment? As a YMCA Lifeguard, you'll play an important role in protecting the safety of our members, guests, and program participants while helping create a positive experience for everyone in and around the pool. Every day is different. You may be actively monitoring the pool, helping a member feel more comfortable in the water, completing safety checks, responding to an emergency, or simply being a friendly and attentive presence on the pool deck. This role is ideal for someone who is responsible, alert, calm under pressure, and enjoys working with people of all ages.
What You Can Expect
No two shifts are exactly alike. You will:
- Maintain active surveillance of the entire pool and deck area.
- Help create a safe, positive, and welcoming environment for members, guests, and program participants.
- Practice preventative lifeguarding by following and enforcing pool rules and safety policies.
- Respond immediately and appropriately to emergency situations in accordance with YMCA procedures.
- Complete routine safety checks of the pool, deck, and equipment.
- Monitor and record water temperature and chemical levels when not actively guarding.
- Maintain accurate records and complete required reports.
- Build positive relationships with members, families, guests, and coworkers.
- Attend required staff meetings, trainings, and professional development.
- Support the Aquatics team with other duties as assigned.
What Makes This Job Rewarding
This position offers the opportunity to:
- Make a meaningful difference by helping keep your community safe.
- Build relationships with children, families, and members of all ages.
- Develop valuable leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
- Gain experience in emergency response and preventative safety.
- Work as part of a supportive and collaborative team.
- Build valuable experience for future careers in aquatics, recreation, healthcare, education, or public safety.
- Grow your skills and career within the YMCA.
What Can Be Challenging
Lifeguarding is an active position that requires focus, patience, flexibility, and sound judgment.
You should expect to:
- Remain highly alert and focused while actively supervising the pool.
- Monitor multiple areas and swimmers at the same time.
- Enforce pool rules while maintaining a positive and respectful member experience.
- Remain calm and objective when responding to emergencies or challenging situations.
- Spend extended periods standing, walking, or sitting.
- Work in a busy aquatic environment with varying noise levels and activity.
- Respond quickly when conditions or situations change.
- Maintain consistent attention throughout your shift because the safety of our members depends on it.

Qualifications
- Must be at least 15 years of age.
- Willing to obtain a nationally recognized lifeguard certification (required).
- Willing to obtain CPR/AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration certification (required).
- Previous lifeguarding or related experience is preferred but not required.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
- Willingness to complete required YMCA orientation, training, and ongoing professional development.
Not certified yet? That's okay! The YMCA provides and pays for required lifeguard training and certification for qualified candidates.
Physical Requirements
Ability to:
- Maintain a high level of alertness, concentration, and initiative.
- Stand, walk, or sit for extended periods of time.
- Bend and stoop as needed to perform job responsibilities.
- Demonstrate sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform lifeguard responsibilities.
- Lift up to 50 pounds.
- Observe, hear, and communicate effectively in a busy aquatic environment.
- Respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations.
Is This Role Right for You?
You'll be successful in this position if you:
- Are responsible, attentive, and dependable.
- Enjoy working with people of all ages.
- Stay calm and focused in busy or unexpected situations.
- Can enforce safety expectations while maintaining a friendly and welcoming attitude.
- Enjoy being active and working as part of a team.
- Are willing to learn and continuously improve your skills.
- Believe everyone deserves a safe, welcoming, and positive place to enjoy the water.
Benefits at Crossroads YMCA
When you join Crossroads YMCA, you'll enjoy benefits that support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth, including:
- Free individual YMCA membership
- Discounts on YMCA program
- Voluntary 403(b) retirement savings plan
- Training and professional development opportunities
- Career growth opportunities
At Crossroads YMCA, we invest in our employees because we know they make a difference in our community every day. As a lifeguard, you'll have the opportunity to build valuable skills, develop meaningful relationships, and help create a safe place where everyone can enjoy the water.
Ready to be the one who keeps our pool safe? Join the Crossroads YMCA Aquatics Team today!

QualificationsPOSITION SUMMARY: This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Delivers excellent service to all members, guests, and program participants. Under the direction of the Aquatic Leadership the Lifeguard is responsible for providing a safe and positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals while promoting and maintain safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck and surrounding areas in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Maintains active surveillance of the entire pool area including pool deck.
- Knows and reviews all emergency procedures and responds to emergency situations immediately in accordance with YMCA policies & procedures; completes related reports as required.
- Practice preventative lifeguarding by following and enforcing pool rules and policies, and routinely completing and documenting safety check of pool, deck area, and equipment.
- Remains calm and objective when under pressure or when challenged by others and act accordingly.
- Maintains accurate records as required by the YMCA and/or the state health department code.
- Checks and records water temperature and chemical levels on a regular basis when not guarding and notify supervisor of any irregularities.
- Attend all meetings and trainings as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Current nationally recognized certification. Including current First Aid, BLS and Oxygen Administration.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Must demonstrate the ability to pass the basic lifeguard skills in accordance with YMCA standards.
- Must maintain certification-level physical and mental readiness.
- Ability to relate and communicate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
- Minimum of 16 years of age. Minimum of 18 years of age & high school degree preferred.
- Within 30 days of hire, complete all New Employee Orientation trainings.
MEMBER ENGAGEMENT:
- Know and model the Crossroads YMCA staff pledge to ensure participants have a legendary experience.
- Acquaint and recommend members to participate in a variety of YMCA programs.
- Develop professional relationships that promote the building of small communities.
- Recommend participation in a variety of YMCA programs.
- Support our YMCA annual campaign by inviting members to participate.
- Build an environment in which valuing diversity and inclusion is encouraged.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Ability to work accurately at a fast pace.
- Ability to work in a variety of environments, specifically those subject to extreme humidity/dampness and heat.
- Communicate verbally, including projecting the voice across distances, and communicating with emergency response personnel over the telephone.
- Must have high level of alertness, concentration, and initiative to recognized victims in need.
- Remain alert with no lapses of consciousness.
- Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform job responsibilities.
- Ability to lift 50 lbs. and stand, walk, or sit for extended periods of time; occasionally stoop/bend.
- Always maintain a neat and professional appearance.
- Physically perform all skills required of a lifeguard.