Lead Lifeguard

The Lead Lifeguard assists the Aquatic Manager and Coordinators in overseeing daily operations across UNM’s three aquatic facilities. This role combines active water surveillance with peer leadership, ensuring that the student lifeguard staff enforces all university policies and State of New Mexico Environment Department regulations.

Lead Lifeguards act as shift supervisors during aquatic emergencies and supervise event logistics for user groups, including UNM Rec Services, the UNM Women’s Swim and Dive Team, and the general university community.

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate daily guard rotations and zone coverage to ensure continuous, safe pool operation. Mentorship: Assist in onboarding new student staff and leading monthly in-service training sessions. Policy Enforcement: Act as the primary point of contact for resolving patron disputes or managing unruly behavior on the deck.

Safety Audits Quality Assurance Vigilance Testing: Conduct unannounced internal safety audits (including drop drills, recognition-time tests, and live-action scanning assessments) to ensure lifeguard staff maintain peak alertness. Equipment Audits: Perform regular inspections of all emergency and first aid gear, ensuring oxygen tanks, AEDs, and spineboards are fully functional and compliant with university regulations.

Performance Reporting: Document audit findings and provide actionable feedback to staff and aquatic management to address gaps in performance. Swim Assessments Risk Mitigation Patron Swim Tests: Conduct standardized swim assessments (water competency tests) for youth, camp groups, and special event participants to determine swimming proficiency and establish appropriate pool boundaries or life jacket requirements.

Group Management: Coordinate with visiting group leaders, sport clubs, or university camp counselors to ensure all non-swimmers are properly identified, restricted to shallow water zones, and monitored. Pool Facility Maintenance Water Quality Testing: Perform water chemistry tests prior to facility opening and every 4 hours thereafter to comply with New Mexico public pool codes and log data accurately.

Preventative Maintenance: Operate and monitor pool vacuums (manual and robotic), clean skimmer baskets, skim pool surfaces, and backwash filtration systems as directed. Chemical Logs Adjustments: Monitor chemical feed systems and report any significant chemical imbalances or physical plant irregularities to the Aquatic Coordinator or facilities staff.

Safety, Operations Compliance Surveillance: Maintain alert, constant scanning of the pools to mitigate hazards and prevent accidents. EAP Execution: Serve as the team leader during an emergency, directing staff under American Red Cross standards. Documentation: Ensure exact records are kept for hourly facility headcounts, incident reports, audit logs, swim test completions, and maintenance trackers.

Operational Flexibility: Perform other duties as assigned by the Aquatic Coordinator, Manager, or Rec Services Leadership to support overall department goals.