Swim Instructor

Job DetailsJob Location: NYC Area - NYPosition Type: Part TimeSalary Range: $23.00 - $25.00 HourlyJob Category: Entry LevelAbout Asphalt Green 

Asphalt Green is a nonprofit organization that transforms lives and builds community through sports, fitness, and play for all. 

Each year, Asphalt Green serves thousands of New Yorkers through sports, aquatics, fitness, camps, and community programs that promote health, personal growth, and lifelong participation in physical activity. Across three campuses and numerous community partnerships, Asphalt Green is committed to providing high-quality programs that are inclusive, accessible, and rooted in excellence. 

Asphalt Green believes that access to movement, sport, and wellness can change lives. Our work helps young people develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills, and healthy habits that extend far beyond the playing field. 

Current Program Locations 

This role may support swim instruction at one or more Asphalt Green community partner locations, including:

George Washington High School - Washington Heights, NY 

Lehman College - Bronx, NY  

BronxWorks - Bronx, NY  

College of Staten Island - Staten Island, NY 

Asphalt Green Upper East Side – New York, NY 

Asphalt Green River East – New York, NY 

About the Role 

Asphalt Green is seeking enthusiastic, reliable, and safety-focused Swim Instructors to support swim programming at community partner sites in the NYC area. 

Swim Instructors help children build confidence in the water, develop swimming skills, learn water safety, and experience the joy of movement in a safe and supportive environment. 

Selected candidates will begin paid training during the summer to prepare for fall programming. Training may include shadowing experienced swim instructors, hands-on instructor training, learning Asphalt Green’s swim curriculum and teaching methodology, and preparing to lead classes independently when the fall season begins. 

All instructors are trained in Asphalt Green’s curriculum and teaching approach. Asphalt Green offers competitive pay, flexible schedules, free health club membership, mentorship, and opportunities for advancement within the Aquatics Department. 

Why This Role Matters 

Swimming is an essential life skill. Strong swim instruction helps participants build confidence, improve safety, and develop a lifelong comfort in and around the water. 

As a Swim Instructor, you will help create a positive, encouraging, and safe learning environment for children of different ages and skill levels. Your work directly supports Asphalt Green’s mission to increase access to high-quality sports, fitness, and play opportunities for all. 

What You’ll Do 

Swim Instruction and Participant Support

Teach swim lessons to children of varying ages and skill levels. 

Help participants build confidence, water safety awareness, and swimming ability. 

Follow Asphalt Green’s swim curriculum, lesson plans, and teaching methodology. 

Create a safe, positive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment. 

Adjust instruction to support different comfort levels, abilities, and learning needs. 

Encourage participation, effort, skill development, and a positive relationship with the water. 

Safety and Program Quality

Maintain safety standards at all times during swim lessons and program activities. 

Follow all Aquatics Department procedures, pool rules, and supervision expectations. 

Monitor participants closely and respond appropriately to safety concerns. 

Communicate concerns, incidents, participant needs, or program updates to supervisors. 

Support a clean, organized, and professional pool environment. 

Communication and Teamwork

Communicate professionally with supervisors, families, participants, and fellow instructors. 

Work collaboratively with Aquatics staff and site team members. 

Arrive on time and prepared for assigned shifts, trainings, and classes. 

Participate in training, coaching, feedback, and staff development opportunities. 

Represent Asphalt Green in a positive and professional manner at community partner sites. 

Training 

Selected candidates will begin paid training in preparation for programming. 

Training may include:

Shadowing experienced swim instructors. 

Participating in hands-on instructor training. 

Learning Asphalt Green’s teaching methods and swim curriculum. 

Practicing lesson delivery, class management, and safety procedures. 

Preparing to lead swim classes independently when the fall season begins. 

What Success Looks Like 

Success in this role means participants feel safe, supported, encouraged, and excited to learn. 

A successful Swim Instructor will:

Teach lessons that are safe, engaging, and aligned with Asphalt Green’s curriculum. 

Build positive relationships with children, families, supervisors, and team members. 

Help participants gain confidence, improve swimming skills, and understand water safety. 

Arrive on time, prepared, and ready to support assigned classes. 

Communicate clearly and professionally. 

Respond well to training, feedback, and coaching. 

Contribute to a positive, fun, and high-quality Aquatics environment. 

Represent Asphalt Green’s mission and values at community partner sites. 

Who You’ll Work With

Swim Instructors work closely with Aquatics leadership, swim instructors, program staff, participants, families, and community partner site staff. 

This role may also interact with school staff, community organization staff, and other Asphalt Green team members involved in program delivery. QualificationsRequired Qualifications 

All offers of employment with Asphalt Green's Wave Makers NYC programs are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and clearance from the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS). 

You’ll need:

Swimming skills.  

Ability to work with children in a safe, positive, and encouraging way. 

Positive attitude and willingness to learn. 

Reliability, punctuality, and professionalism. 

Ability to follow curriculum, safety procedures, and supervisor direction. 

Ability to communicate clearly with supervisors, families, participants, and team members. 

Comfort working in a pool environment. 

Ability to participate in paid summer training before fall programming begins. 

Ability to perform the physical requirements of the role with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Preferred Qualifications

It would be helpful if you also have:

Previous swim instruction, swim coaching, lifeguarding, or competitive swimming experience. 

CPR/AED and First Aid certifications. 

Lifeguard certification or Water Safety Instructor certification. 

Experience working with children of different ages, skill levels, and comfort levels in the water. 

I am interested in sports, fitness, aquatics, youth development, community programs, or nonprofit work. 

Bilingual or multilingual language skills. 

Schedule and Work Environment 

This is a part-time, in-person role supporting swim programming at Asphalt Green community partner sites. 

Selected candidates will begin paid training to prepare for programming. Schedules will be based on program needs, site schedules, and instructor availability. 

This role may require travel to community partner sites throughout the New York City area. Location assignments may vary based on program needs and availability. 

The work environment includes indoor pool settings, locker room areas, community partner sites, and other program spaces. Swim Instructors should be comfortable working in and around water and supporting children in a pool environment. 

Physical Requirements 

This role may require the ability to:

Stand, walk, bend, reach, kneel, and move throughout pool and program areas. 

Demonstrate swimming skills and swim techniques. 

Support participants in the water as needed. 

Communicate clearly in a loud or active pool environment. 

Remain alert and attentive during swim lessons and program activities. 

Lift, carry, move, or organize light pool equipment and instructional materials. 

Work in a warm, humid, and wet pool environment. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.