Summer Academy Swim Director

Overview

Horizons Greater Washington is seeking a Swim Director to oversee the swim program at Horizons Greater Washington’s three program sites during its Summer Academy enrichment program. 

Work Locations

In the application, candidates will be asked to share their preference for the following locations:

Maret School

3000 Cathedral Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20008

Embassy of Switzerland

2900 Cathedral Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20008

UDC Natatorium

EB Henderson Sports Complex

4200 Connecticut Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20008

Montgomery College, Germantown Campus

20200 Observation Dr #4067

Germantown, MD 20876

George Washington University Mount Vernon Campus Swim Center

2100 Foxhall Road NW

Washington, DC 20007

NOTE: pool is accessed from Whitehaven Parkway, across from St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School

Dates of Employment

December 9, 2024-September 20, 2025

2025 Program Dates

WSI Training: TBD

Planning Period: 12/9/2024-06/13/2025

Pre-Program Planning Period: 06/14/2025-06/20/2025

Staff Orientation: 06/21/2025-06/26/2025

Summer Program: 06/27/2025-08/01/2025

Post-Program Planning Period: 08/02/2025-09/30/2025

*Horizons observes the following company-paid holidays: Thursday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth and Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

Schedule

Planning Periods: Hourly work as needed

Pre-Program Planning Period, Staff Orientation, Summer Program: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00pm

About Horizons Greater Washington

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, advances educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. HGW supports over 400 students in grades 1-9 with year-round programming, developing the whole child through experiences that build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility, and instill respect for self and others. By spanning from first to ninth grade, the program nurtures long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated staff who support them throughout the year. HGW program design and staff practices follow a Positive Youth Development approach, emphasizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment as key components that meet the needs of youth.  The five-week Summer Academy is Horizons’ core program, blending high-quality academics – with an emphasis on literacy and STEAM – with arts, fields trips, and confidence-building challenges.

HGW supplements the academic component of the Summer Program with social-emotional learning, swimming, hands-on projects, high-quality art lessons, and confidence-building challenges to boost engagement and improve outcomes. HGW includes art in the curriculum as it can boost students’ writing skills, build social-emotional skills, and increase school engagement (The Wallace Foundation 2023). In addition to visual art, every grade level - starting with rising first graders - participates in STEAM learning opportunities to encourage curiosity and achievement in the sciences and technology. HGW’s STEAM class is designed to ignite a passion for learning through hands-on, interactive experiences that emphasize the importance of methodical problem-solving, encourage innovation, and foster an understanding of the interconnectedness of the STEAM disciplines.
 

Position Description

The Swim Director will oversee the swim program at Horizons Greater Washington’s three program sites, ensuring that 75% of Horizons students meet or exceed American Red Cross Swimming Benchmarks for their age by the end of the summer program.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Program Design & Planning

• Attend planning sessions led by the Program Director during the school year
• Complete follow-up planning assignments as directed by Program Director
• Attend monthly staff meetings with year-round HGW staff

Staffing & Supervision

• Hire and supervise certified Water Safety Instructors, lifeguards (as needed), and Swim Assistants to implement Horizons swim program across three sites
• Manage, observe, and train WSIs and Swim Assistants to ensure high quality swim instruction that is consistent with Horizons’ teaching and learning strategy. HGW’s programs adhere to the Pyramid of Program Quality designed by the David Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. All HGW staff strive to support the domains of Engagement, Interaction, Supportive Environment, and Safe Environment to support the needs of youth
• Oversee data collection and entry into Salesforce to track and celebrate student swim progress throughout the summer
• Document any performance management concerns and report to Program Director in a timely manner

Swim Curriculum & Training

• Develop swim curriculum lesson plans that will be implemented by WSIs throughout the summer
• Lead training and orientation on swim curriculum for WSIs to ensure adequate preparation to deliver swim instruction

