Open water swimming lifeguard

Job Description

Open Water Lifeguard

GLL is looking for Open Water Lifeguards to work at Herts Young Mariners Base, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. If you have the skills and ambition to join us as an Open Water Lifeguard, there has never been a more exciting time to join us. This is more than a lifeguarding job – it's an opportunity to build a rewarding career in watersports, outdoor activities and community wellbeing.

An Open Water Lifeguard's role cannot be underestimated, nor can the responsibility that comes with ensuring the safety of participants enjoying open water swimming and paddlesport activities. If you're calm under pressure, highly responsible and confident working with people from all walks of life, this is your chance to develop your skills in a unique outdoor environment.

As an Open Water Lifeguard, your passion for water-based activities and commitment to excellent customer service will shine through when supervising open water swimming sessions, supporting paddlesport activities and helping maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all users of the centre.

What you'll do

• Supervise open water swimming sessions and associated activities.
• Monitor participant safety and respond appropriately to incidents and emergencies.
• Conduct safety checks and set up equipment before sessions.
• Support the delivery of paddlesport and watersports activities where required.
• Deliver first-class customer service.
• Deal confidently with customer enquiries.
• Assist with the preparation, cleaning and upkeep of equipment and activity areas.
• Work as part of a team to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and customer experience.

What you need

• A can-do attitude.
• A strong focus on customer service.
• Passion, enthusiasm and personality.
• Knowledge of health and safety principles.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Experience in paddlesports, open water swimming or other water-based activities.
• Confidence working in and around open water environments.

Desirable qualifications include:

• Open Water Swimming Lifeguard qualification.
• Swim Safety Rescue (SSR) qualification.
• Relevant paddlesport qualifications and experience.

Successful applicants who do not already hold an appropriate open water rescue qualification will receive a fully funded Swim Safety Rescue (SSR) course as part of their development.

As a charitable social enterprise and cooperative owned by our staff, GLL is a unique organisation to build a career with.

The basics

Hours of work will be negotiated in line with the needs of the service. Flexible working arrangements may be available.

We offer a career, not just a job, with extensive learning and development opportunities. A uniform will be supplied and must be worn. GLL is Values Driven, not Profit Driven. We work hard to benefit the communities we operate in. As a staff-owned organisation, you'll have the opportunity to join the Society and have a stake in your business.

Additional employee benefits

• Access to a pension scheme.
• Health Assurance and counselling services.
• Access to the tax-efficient Ride to Work bicycle purchase scheme.
• Free annual eye tests.
• Discounted nationwide leisure centre membership for you and your partner across over 200 centres.
• Access to GLL Extras benefits.

GLL Society benefits

If you choose to join the Society after your probation period, you'll benefit from:

• The right to stand for the Society Board and vote for board members.
• Access to team-building and social events.
• Access to a range of benefits exclusive to Society members.

About GLL

As the UK's largest leisure operator and charitable social enterprise, we offer a range of careers serving local communities. We manage over 400 facilities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including leisure centres, elite sporting venues, libraries and children's centres.

Our people come from the communities we serve and help us make a real difference locally.

One of our core values is More than a Job because working with us opens up a wide range of opportunities and career pathways. Whether you are seeking regular contracted hours or greater flexibility, we may be able to offer a working arrangement that suits you while helping improve the health and wellbeing of your community.

Passionate about seeing our communities thrive, we invest back into our facilities, projects and people and are proud to be an Investors in People Gold Award employer.

However you choose to work with us, you can be sure you will be a valued member of our team, working with great colleagues and making a real difference to people's lives.

We are an inclusive employer and actively seek and welcome diversity in our teams.

All pay rates are subject to skills, experience, qualifications and location.