Weekend Lifeguard – Outdoor Education Center

Spend your weekends outdoors helping keep campers and families safe at the YMCA of Montclair’s Outdoor Education Center where your lifeguard skills directly protect and support kids, teens, and adults enjoying the water.

Job Highlights

Title: Weekend Lifeguard Organization: YMCA of Montclair Location: Outdoor Education Center – Montclair, NJ (primarily outdoor waterfront) Status: Non‑Exempt Reports to: Weekend Manager Primary Function/Department: Outdoor Education Center Leadership Level: Leader

Top qualifications (entry–mid level lifeguard):

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Weekend Manager, the Weekend Lifeguard has primary responsibility for the safety and well‑being of all people in the waterfront area. The Lifeguard enforces waterfront rules and regulations, uses sound judgment to prevent accidents, and, when incidents occur, responds in accordance with YMCA of Montclair Outdoor Education Center procedures, providing rescue and first aid as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Actively guard the waterfront from a standing position or lifeguard chair and never leave the area unattended.
• Arrange for relief by a certified lifeguard before exiting the waterfront, or clear all swimmers until relief arrives.
• Maintain constant, vigilant surveillance of all swimmers and water activities.
• Avoid extended conversations or distractions while on duty; stay fully focused on the water.
• Respond appropriately to emergency drills and real emergency situations, following camp Emergency Action Plans (EAPs).
• Enforce all waterfront rules and regulations of the YMCA and any camp‑specific policies.
• Use a whistle and required personal equipment to signal rule infractions and communicate with swimmers and staff.
• Set up lane lines, safety ropes, and other equipment as required by the waterfront program schedule.
• Instruct swim lessons as designated by the Waterfront Coordinator.
• Wear and use a wristwatch to maintain accurate timing for buddy checks, lifeguard rotations, and water activity end times (cell phones/electronic devices may NOT be used in place of a watch).
• Open and close the waterfront according to camp procedures.
• Ensure the waterfront area is orderly and clean at the end of each shift (organize rescue equipment, lifejackets, neckbands, kick boards, ropes, etc.).
• Assist in maintaining cleanliness of the waterfront and camp facilities throughout the shift.
• Cooperate and interact with all members, staff, program participants, and volunteers in a professional, courteous, and friendly manner.
• Demonstrate and model the YMCA’s four core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
• Adhere to YMCA policies related to boundaries with members, volunteers, staff, and participants.
• Attend required Abuse Risk Management training and follow procedures for managing high‑risk activities and supervising members and participants.
• Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations and follow mandated abuse reporting procedures.
• Perform other job‑related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

• Age: Minimum 18 years.
• Certifications:
  • Current CPR for the Professional Rescuer.
  • Current First Aid certification.
  • Current waterfront lifeguard certification (YMCA or Red Cross).
  • Ability to pass the YMCA swim test, as administered by the Waterfront Coordinator.

• Knowledge & Competencies:
  • Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of the YMCA and its capacity to build strong kids, families, and communities.
  • Ability to articulate and model the YMCA’s four core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
  • Reliable, safety‑minded, and able to remain alert for extended periods.

The satisfactory performance of the Weekend Lifeguard will result in a consistently high‑quality summer camp and waterfront program that ensures the health and safety of all campers and participants.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

(With or without reasonable accommodations)

• Work is performed primarily outdoors at a waterfront, in varying weather conditions (heat, sun, wind, rain, humidity).
• Physical activities include climbing, bending, stooping, kneeling, twisting, reaching, sitting, standing for extended periods, walking, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Requires visual acuity (near and distance), good hearing, and the ability to project voice across distance in normal and loud situations.
• May require occasional travel for YMCA‑related activities and trainings.

HOURLY PAY RATE: $17.00

WORK SCHEDULE: Weekend availability required.

Shift Options:

• Morning Shift: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Afternoon Shift: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

LOCATION: 131 Germantown Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480