General Description

The Head Guard holds an important leadership position on the WBC staff. The Head Guard is responsible for overseeing the lifeguard/swimming instructor staff, swimming lessons and pool operations, safety and cleanliness.

The Head Guard must be available from Memorial Day through an end of season date to be negotiated with the Swimming Director. As the Head Guard, He/She should regularly work a variety of shifts (weekends, evenings, as well as weekdays) enabling supervision of the full guard staff and pool operations. He/she should be visible at Swimming events such as home swim meets, pizza parties, field trips, awards night. No vacation is provided during the seven week lesson season.

As a leadership position on the WBC program staff, the Head Guard should be a role model for staff and participants in the swim programs, exemplifying the key characteristics we expect of our employees: Commitment, Respect, Responsibility and Cooperation.

The Head Guard is a full time (35-40 hours) summer employee, paid an hourly rate. As an hourly employee, the Head Guard is required to submit a weekly timecard to the General Manager for approval and all overtime needs to be approved in advance.

Qualifications & Certifications

As with all Swimming Staff, the Head Guard must be certified in Red Cross Lifeguard Training and First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer as well as in Red Cross certified Water Safety Instruction (WSI). Must be at least 18 years of age. Prior experience as a lifeguard/swimming instructor is required and WBC work experience is preferred.

Reporting/Management Relationships

The Head Guard reports to the General Manager (assisted by Summer Managers), and is overseen by the Swimming Director.

The Program Coordinator, who reports to the GM, will assist the Head Guard in training employees and other areas as specified by the GM.

Primary Responsibilities

Duties of the head lifeguard include:

• Communicate regularly with the General Manager:
  • Attend weekly staff meeting.
  • Bring any employee issues or problems to the General Manager before problems escalate.
• The Head Guard is responsible for scheduling of Swimming Staff hours, subject to the approval of the General Manager:
  • Schedule staff hours, in accordance with Lifeguard work schedule polices (see below.)
  • In accordance with Employee policies, work shifts should be assigned in an equitable fashion to lifeguard employees.
  • Be on duty throughout the work schedule to allow for full supervision of the program.
    This should include working alongside Junior Guards to provide guidance, and gauge their ability and potential.
  • Review the WBC Club Events calendar with the GM to plan for swim staff scheduling needs for events such as home swim meets, 4th of July, Labor Day, Ladies Luncheon, Dinner Dance, etc.
  • Surface potential overtime issues to GM before they occur - such as when employees switch shifts due to illness, etc.
  • All work schedules are subject to the approval of the General Manager.
• Oversee lifeguards in maintaining a safe & clean pool area
  • Schedule, organize and lead a pre-season training and orientation session with Swimming Staff, under the supervision of the General Manager. (Invite Swim Team Coach as a member of the Swim Staff team.)
    • Training session should include a review of safety procedures:
      • Surveillance and rescue skills
      • First Aid
      • CPR/AED
      • Back Board
    • Training session should include pool cleanliness procedures:
      • Maintaining proper pool water quality (testing, chlorine, etc.).
      • Completing chlorine supply report and notifying GM when supply is low.
      • Opening and closing the pool.
      • Cleaning the pool deck so it is free of trash, spills, etc.
      • Vacuuming the pool
      • Daily GM checklist of pool deck procedures.
  • Enforce standards for administering the swim badge test in accordance with WBC guidelines.
  • Oversee lifeguarding of the pool according to Red Cross guidelines and WBC policies (See Policies below).
  • In the pre-season, confirm pool area safety and rescue equipment & first aid kit is in place and notify GM if any replacement is needed. Monitor this throughout the season and alert GM to replacement needs.
  • Enforce WBC pool safety & cleanliness rules (See back of Membership Directory) - no running, slide safety, no diapers in pool, no eating on pool deck, etc.
• Oversee swimming lessons:
  • Process lesson signup forms to create swim lesson schedule, assigning children to lesson timeslots, working professionally with parents as needed to accommodate requests within reason.
  • Instructors should teach in accordance with Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Guidelines.
  • Provide ongoing feedback to lifeguard/swim instructor staff on ways to improve teaching techniques.
  • Enforce private lessons policies with staff (see below.)
  • Oversee lifeguards in the completion of Red Cross certificates for program participants.
• Oversee the Junior lifeguard staff and Swim Aides:
  • Assure that Junior Lifeguard staff gets trained at an appropriate time before starting work, working in close cooperation with the GM:
    • Pool Opening/Closing Procedures
    • Lifeguarding do's and don'ts
  • Provide guidance to the Swim Aides regarding their role in assisting with swimming lessons.
• Other
  • May participate in field trips when assigned.
  • May be asked to complete other tasks at discretion of GM or Summer Managers.
  • Participates in Nominating for Trophies