Assistant Director of Competitive Swimming | YMCA of the Triangle

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting to theAssociationDirector of Competitive Swimming, the Assistant Director of Competitive Swimming helps translate department strategy into consistent day-to-day execution across teams, coaches, and locations. The position leads the performance pathway from theAge Group Selectlevel through National Team readinessandis responsible forcoaching the National Swim Team day-to-day. This position directly supervises designatedAge Group Selectand higher-level coaches and provides collaborative, dotted-line leadership to theHead Age Group Coachto align coaching standards, athlete development, and program operations across the competitive swimming department. The role combines department leadership, coaching leadership, athlete evaluation, family engagement, performance tracking, financial planning, roster management, and recruitment. In partnership with the Senior Director, this position helps set priorities, strengthen accountability, address department-wide needs, andmaintainone connected athlete pathway. Success is measured by coach alignment, swimmer development and retention, progression toward the National Team, full and sustainable rosters, and a high-quality YMCA experience for athletes and families. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Department Leadership Directly supervises, coaches, and evaluates assignedAge Group Selectand higher-level full-time and part-time coaches, establishingclear expectations for performance, communication, athlete care, and accountability while reinforcing department-wide standards.Provides collaborative, dotted-line leadership to theHead Age Group Coachand works alongside that position to develop, document, implement, andmaintaina consistent training philosophy across the competitive swimming department.Aligns season plans, practice standards, progression criteria, terminology, testing protocols, and coach education across programlevelsso swimmers receive a connected experience across teams and sites.Leads regular coach meetings, practice observations, feedback sessions, and professional-development conversations; addresses performance concerns, recognizes strong work, and elevates department-wide needs to theAssociationDirector.Supports department-wide coach recruitment, selection, onboarding, scheduling, coverage, development, and succession planning in partnership with theAssociationDirector andHead Age Group Coach. Athlete Development Creates andmaintainsa program-wide evaluationprocess, so every swimmer is regularly assessed against age-appropriate technical, physical, competitive, behavioral, and attendance standards.Works with each swimmers primary coach toestablishand update an individualized training and development plan thatidentifiesstrengths, priority growth areas, goals, milestones, and recommended next steps.Useslong-term athlete development principles to strengthen the full athlete pathway, including the skills, habits, training capacity, commitment, and character expected at each stage and of a National Team swimmer.Coordinates swimmer transitions between groups and sites in collaboration with theHead Age Group Coachandotherappropriate coaches, providing leadership to ensure placement decisions are consistent, timely, and clearly communicated. Data Management Tracks swimmer results, participation, attendance, goal progress, progression indicators, roster movement, and other agreed-upon department performance measures.Reviews meet and practice data with coaches and department leaders toidentifytrends, adjust development plans, and strengthen training effectiveness across the program.Maintainsaccurate, accessible athlete-development records and provides regularprogresssummaries, risks, and recommended actions to theAssociationDirector and competitive swimming leadership.Usesdata toidentifyswimmers who may needadditionalsupport, a revised plan, or an accelerated development opportunity. Family & Athlete Partnership Conducts individual and group meetings with swimmers, families, and coaches to explain the full athlete pathway and what isrequiredto progress toward the Silver and National Team levels.Communicates withclear expectations related to training, meet participation, attendance, performance standards, recovery, behavior, and family partnership.Provides honest, development-centered feedback while ensuring families understand current placement, progress, opportunities, and next steps.Builds trusted relationships and ensures questions or concerns are addressed ina timely, consistent, and mission-aligned manner, coordinating with department leaders when issues cross teams or sites. Program Growth & Retention Provides leadership for full, appropriately balanced rosters across the department, with direct accountability for assigned teams and shared oversight of capacity, enrollment, retention, movement, waitlists, and projected openings across program levels.Develops and helps lead department-wide recruiting strategies within YMCA swim lessons, summer and recreational swim leagues, other YMCA programs, and external community or competitive swimming pipelines.Buildrelationships with swimmers, families, coaches, league leaders, schools, and community partners to strengthen awareness of the YOTA