Lead Lifeguard | West Wave in Bishop Auckland

Fixed term full-time opportunity ending 29 May 2026. Lead, coach, and inspire teams delivering outstanding community experiences at West Wave, Henderson. Auckland Council’s Pools and Leisure Department has an opportunity for a Lead within the Pools and Leisure team, based at West Wave in Henderson. As a functional expert, you’ll support the Team Leader by providing day-to-day leadership, mentoring, and technical expertise to ensure programmes, services, and customer experiences are delivered to a high standard while fostering a fun, inclusive, and welcoming environment for customers and staff.

Day-to-day you could expect to work on:

• Leading shifts, programmes, or activities and acting as the first escalation point for customer issues
• Coaching, mentoring, and supporting team members
• Delivering high-quality programmes, services, or lessons in your specialist area
• Supporting recruitment, induction, and training of new team members
• Responding to incidents and emergencies, including First Aid situations

Please note, we have two shift patterns:

• Early Lead Shift: Tuesday 5:05am – 1:35pm, Wednesday 5:05am – 1:35pm, Thursday 5:05am – 1:35pm, Friday 5:05am – 1:35pm, Saturday 5:30am - 2:00pm
• Late Lead Shift: Sunday 11:00am – 7:30pm, Monday 1:30pm – 10:00pm, Tuesday 1:30pm – 10:00pm, Wednesday 1:30pm – 10:00pm, Thursday 1:30pm – 10:00pm

About you: This role requires experience in similar sport, recreation, aquatics, or customer-focused roles, with a strong understanding of customer service and team leadership in a community setting.

• Providing day-to-day leadership or supervision
• Delivering programmes or services in a pools, leisure, or recreation environment
• Coaching, mentoring, or training others
• Managing customer issues in a calm and professional manner

We are looking for:

• At least 2 years’ experience in a relevant functional area
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Cultural competence and a willingness to engage with Te Ao Māori and tikanga
• Confidence using technology and digital tools
• Mandatory role-specific qualifications (e.g. First Aid, PLPC, AUSTSWIM, or relevant sector qualification – training supported by Auckland Council)

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer: Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving over 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class city. We offer a range of employee benefits and flexible working options where possible. You’ll have access to benefits, EAP services, an Oranga Day, and a range of other partnership discounts.

We are a diverse organisation – we value diversity and inclusion. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement listed. Transferable skills from outside work are welcome, and we recognise the value of diverse experiences.

Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini - My success is not mine alone, but the success of many.

Applications close: Monday 9 February 2026

Pay rate: $30 per hour (Our employer KiwiSaver contribution is in addition to the base salary offered.)

Safety and compliance: Safety Sensitive: This role is safety sensitive and requires pre-employment drug & alcohol testing. Police Vetting: This role is classified as a Children’s Worker under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014. Applicants will undergo police vetting prior to commencing employment. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory police check. Qualifications checks: Required as stated in the PD (e.g., PLPC, water treatment qualification).

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and supports diversity and inclusion. If you have support or access requirements, please advise at the time of application.