Position Title:Aquatics Coordinator
Job Group:Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree
Job Description:
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Interested in working in university recreation while focusing your career on aquatics?
If so, Recreation Services with Iowa State University is seeking applicants for an Aquatics Coordinator position! This position will be classified as a Recreation Services Specialist I.
What You’ll Do:
+ Recruit, hire, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate student employees, including lifeguards, swim instructors, and aquatic leadership staff.
+ Coordinate lifeguard certification, recertification, and ongoing staff training to maintain safety and operational standards.
+ Oversee swim lesson programs and aquatic education courses for youth and adult participants.
+ Manage daily operations of aquatic facilities, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant service delivery.
+ Monitor facility maintenance needs, regulatory compliance requirements, and aquatic equipment inventories.
+ Implement and enforce aquatic policies, procedures, and risk management practices.
+ Coordinate emergency preparedness, safety training, incident review, and facility inspections.
+ Evaluate aquatic programs and services, analyze operational data, and recommend improvements; which could include new programming.
+ Promote aquatic programs through marketing, outreach, partnerships, and special events.
+ Assist with budget management, financial forecasting, purchasing, and expense tracking.
+ Collaborate with campus and community partners to support departmental initiatives and participant engagement.
+ Provide operational support for departmental projects, events, and other assigned responsibilities.
Occasional work outside of standard business hours may be required.
Preferred Qualifications:
+ Bachelor’s degree or above in Recreation and Sport Management, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, or a related field.
+ Experience working in an aquatics environment, preferably in collegiate recreation, municipal recreation, or a similar setting.
+ Certification as a Lifeguard, Lifeguard Instructor, and/or Water Safety Instructor.
+ Experience mentoring, training, or supervising employees, preferably student employees.
+ Experience with recreation management and scheduling software, such as Fusion, Connect2, WhenToWork, or Workday.
About Recreation Services:
Recreation Services offers the freedom of individuality through a wide range of programs, activities, and facilities. Recreation Services strives to make everyone feel right at home, whether a first-timer or a regular user. To learn more, please visit Recreation Services (http://cyclonehealth.iastate.edu/recreation-services) .
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Application Instructions:To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Letter of Application/Cover Letter
Why Choose Iowa State University?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:
+ Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
+ Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
+ Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
+ Life insurance and long-term disability
+ Flexible Spending Accounts
+ Various voluntary benefits and discounts
+ Employee Assistance Program
+ Wellbeing program
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:PS806
Original Posting Date: July 27, 2026
Posting Close Date:August 9, 2026
Job Requisition Number:R19665
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.
Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub (https://www.myworkday.com/isu/d/task/2998$46522.htmld?reloadToken=892f884ef9c2fa7e5e6257ecf4e9e942f7aa1a12df75918c6ce41bc78e123167) .
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive?land-grant?mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university’s Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.