Lead a critical community service. Build a high-performing team. Shape the future of beach safety in Lake Macquarie.
* Make your mark by shaping the future of beach safety services
* Lead a workforce of up to 40 lifeguards in peak season
* Work with purpose and deliver a service that directly impacts community safety every day
Let's explore the job
You will lead a large and diverse team of professional lifeguards, setting clear expectations, building capability, and delivering a high-performing, customer-focused service.
This is a leadership-first role focused on continuous improvement. You won't just maintain existing practices, you'll challenge, refine and elevate them.
You will also drive the development and implementation of innovative water safety strategies, ensuring patrol operations, systems and processes are effective, compliant, and continuously evolving to meet community needs.
What you'll be doing
* Leading, motivating and developing a high-performing lifeguard workforce
* Taking full ownership of service delivery, standards, and outcomes
* Driving continuous improvement and innovation, including systems and technology
* Managing rosters, workforce planning, and operational logistics
* Navigating team dynamics with confidence, empathy, and strong leadership
* Overseeing budgets, service performance, and customer outcomes
* Strengthening partnerships with emergency services and key stakeholders
* Contributing to strategic direction within the Leisure Services leadership team
* Travel and/or work across multiple sites
Let's hear about you
You're a leader who doesn't wait for direction, you set it.
You know how to take ownership of a service, lift standards, and build a team that delivers. You've led people through change, introduced better ways of working, and aren't afraid to challenge "how it's always been done."
You're confident managing people, performance, and pressure. You communicate clearly, handle strong personalities with ease, and bring a level‐headed, solutions‐focused approach to complex situations.
You care about outcomes, for your team, your service, and the community. Safety, quality, and continuous improvement aren't just buzzwords to you they are how you operate.
If you've worked in aquatic services, emergency response, or a similar operational environment, you'll bring an added edge, but most importantly, you bring leadership, drive, and the ability to make things better.
We're looking for
* Tertiary Certificate IV in Emergency Response Coordination, or equivalent experience and qualifications, in a relevant discipline such as beach and water safety management or emergency service provision
* Experienced and skilled in managing a beach patrol service, including budget preparation, monitoring of key business performance targets
* Proven ability to liaise with volunteer and stakeholder groups, and deliver training and workplace or community educational programs relating to water safety and lifeguarding activities
* Understanding of the role of Local Government in the provision of Professional Lifeguard services and the application of Water Safety Practice Note 15 (October 2017) to beach lifeguard services
* Demonstrated experience in risk management procedures in an aquatic and natural environment
* Hold a current Working with Children check for employees
* Current emergency first aid certificate
* Class C Driver's licence
Let's reveal the perks
* Competitive salary from $94,319 to $109,614 per annum + 12% superannuation
* Commencing salary set in line with skills and experience with annual reviews available to support movement through the salary range
* Annual EA July wage increases
* Weekly pay
* Optional lease back vehicle
* 35‐hour working week with 9‐day fortnight
* Be mentored and work closely with your Coordinator Leisure Services in a supportive, empowering, innovative and collaborative work environment
* Corporate fitness program and discounted gym memberships from $10 week
* Wellbeing initiatives, flu vaccinations, and Employee Assistance Program
* Active social club and team events
* Work in one of the most picturesque regions of NSW, with the natural beauty of Lake Macquarie right on your doorstep.
Choose the Lake Mac way
We know it is our people that will shape the future of our city. That's why we're passionate about providing a workplace that empowers our staff to be creative, innovative and bold. When you join the team at Lake Macquarie City Council, you're joining a group of people with a commitment to make our city even better. We're proud of our city and the work we do, and we know you will be too.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workforce. We believe that a diverse network of employees, which truly reflects the people it serves and represents, is best equipped to understand and meet the needs of our community. We welcome and encourage applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, refugees and people with disability. We understand the skills and attributes veterans can bring to our Council.
Let's start
If you're a motivated, forward‐thinking leader ready to take ownership and drive real impact, we'd love to hear from you.
Your experience throughout the application process matters to us. If you'd like feedback on your application or interview, don't hesitate to get in touch — we're here for you!
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