Assistant Director of Competitive Swimming

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Reporting to the Association Director 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 the Age Group Select level through National Team readiness and is responsible for coaching the National Swim Team day-to-day. This position directly supervises designated Age Group Select and higher-level coaches and provides collaborative, dotted-line leadership to the Head Age Group Coach to 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, and maintain one 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 assigned Age Group Select and higher-level full-time and part-time coaches, establishing clear expectations for performance, communication, athlete care, and accountability while reinforcing department-wide standards. 
• Provides collaborative, dotted-line leadership to the Head Age Group Coach and works alongside that position to develop, document, implement, and maintain a consistent training philosophy across the competitive swimming department. 
• Aligns season plans, practice standards, progression criteria, terminology, testing protocols, and coach education across program levels so 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 the Association Director. 
• Supports department-wide coach recruitment, selection, onboarding, scheduling, coverage, development, and succession planning in partnership with the Association Director and Head Age Group Coach. 

Athlete Development 

• Creates and maintains a program-wide evaluation process, so every swimmer is regularly assessed against age-appropriate technical, physical, competitive, behavioral, and attendance standards. 
• Works with each swimmer’s primary coach to establish and update an individualized training and development plan that identifies strengths, priority growth areas, goals, milestones, and recommended next steps. 
• Uses long-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 the Head Age Group Coach and other appropriate 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 to identify trends, adjust development plans, and strengthen training effectiveness across the program. 
• Maintains accurate, accessible athlete-development records and provides regular progress summaries, risks, and recommended actions to the Association Director and competitive swimming leadership. 
• Uses data to identify swimmers who may need additional support, 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 is required to progress toward the Silver and National Team levels. 
• Communicates with clear 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 in a 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. 
• Build relationships 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 the athlete pipeline. 
• Identifies department-wide retention risks and works with coaches, leaders, swimmers, and families to improve engagement, belonging, satisfaction, and continuity. 

Program Operations 

• In collaboration with the Association Director 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, identifies variances and emerging risks, and recommends timely actions to the Association Director to improve financial and program health. 
• Coordinates with department leaders on scheduling, facility needs, registration, communications, reporting, and administrative systems required for consistent program delivery across teams and sites. 
• Prepares and submits required 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 department comply with YMCA policies, child-protection standards, Safe Sport requirements, and applicable USA Swimming and ASCA standards and codes of ethics. 
• Responds to concerns promptly, coordinate appropriate follow-up, and ensures issues are documented and resolved in accordance with established policies and procedures. 
• Completion of all required annual training related 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 YMCA’s mission, values, and commitment to youth development. 
• In collaboration with the Association Director 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: 

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred. 
• Minimum of four years of progressively responsible competitive swimming coaching or program leadership experience, including supervision of staff, program oversight, and athlete development. 
• ASCA level 4 swimming coach certifications preferred or equivalent and other YMCA/USA swimming certifications. 
• Must maintain required 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 to lead program delivery, coaching standards, and staff development in a collaborative, team-based environment. 
• Strong communication skills, 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 skills preferred but not required. 

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 interaction on pool decks within aquatics facilities and community settings. 
• Moderate noise levels; may be louder during youth or community activities. 
• Regular use of computer, phone, and other office technology. 
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and reaching; occasional lifting or moving up to 40 lbs 
• Some work performed outdoors in varying weather conditions. 
• Flexible schedule required to include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional travel between branches or sites. 
• Must be able to provide valid identification for employment eligibility verification.  
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have access to reliable transportation.  
• A clean driving record is required to meet YMCA insurance standards.  
• Travel between branch and/or site locations, and to off-site meetings and events is required. 
• Must reside in 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.