Water Exercise Instructor

Job Details: Job Location: Upper East Side - New York, NY, Position Type: Part Time, Salary Range: $53.00Hourly, Job Shift: Any, Job Category: Nonprofit, About Asphalt Green 

Asphalt Green is a nonprofit organization that transforms lives and builds community through sports, fitness, and play for all. Across our sports, aquatics, fitness, camps, and community programs, our staff help New Yorkers of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities access high-quality movement, wellness, and community-centered programming. 

About the Role 

Asphalt Green is actively seeking enthusiastic, engaging, and certified Water Exercise Instructors to lead a variety of water exercise classes at our Battery Park City campus. Opportunities are available on both weekdays and weekends. 

Water Exercise Instructors are responsible for creating safe, effective, welcoming, and energizing class experiences for participants of varying fitness levels and abilities. This role leads classes such as Hydro Fit, Warm Water Exercise, Deep Water Running, and other aquatic fitness formats. Instructors use movement, coaching, encouragement, aquatic equipment, and clear cueing to help participants feel supported, challenged, and successful in the water. 

This is a part-time role with weekday and weekend opportunities available. 

Why This Role Matters 

Water exercise classes support the health, mobility, strength, endurance, and confidence of Asphalt Green participants. These classes create accessible fitness opportunities for community members who may be looking for low-impact movement, aquatic conditioning, rehabilitation-friendly exercise, or a supportive group fitness environment. 

The Water Exercise Instructor plays an important role in participant experience and retention by creating classes that are safe, inclusive, engaging, and responsive to participant needs. Strong instructors help build community, encourage consistency, and make aquatic fitness feel welcoming for people across ages, backgrounds, and ability levels. 

What You’ll Do 

Lead Safe and Engaging Water Exercise Classes

Teach aquatic fitness classes, including Hydro Fit, Warm Water Exercise, Deep Water Running, and other water exercise formats. 

Plan and lead classes that are safe, effective, engaging, and appropriate for the participants in the class. 

Demonstrate exercises and movements clearly, safely, and effectively. 

Use a microphone while teaching to ensure participants can hear instructions, cues, and coaching throughout class. 

Maintain awareness of class flow, participant safety, pool environment, and overall participant experience. 

Coach Participants with Clarity and Encouragement 

Quickly identify and correct movement concerns using concise and effective coaching cues. 

Offer ongoing feedback, encouragement, and support to participants. 

Use a positive coaching style that builds confidence and helps participants feel successful. 

Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for participants of all fitness levels. 

Provide clear instruction, movement cues, modifications, and progressions during class. 

Use Aquatic Equipment Effectively 

Set up and break down class equipment as needed. 

Assist with lifting, moving, organizing, and storing class equipment. 

Ensure equipment is used safely and appropriately during class. 

Incorporate aquatic equipment such as aqua dumbbells, barbells, noodles, and other training tools into class programming. 

Support Participant Experience and Class Retention 

Create a class environment where participants feel welcomed, respected, and motivated to return. 

Support a strong group fitness experience by balancing energy, safety, instruction, and individual attention. 

Communicate with participants in a clear, respectful, and supportive manner. 

Build positive relationships with participants through empathy, encouragement, consistency, and professionalism. 

Maintain Professional Standards 

Follow Asphalt Green policies, safety expectations, and facility procedures. 

Maintain current required certifications. 

Communicate class needs, concerns, equipment issues, or participant-related matters to the appropriate supervisor. 

Arrive prepared and on time for scheduled classes. 

What Success Looks Like 

Success in this role means participants feel safe, welcomed, supported, and motivated during water exercise classes. Classes are organized, energetic, and appropriate for the fitness levels of the participants. The instructor demonstrates strong coaching, clear communication, safe movement instruction, and positive participant engagement. 

A successful Water Exercise Instructor helps strengthen participant confidence, encourages repeat attendance, supports class retention, and contributes to a positive Aquatics and Fitness experience at Asphalt Green. 

Who You’ll Work With 

In this role, you will work closely with Asphalt Green’s Aquatics and Fitness teams at the Battery Park City campus. You will collaborate with aquatics supervisors, fitness leadership, lifeguards, pool operations staff, front desk/member services team members, and other instructors to support a safe, welcoming, and well-organized class experience. 

You will also work directly with participants of varying ages, fitness levels, and abilities, helping them feel comfortable, encouraged, and supported in the water. 

Benefits and Perks 

Asphalt Green offers benefits and perks that support our employees inside and outside of work. 

For Full-Time Eligible Employees

Complimentary Asphalt Green membership. 

Medical, dental, and vision benefits. 

Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time. 

Hybrid work eligibility for eligible roles. 

Voluntary insurance options, including short and long-term disability, critical accident, and life insurance. 

Plum Benefits discount program. 

Commuter benefits and parking discounts at UES and BPC. 

401(k). 

Medical FSA and Dependent Care FSA options. 

Benefits may vary based on employment status, schedule, and eligibility. 

Growth at Asphalt Green 

At Asphalt Green, employees have the opportunity to build skills, gain hands-on experience, and grow within a mission-driven organization. 

This role offers the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with participants, strengthen aquatic fitness instruction skills, and contribute to a mission-driven organization focused on health, wellness, recreation, and community impact. 

Water Exercise Instructors help make fitness more accessible and welcoming for participants who benefit from low-impact, supportive, and community-centered movement. 

Hiring Process 

After applying, qualified candidates may be invited to participate in a phone screen, one or more interviews with the hiring team, and a final conversation with senior leadership. The process may include a discussion of leadership approach, youth development experience, team management experience, and program strategy. 

The hiring process may vary by department and position. 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Asphalt Green is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace and welcoming people of different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, identities, and abilities. 

We encourage qualified candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every preferred qualification listed. 
Qualifications: Required Qualifications 

You’ll need:

Current Water Exercise Certification. 

Current CPR/AED Certification. 

Experience teaching water exercise classes in a group fitness setting. 

Strong movement, coaching, and cueing skills. 

Ability to demonstrate exercises safely and clearly. 

Ability to identify and correct movement concerns using concise and effective cues. 

Comfort using a microphone while teaching. 

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 

Ability to create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive class environment. 

Ability to assist with setup, breakdown, lifting, and movement of class equipment. 

Authorization to work in the United States. 

Preferred Qualifications 

It would be helpful if you also have: 

Prior experience teaching aquatic group fitness classes. 

Experience leading classes for participants of varying ages, fitness levels, and abilities. 

Experience using aquatic fitness equipment such as aqua dumbbells, barbells, noodles, and other training tools. 

Experience supporting older adults, beginners, rehabilitation-friendly movement, or low-impact fitness participants. 

Additional group fitness, aquatics, wellness, or movement-related certifications. 

Schedule and Work Environment 

This is a part-time role based at Asphalt Green’s Battery Park City campus in New York, NY. Weekday and weekend opportunities are available. 

This role is performed in an indoor aquatics environment and requires active instruction in and around the pool area. The instructor may be exposed to pool water, humidity, noise, and active class environments. 

Physical Requirements 

This role requires the ability to demonstrate movement, stand, walk, bend, reach, lift, carry, and move class equipment as needed. The instructor must be able to work safely in and around the pool area and support the setup and breakdown of aquatic fitness equipment. 

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