Program Associate, Aquatics

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for the day to day administration of aquatic fitness and lesson programming, advanced courses, aquatic day camps and aquatic therapy exercise related initiatives. Responsibilities include the planning of programming schedules; develop program offerings, coordinate marketing efforts, provide leadership in the hiring, training, scheduling and evaluating qualified and specially trained instructors, lifeguards and supervisors for aquatic programs; curriculum development, payroll, and continuous ongoing evaluation of both the instructors and programs. This position interacts with all Aquatic Centre Staff and with other department facility coordinators, programmers, coaches, community users, on-campus groups as well as external agencies and partners.

This position will require a flexible schedule and will require evening and weekend work.

Organizational Status
Athletics & Recreation (A&R) is a department within the VP Students portfolio, with a strong focus on creating an exceptional UBC student experience. The A&R Department has a team of approximately 125 employees, and is led by a strong cross-unit management team. It services over 60,000 students through recreational programming, 26 varsity teams, and 13 competitive clubs along with thousands of members of the UBC community.

Work Performed

PROGRAMMING

• Works in collaboration with the Manager, Aquatic Programs to develop, plan and implement a diverse and innovative instructional, competitive and recreational aquatic related offerings and swim lessons for all ages including (but not limited to) advanced courses, certification courses, swim lessons, day camps, fitness classes and schedules, and aquatic therapy exercise courses.

• Responsible for executing curriculum and learning objectives for related programming and courses.

• Working with the Manager, Aquatic Programs design and implement policies and procedures to govern the program area offerings and to facilitate efficient and effective registration, client booking requests (i.e. private coaching therapy, etc.), sign in, instructor reporting, and risk management procedures.

• Generates enrollment forecasting models for financial analysis and enrollment management to ensure program profitability.

• Contributes to the development and implementation of assessment tools to ensure participant satisfaction and to assess the needs of the UBC community about program area(s) offerings.

• Contributes to the effectiveness of current programming and makes changes or improvements as necessary. Generates new programming ideas and initiatives.

• Oversees the preparation of Lesson Binders for instructors; regularly leads on-deck lesson operations, organizes and supports swim program information sessions; prepares reports and ensures lessons are meeting profitability standards and registration numbers.

• Prepares and updates lesson and programming content in PerfectMind, on the website and for marketing materials prior to each registration session. Responsible for pre-program emails, equipment inventory and client communication.

• Responsible for the coordination and implementation of specialty programs (i.e. Aquatic Centre birthday parties, specialty private lessons, etc.).

• Supports, as required, other programmers with lesson programming and lesson instructors.

STAFF MANAGEMENT

• Working closely with the Manager, the incumbent is responsible to recruit, hire, train, and supervise a group of qualified, certified fitness instructors, swim coaches, lifeguards, supervisors, birthday leaders, and day camp leaders.

• Takes a leadership role in the training and supervision, and evaluation of the part time Aquatic Centre Lifeguard/instructors and shift supervisor staff who also serve as lesson instructors. Liaise with the other facility staff to ensure that all roles are hired, appointed, re-appointed within UBC Workday.

• Responsible for taking a lead role in the staff planning and allocation of lifeguards, supervisors, and lesson/aqua fitness/course instructors. Supports other staff planning and allocation initiatives in the facility.

• Manages staff certifications; ensuring staff have current certifications.

• Prepares and coordinates aquatic instructor and day camp leader employment contracts.

• Works in collaboration with the Manager to evaluate instructors and leaders to ensure effectiveness and adherence to curriculum and safety standards.

• In partnership with the Manager, Aquatic Programs, schedules and delivers in-service training and screening of related staff in the understanding of life support systems and techniques and departmental policies and procedures.

• Maintains standards of performance for lifeguards/instructors and shift supervisors

• Supervises and oversees lifeguards: troubleshoots and organize workloads and staff assignments for lifeguards; Advise and coach lifeguards and contributes to evaluations at the middle and end of the season.

OTHER:

• Maintains liaison with a variety of internal and external contacts, including BCRPA/Lifesaving Society/Red Cross, etc. as required dealing with matters such as use and availability of facilities, facility expansion, safety and program offerings.

• Liaises and coordinates with other Aquatic Centre Full Time staff and students to execute initiatives. Clearly communicates timelines and responsibilities.

• Actively pursues and attends opportunities and events to enhance the Aquatic Centre's profile including new releases, orientation and information fairs.

• Assists in the developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluation of departmental policies and procedures.

• Assists in the operation of the aquatic facility as required.

• Provides leadership in the area of day to day fiscal management and accountability.

• Performs related work as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position is vitally important to the daily operation of one of the most heavily used facilities on campus. A standard of customer service is vital to ensuring customer satisfaction. Errors in training of the staff and/or management of each program could result in injuries to participants potentially causing a situation that may be open to litigation. Failing to execute the logistics associated with each area of responsibility could lead to participant dissatisfaction, which then could result in reduced participation and reduced revenues. The improper execution of details associated with the management of each program could result in a tarnished image of the university.

Supervision Received
The Manager, Aquatic Programs gives guidance and direction to the position, but the execution of the responsibilities are solely that of the Programmer, Aquatics. Due to the magnitude of the program, staff are empowered to execute their responsibilities and work independently.

Supervision Given
This position is responsible for providing day to day supervision and leadership in the following areas: recruiting, interviewing, selecting, training and evaluating a full staff of highly qualified and fully certified specialty instructors, lifeguards, supervisors, birthday leaders and day camp leaders as well as the screening and selection of outsourced contracted agencies. Number of staff this role provides supervision would be up to 100 part time student and non-student staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of one year of professional experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional working experience in a Recreation Centre, Aquatic Centre, or as a Recreation Programmer is preferred.

• Aquatic background is preferred along with experience with teaching methods and group leadership techniques emphasizing instruction in water safety, aquatic skills, and fitness.

• Strong knowledge of current trends in health promotion and aquatic programming, including both leisure-based and advanced programming.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices involved in teaching, developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating instructional, recreational and fitness aquatic programs.

• Ability to plan, assign, supervise and check, directly and indirectly, the work of staff and to participate in hiring and evaluating the work performance of support staff.

• Strong supervisory and staff management skills required.

• Ability to deal effectively and courteously with staff, public, user groups and university officials.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, multi-task, prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.

• Ability to work well as a member of a team and as a leader of a team, as well as excellent oral and written communication skills are required.

• Demonstrated conflict resolution skills. Experience working, supervising or managing in a unionized environment is an asset.

• Passion for helping others, particularly in the context of health and fitness.

• Computer experience and working knowledge and skill with Microsoft Office is required and previous experience with Perfect Mind software is an asset.

• Must be able to lift, move or carry objects of up to 50 lbs.

• Valid BC drivers license and safe driving record is preferred.

• Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and/or Lifesaving Society Swim for Life certifications are an asset.