Secure and Manage Pool Space & Supplies

• Confirm pool locations have been secured and times to ensure that all students at Horizons sites swim at least 3 days per week for at least 90 minutes per week; assist Program Director in identifying and securing pools, if necessary
• Determine swimming supply needs to ensure students have adequate swim gear (bathing suits, goggles, etc.) as well as training tools (kickboard, flippers, fins, etc.) to leverage in-kind support from TYR
• Communicate with and manage partner facilities to ensure alignment with program needs
• Manage swim supplies, including assisting in ordering of appropriate quantities and the administration of either the returns, storage, disposal, or recycling of excess supplies

Swim Olympics

• Lead planning and execution of Swim Olympics as culminating event of Summer Program
• Train all participating Horizons staff in their roles to ensure a safe and fun competition
• Secure pool space and date for Swim Olympics

Communication with Families

• Regularly communicate swim philosophy and student progress with families through weekly newsletter blurbs and direct parent communication as needed

Data Reporting & Compliance

• Weekly reporting on tracking of student progress
• Ensure all swim ratios, staffing, and swim lessons are compliant with all local requirements and regulations (as well as those for each specific pool location, including COMAR regulations regarding summer camp aquatic activities
• Ensure compliance to local and/or state regulations around all operational aspects of the program to ensure the safety of the students at the site
• If applicable, attend training around state regulations related to operational, food handling, data security, and safety procedures
• Report any student or staff incidents/accidents to Finance department and fill out any necessary reports, including Insurance incident reports

Qualifications and Competencies

In addition to having a steadfast commitment to Horizon’s mission, the ideal candidate will possess classroom experience in project-based instruction, behavior management, and differentiation. Candidates must also be flexible, organized, and self-driven.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 18 years old, high school graduate
• Self-motivated, hard-working, reliable, mature, (something about being able to be discrete and confidential regarding important information)
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Administrative experience, especially as it relates to instruction and/or swimming
• Valid Water Safety Instruction Certification (or the ability to secure such certification prior to the start of the program)
• Lifeguard certification

Preferred Skills/Qualifications

• Experience working with wide range of age bands and aquatic proficiencies, with preference given to candidates who have worked with children age 6 to 10 and/or individuals with water trauma
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish

Compensation

During the planning periods, October 1, 2024-June 16, 2025, and August 2, 2025-September 30, 2025, the position is paid at the hourly rate of $38.1924.  From June 16-August 2, 2025, this seven-week period is salaried at $10,694, based on the same hourly rate and a 40-hour work week.

How to Apply

Please fill out our online application which will include uploading a current copy of your resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with interviews beginning in mid-November. Final candidates will be subject to a reference check.

Background Check Requirements

All offers of employment to employees 18 or over are contingent on the successful completion of the background checks described below:

• Fingerprinting (FBI) (MD & DC)
• MD Criminal Database Background Check (MD)
• Maryland Child Protective Services Clearance (MD)
• DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Child Protection Registry (CPR) (DC)
• Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Criminal Background Check (DC)
• National Sex Offender Registry (DC)

All offers of employment at Horizons Greater Washington are contingent upon clear results of the above suitability checks. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates immediately after acceptance of employment offer and on all employees who are promoted, as deemed necessary.

COVID-19

Horizons Greater Washington is committed to providing and maintaining a workplace that is free of known hazards.  As such, we strongly encourage our employees to receive the latest COVID vaccination to minimize the risk of infectious disease in our workplace.

Environmental and Physical Conditions

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of up to 20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee frequently is required to be in the water for long periods of time, safely walk on wet deck surfaces, and reach with hands and arms. The employee may be exposed to a variety of environmental elements, including dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, loud noise, pool chemicals, and other irritants. The employee interacts in close spaces and frequently with children and other staff. The employee must have visual, auditory, and physical ability to respond quickly to critical incidents involving students and act in an emergency situation. Work is performed in a school environment with artificial light and air, with occasional trips off-site to parks, museums, etc.

Horizons Greater Washington is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, matriculation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, homeless status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.