Team Leader Swim Lessons

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

The Team Leader Aquatics will oversee the safe operation of swim lessons during their duty period, ensuring regulatory and YMCA standards are met. The Team Leader coaches and develops YMCA Swim Instructors, working with the Supervisor to ensure YMCA quality standards are met.

In this role, you will:

• Provide leadership and coaching to swim instructors to ensure all YMCA Quality Indicators are met in swimming lessons.
• Manage sign in and sign out procedures during the transitions between classes to ensure children are safe at all times and best practices and procedures to ensure child safety are being followed consistently.
• Ensure all regulatory and YMCA standards are met throughout the lesson period and responds immediately to rectify all safety and emergency concerns.
• Continuously build positive relationships with children, parents, staff, and volunteers during their shift, dealing with concerns as they arise.
• Ensure program coverage gaps and other challenges are resolved as they emerge.
• Manage the pool area to ensure appropriate allocation of space for each group.
• Immediately assist instructors when classes become large or unmanageable; frequently participate in the class to demonstrate effective teaching techniques.
• Provide support and is present during the entire duty period. Circulates through all program areas in rotation to ensure the above stated objectives are being met.
• Remain visible and approachable at all times.
• Manage administrative responsibility for attendance and waitlists as required.
• Ensure qualifications and certifications as required by the YMCA and regulatory standards are current at all times.
• Actively participate in scheduled programs, meetings and special events.
• In collaboration with individual program members, program volunteers and YMCA program staff, assist and encourage program members to access additional appropriate programs offered at this location.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• Current certifications in the following Lifesaving Society awards: National Lifeguard (NL), Standard First Aid and CPR level C, YMCA Swim Instructor
• Minimum of 1 year experience delivering YMCA Swim Lessons at the “effective” level
• Minimum of 6 months experience coaching and developing others
• Demonstrated experience in effective coaching and development skills
• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers
• Ability to encourage and motivate members, volunteers and staff and to acknowledge and appreciate achievements and contributions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to deal effectively with escalated member concerns and achieve successful outcomes
• Well-developed organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency with computer software including Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
• Flexibility regarding assigned hours of work, including evenings (must be available Thursdays, 3:45 – 7:30pm) and weekends
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values
• A commitment to uphold strong, safeguarding practices that protect the safety, well-being, inclusion of children and youth
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together, which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.