Recreational Sport Instructor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

RECREATIONAL SPORTS (BL-RECS-IUBLA)
Department Information
The Office of Student Life is focused on building a strong foundation to ensure every student's Indiana University experience is positive, safe, healthy, and meaningful. The Office of Student Life staff and multiple departments aim to help students navigate their time at IU, providing the tools they need to be successful in school and after graduation. Students are our priority, and their health, safety, and overall well-being are our core mission.
Recreational Sports is part of the Office of Student Life, which is dedicated to supporting students¿ health, safety, and success throughout their IU experience. The Recreational Sports mission is to connect, inform, and inspire individuals to lead active, healthy lifestyles. Serving over 36,000 students, faculty, staff, and community members annually, we offer programs across 2 multipurpose facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, adventure spaces, and more. Our team includes 46 professional staff and over 800 student employees.
At Recreational Sports, we believe in creating exceptional experiences through genuine connection and inclusive opportunities. Student employees play a vital role in shaping our programs and are encouraged to grow through leadership and collaboration. Whether you're looking to build professional skills or simply be part of a dynamic team, Recreational Sports offers a fun, supportive environment where you can thrive.
Job Summary
The Aquatics team at IU Recreational Sports help create a safe and welcoming environment at campus pools to support participants of all ages and skill levels. This role is perfect for students who are responsible, confident in the water, and passionate about helping others stay active and safe. These roles offer a great opportunity to stay active, develop leadership and communication skills, and become part of a supportive campus community. You'll also gain valuable experience in customer service, group facilitation, logistical thinking, problem solving, and time management skills that are transferable to any future career.
Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Swim Instructors
  • Swims Instructors guide swimmers of all ages and skill levels to feel confident and safe in the water through fun, hands-on sessions They design and lead purposeful sessions tailored to each swimmer's goals, using positive feedback and clear progressions to support growth.
  • Communicates effectively, prioritize safety, and model professionalism to create a reliable and supportive learning environment
  • Communicates with clients to schedule lessons aligned with their goals and availability, prepare lesson plans, and maintain accurate records to ensure smooth session delivery.
  • Designs and leads engaging, safe, and effective swim lessons tailored to individual skill levels and focused on achieving client objectives.
  • Prioritizes safety by coordinating with lifeguards and aquatic leads, following skill progressions, and providing constructive feedback to support swimmer development.
  • Arrives early to prepare for lessons and stay afterward to debrief with clients, encourage practice between sessions, and communicate progress to parents of youth swimmers.
  • Follows program policies for cancellations and rescheduling.
  • Participates in trainings and meetings, maintain cleanliness and organization of pool areas and equipment, report incidents promptly, adhere to Aquatics Playbook policies, and support the aquatics team as needed.
• Lifeguards
  • Lifeguards are responsible for maintaining a safe and welcoming aquatic environment by taking a preventative approach, monitoring pool areas, and responding quickly and effectively to accidents or emergencies. This role is ideal for students who are attentive, dependable, and proactive, and who want to make a positive impact while gaining valuable safety, leadership, and teamwork experience.
  • Organizes the pool deck and equipment, enforce rules respectfully, and support fellow staff to ensure smooth operations.
  • Monitors assigned zones to maintain a safe aquatic environment by identifying hazards, adjusting positioning to eliminate blind spots, and responding promptly to emergencies. Reports safety or maintenance concerns as needed.
  • Fosters a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere by maintaining cleanliness and organization on the pool deck, assisting with lane assignments, enforcing facility rules, and ensuring proper equipment storage.
  • Collaborates with fellow lifeguards and staff to support daily operations, including opening and closing procedures, lane line setup, and event transitions. Assists with cleaning and organization during downtime.
  • Maintains current certifications and participate in required training sessions and staff meetings. Adheres to timekeeping and documentation procedures and demonstrate professionalism and reliability during each shift.
  • Communicates effectively and support team operations by reporting incidents, following facility policies, and assisting staff to ensure a safe and positive experience for all patrons.

Qualifications
EDUCATION
Required

• General knowledge at the high school level

Preferred

• Some college

WORK EXPERIENCE
Preferred

• Prior lifeguard or swim instructor experience

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Required

• Swim instructors must be American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certified or willing to become certified within 90 days of hire.
• Lifeguards must have valid American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certification Upon Date of Hire

OTHER
Required

• 15 years of age at time of hire

SKILLS
Required

• Effective communication skills with the ability to engage a diverse range of individuals
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a customer-focused attitude
• Ability to collaborate and contribute in a team-oriented environment
• Service-oriented and dependable
• Willingness to take on new challenges
• Lifeguards must have the knowledge and skill to prevent and respond to emergencies as outlined by the American Red Cross lifeguard curriculum and maintain adequate physical condition and fitness levels to respond when needed as a professional rescuer
• Swim Instructors are required to successfully demonstrate the ability to lead a fun and engaging swim lesson.

Working Conditions / Demands
These positions require sitting and maintaining attention for long periods of time and frequently moving about the workspace. Positions require working both indoors and outdoors and ability to move objects up to 50 pounds with assistance. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.
Additional Information
This position is work-study eligible
The Office of Student Life is committed to building students build career readiness and workforce skills. Student employment offers practical experience to apply learning, build real-world skills, and develop competencies valued by employers. Each role supports National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Competencies , with emphasis on those most relevant to the position:

• Career and Self-Development
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Leadership
• Professionalism
• Teamwork
• Technology

These are transferable workforce skills you can add to your resume and use in any career path.
Explore detailed descriptions of all RecSports part-time positions on the Recreational Sports Employment Opportunities Website and find the perfect fit for you
Work Location
Bloomington, Indiana
This is an in-person position.
Onsite work will take place at the following campus recreation facilities:

• Student Recreational Sports Center
• Bill Garrett Fieldhouse
• IU Outdoor Pool (seasonal)

Work Hours
Lifeguards will work an average of 8-12 hours per week
Swim Instructors will work an average of 4-8 hours per week
Flexible scheduling is available and may vary by position.
Early morning, evening and weekend shifts may be required.
Benefits Overview
For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure .
Job Classification
Career Level: Part Time Employee
FLSA: Nonexempt
Job Function: Part Time Employee
Job Family: Part Time Employee
Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.
Posting Disclaimer
This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.
If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information .
Campus Safety and Security
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online . You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.
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Telephone: 812-856-1234
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