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Recreation Specialist (Aquatics)

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Recreation Specialist (Aquatics)

Salary

$49,737.00 - $77,169.00 Annually

Location

Durham, NC

Job Type

Full time with benefits

Job Number

25-05713

Department

Parks and Recreation

Opening Date

11/26/2025

Closing Date

12/10/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $49,737 - $60,478 / Annually

Locations: Edison Johnson Aquatics Center

Workday/Hours: Monday-Thursday 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Sunday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

A nationally accredited team of passionate professionals devoted to building better lives and a better community through the power of parks and recreation. Our talented team at Durham Parks and Recreation (https://www.dprplaymore.org/27/ABOUT-US) is devoted to community service and provides a diverse range of programs, services, opportunities, and experiences while being united through our core pillars of creating equitable economic impacts; advancing conservation; rejuvenating health and wellness; enhancing quality of life and sustaining social equity.

We are seeking to bring a skilled aquatics professional to the next step in their career as the Recreation Specialist for the Edison Johnson Aquatic Center. As one of DPR’s destination for aquatic programs and activities in Durham, the Edison Johnson Aquatic Center is a great place for you to apply and develop your skills, build on your experience with diverse programs, and to be part of a community-centered public service mission. We want you to grow with Durham Parks and Recreation. Join a team of fellow professionals bringing fun and fitness to Durham residents by offering safe and welcoming environments for engaging activities and special events.

This position is devoted to providing recreation, aquatics, and/or special needs programming and activities and assist with the management of recreation and aquatic facilities. Performs operational coordination work ranging from routine to specialized support, typically for a single program or subject matter area requiring journey-level knowledge and experience about program logistics and operations. May assist in training staff and serve as a second level of check for accuracy or lead lower-level staff. Decision-making includes how and when tasks are carried out within an operational process, limited by the selection of the process and establishment of deadlines and outcomes.

Responsible for developing programs; scheduling facility use; opening and closing facilities (where applicable); collecting fees; providing customer service; registering participants; preparing records and reports; performing program instruction; training, leading and assisting with hiring and evaluating part-time staff; providing facility oversight including maintenance and safety; and assisting with marketing and promotions.

As assigned, may serve as lead workers, assigning work and monitoring work completion or assisting with the supervision of support staff including assisting with performance evaluations, coordinating training, and hiring procedures.

Duties/Responsibilities

+ Assists with planning and developing recreational, aquatics, and/or special needs programs; plans program content and related activities; conducts community surveys; instructs program participants; trains, leads, and assists with hiring lower-level staff; assists with marketing and promoting programs; and monitors program expenses.

+ Assists with facility supervision and inventory coordination, including scheduling facility use, opening and closing facilities, inspecting equipment and facilities to ensure safety and proper working condition of equipment and materials; monitors supplies; and coordinates with maintenance staff to resolve maintenance issues.

+ Performs office, program, and customer support operations; responds to inquiries, concerns, and complaints from patrons, in person, via phone or email; processes payments and deposits; registers participants; transports patrons, as assigned; performs outreach activities, as assigned, including providing information to internal and external groups.

+ Prepares, maintains, reviews, processes, and/or disseminates reports, records, requisitions, invoices, notifications, and other documentation; compiles, tracks and reports information; proofs transactions and ensures accuracy of information.

+ Assists with facility management, staff supervision, registration, and program development including use of recreation software, general operations assistance, and cultivating partnerships/performing outreach.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

+ Associate degree in recreation, leisure services, or a related field.

+ Two years of recreation services experience in area of assignment.

+ Valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if you currently have another states driver's license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire.

+ American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification (or equivalent).

+ American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) certification (or equivalent), or American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification (or equivalent).

Licenses/Certifications (Required Within One Year of Hire)

If you are hired with only one of the two instructor certifications listed above, you must obtain the other within one year. This position requires you to maintain both of the following instructor certifications:

+ American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) certification (or equivalent)

+ American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification (or equivalent)

Additional certifications (Required Within One Year of Hire)

+ Water Exercise Instructor Certification (or equivalent)

+ Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Certification (or equivalent)

Note: You must already have the American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification (or equivalent) at the time of hire. You must also have at least one of the two instructor certifications (LGI or WSI) at the time of hire. Any certification you are missing must be obtained within one year to meet the full requirements for this position.

Additional Preferred Skills

+ Bachelor’s degree in recreation or a related field.

