Aquatics Director
- Sonoma County Family YMCA
- Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Job Description
Aquatics Director
📍 Sonoma County Family YMCA 💰 $75,000-$78,000 Annual Salary 🕒 Full-Time | Exempt
Are you a dynamic leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about creating safe, engaging, and impactful experiences for the community?
The Sonoma County Family YMCA is seeking an Aquatics Director to lead and grow our aquatics operations, develop high-performing teams, and help strengthen our community through innovative programs and exceptional member experiences.
This is more than a pool management position. As a member of our leadership team, you'll help shape the future of one of the YMCA's most visible and impactful program areas.
We're Looking For Someone Who:
✅ Leads with confidence, integrity, and a service-oriented mindset
✅ Has experience managing aquatic operations, staff, budgets, and programming
✅ Is passionate about creating exceptional experiences for members and staff
✅ Thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys building community partnerships
✅ Can balance strategic planning with day-to-day operational excellence
✅ Is energized by solving problems, developing people, and driving results
You'll Lead With These Competencies:
Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Y's values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fund-raising.
Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.
Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.
Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change, models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.
What You'll Do
- Lead all aspects of aquatic operations, programming, and safety
- Recruit, coach, schedule, and develop staff and volunteers
- Ensure compliance with YMCA, state, and safety standards
- Oversee budgets, forecasting, and program growth initiatives
- Build strong relationships with members, staff, and community partners
- Support fundraising efforts and YMCA events
- Serve as a member of the YMCA Leadership Team and as Manager on Duty
Minimum Qualifications
To be successful in this role, candidates should possess:
- Minimum age of 21 years.
- Bachelor's degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Two or more years of experience managing aquatic operations, programs, or related services.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and Word.
- Current First Aid/CPR/AED certification, or the ability to obtain certification within 30 days of employment.
- Required lifeguard and instructor certifications (YMCA, American Red Cross, and/or Title 22), or the ability to obtain certifications within 90 days of employment.
- CPO (Certified Pool Operator) certificate, preferred.
- Ability to successfully complete DOJ/FBI fingerprint clearance and required background screenings.
- Must reside within a commutable distance of the YMCA facility.
Important About This Role
This is a full-time exempt leadership position. Success in this role requires flexibility to meet operational needs. The schedule is not fixed and may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and special events. We are seeking a leader who understands the responsibilities that come with an exempt management role and is comfortable adapting to changing priorities while maintaining a high level of service and operational excellence.
Why Join the YMCA?
At the Y, we're more than a workplace. We're a mission-driven organization dedicated to strengthening the foundations of our community.
We offer:
💙 Free YMCA Membership
💙 Free Childcare
💙 Health, Dental & Life Insurance Benefits
💙 Retirement Benefits
💙 Certification Reimbursement
💙 Professional Development Opportunities
💙 Paid Time Off
💙 Employee Assistance Program
If you're ready to develop your leadership career while making a lasting impact on the lives of children, families, and community members, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help us make a difference, one swimmer, one family, and one community at a time. 🌊💙
Apply Now
The Sonoma County Family YMCA is an inclusive, charitable organization that enriches community through the areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.