athlete pathway.Partners with coaches and department leaders on evaluations, trial experiences, outreach events, and follow-up that convert qualified prospects into enrolled swimmers and strengthen theathletepipeline.Identifiesdepartment-wide retention risks and works with coaches, leaders, swimmers, and families toimprove engagement, belonging, satisfaction, and continuity. Program Operations In collaboration with theAssociationDirector of Competitive Swimming, leads in the creation of the annual competitive swimming budget, including enrollment assumptions, program revenue, staffing, meet costs, equipment, travel, and other operating needs.Monitors department performance against budget and roster targets; provides forecasts, identifiesvariances and emerging risks, and recommendstimelyactions to theAssociationDirector to improve financial and program health.Coordinates with department leaders on scheduling, facility needs, registration, communications, reporting, and administrative systemsrequiredfor consistent program delivery across teams and sites.Prepares andsubmitsrequired information for assigned meets and provides department leadership for hosted or travel meets, including staffing, coverage, communication, and operational plans. Safety & Compliance Ensure practices, meets, travel, and team activities across the departmentcomply withYMCA policies, child-protection standards, Safe Sport requirements, and applicable USA Swimming and ASCA standards and codes of ethics.Responds to concerns promptly, coordinateappropriate follow-up, and ensures issues are documented and resolvedin accordance withestablished policies and procedures.Completion of all required annualtrainingrelated to safety, compliance, and child protection as assigned. YMCA Engagement Builds strong, collaborative relationships with athletes, families, volunteers, branch leaders, aquatics directors, YMCA administration, community partners, and governing organizations.Represents the competitive swimming department as a YMCA leader and promotes a culture grounded in the YMCAs mission, values, and commitment to youth development.In collaboration with theAssociationDirector of Competitive Swimming, partners with the Philanthropy Department to drive fundraising efforts, including leadership of the Annual Campaign, cultivation and stewardship of donor relationships, volunteer engagement, and oversight of department philanthropic initiatives.Perform all other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelors degree in related field preferred.Minimum of fouryears of progressively responsible competitive swimmingcoachingor program leadershipexperience, including supervision ofstaff, program oversight, and athlete development.ASCA level4swimming coach certificationspreferredor equivalent and other YMCA/USA swimming certifications.Mustmaintainrequired certifications, including CPR, First Aid, Coaches Safety Training, Lifeguard training, and other trainings as assigned.Demonstrated passion for building community and fostering meaningful relationships with swimmers, families, coaches, volunteers, and community partners.Experience with roster management, athlete growth & retention, budget management, and multi-site program coordination highly preferred.Demonstrated ability toleadprogram delivery, coaching standards, and staff development in a collaborative, team-based environment.Strong communicationskills, including written, verbal, and public-facing interactions.Demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced program environment.Builds inclusive, mission-driven relationships with youth, families, staff, volunteers, and community members from diverse backgrounds.Bilingual or multilingual skillspreferredbutnotrequired. WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Primarily office and program settings with frequent interactionon pool deckswithin aquatics facilities and community settings.Moderate noiselevels; may be louder during youth or community activities.Regular use ofcomputer, phone, and other office technology.Frequent standing, walking, bending, and reaching; occasional lifting or moving up to 40lbsSome work performed outdoors in varying weather conditions.Flexible schedulerequiredtoinclude early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional travel between branches or sites.Must be able to provide valid identification for employment eligibility verification.Mustpossessa valid drivers license and have access to reliable transportation.A clean driving record isrequiredto meet YMCA insurance standards.Travel between branch and/or site locations, and to off-site meetings and events isrequired.Mustresidein the YMCA of the Triangle service area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and surrounding areas).This position is 100% in person, with the flexibility to work at various branches and program locations across the YMCA of the Triangle as needed.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Salary & Benefits This is a full-time exempt position with a salary starting at $60, 000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. The YMCA of the Triangle offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; an annual YMCA membership; and participation in the YMCA Retirement Fund, including a 12% employer contribution once eligibility requirements are met.