+ Experience scheduling staff for an aquatic facility or operation.

+ Experience facilitating or coordinating training or instructional courses.

+ Experience in mechanical pool operations (e.g., backwashing, vacuuming, priming pool pumps).

+ Experience using recreation or office software (Microsoft 365 or equivalent).

+ Experience assisting with facility oversight, including tasks such as training, scheduling, or guiding part-time staff.

+ Strong written and verbal communication skills.

+ Able to work the days and shifts listed.

+ Willing to work outside the identified workdays and hours for special events and seasonal pool operations.

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

+ 12-13 paid holidays per year

+ 13 standard work days of vacation per year

+ 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement

+ 2 weeks paid military leave per year

+ Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans

+ State and City retirement plans

+ Short and long term disability plans

+ Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions

+ City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System

+ Paid funeral leave

+ Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling

+ Paid life insurance equal to annual salary

+ 48 hours for volunteer work each year*

+ 4 hours parental leave each year

+ Workman's Compensation Insurance

+ 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

+ 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

+ State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

+ 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

+ State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire

+ Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire

+ Dental and life insurance, after one year of service

+ Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

01

Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

+ City of Durham Website

+ Walk in

+ Job fair

+ Employee referral

+ Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***

+ Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***

+ Craig's List

+ Facebook

+ LinkedIn

+ GlassDoor

+ governmentjobs.com

+ Monster.com

+ Indeed.com

+ Employment Security Commission

+ Magazine/Newspaper

+ Other

02

If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.

03

Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

+ Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)

+ High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)

+ Associates Degree

+ Bachelor's Degree

+ Master's Degree

+ PhD or Juris Doctorate

04

Do you have a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license? (If you have a valid license from a State other than North Carolina, you must be willing and able to obtain a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license within 60 days of hire).

+ I have a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license.

+ I have a valid license from another State and I am willing to obtain a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license within 60 days.

+ I do not have a valid, unrestricted driver's license.

05

How many years of recreation services experience in area of assignment do you have?

+ No related experience

+ Less than 1 year of experience

+ 1 year but less than 2 years

+ 2 years but less than 5 years

+ 5 or more years

06

All certifications listed must be obtained within 1 year of your start date. Please indicate all certifications that you have or are willing and able to obtain within 1 year of your start date. (Check ALL that Apply)

+ I have OR am willing and able to obtain the American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification (or equivalent) within one year of my start date.

+ I have OR am willing and able to obtain the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (or equivalent) within one year of my start date.

+ I have OR am willing and able to obtain the Water Exercise Instructor Certification (or equivalent) within one year of my start date.

+ I have OR am willing and able to obtain the Pool Operator (or equivalent) certification within one year of my start date.

+ I DO NOT have & I am NOT willing or able to obtain any of the required certifications within 1 year of my start date.

07

Do you have the American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification (or equivalent)?

+ Yes

+ No

08

One of these two instructor certifications is required at the time of hire. Please indicate which one you currently have.

+ American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification (or equivalent).

+ American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (or equivalent).

+ I have BOTH the American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification (or equivalent) & the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (or equivalent).

+ I do not currently have either of the required instructor certifications or equivalent certifications.

09

Have you previously worked with recreation/office software? (like Microsoft 365 products, etc)

+ Yes

+ No

10

How many years of experience do you have assisting with facility oversight and participating in tasks such as training, scheduling, or guiding part-time staff?

+ No related experience

+ Less than 1 year of related experience

+ 1 year but less than 3 years

+ 3 years but less than 5 years

+ 5 or more years

11

Do you have strong written and verbal communication skills?

+ Yes

+ No

12

Do you have experience scheduling staff for an Aquatic facility/operation?

+ Yes

+ No

13

Have you previously facilitated and/or coordinated any training/instructional courses?

+ Yes

+ No

14

I have... (check ALL that apply):

+ Experience managing both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

+ Experience in chemical pool operation - manually adding chemicals, automated control feeders.

+ Experience coordinating aquatic special event programs.

+ Experience coordinating American Red Cross aquatic swim lesson programs.

+ Experience working with diverse populations, providing inclusive programming.

+ Strong leadership skills.

+ Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.

+ Experience with utilizing recreation software (i.e., Class or ActiveNet).

15

Do you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule to work mornings or Saturdays, including the ability and willingness to work the days and shifts listed, as well as occasional special events or seasonal needs?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question