Aquatics and safety coordinator - recsports - utk

Reporting to the Assistant Director, this position manages all aspects of the Aquatics program, department-wide safety practices/protocols, and oversees the Student Aquatic Center staff and assists in managing departmental risk management protocols/plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides direction, training, oversight, and scheduling the Student Aquatic Center staff.
• Plan, schedule and document all employee lifeguard training.
• Plan, schedule, and document programs that include Learn-to-Swim, Lifeguarding, CPR, and Water Safety Instructor.
• Ensure department, university and local policies and standards are met for aquatic environments.
• Design, implement and evaluate all RecSports Department safety plans.
• Oversee all special events and swim meets scheduled at the Student Aquatic Center.
• Maintain the stock of first-aid supply for the department.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree

Experience: Direct/Relevant experience working with students or student groups in a university campus recreation program or 2 years’ experience working in related recreation program (i.e., Parks & Rec)

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to work with diverse constituencies, prioritize multiple work responsibilities in time-sensitive situations, work with limited supervision, supervise, delegate work to student staff, exercise good judgement, handle different situations with confidence and leadership, and be flexible
• Knowledge of teaching and programming for swimming pools, PC and Mac operating systems, and Microsoft office suite
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, customer service skills, and interpersonal skills.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master’s Degree

Experience: Experience supervising student employees; Presentation and team building facilitation experience; Membership and participation in the NIRSA leaders in collegiate recreation.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of the role of trends and best practices in aquatic programming and event management.

Work Location

Location: Student Aquatic Center 102B

Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR 08
• Anticipated hiring range: $48,000-$50,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before October 9, 2026.

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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