Manager, Aquatics

• A
  wonderful opportunity to grow your career in a beautiful small town, only 30 mins away from Calgary
• Receive an attractive annual salary of $120K–$125K, plus a host of great benefits
• Lead and develop a growing team at our expanding, all-inclusive aquatic facilities, fostering a culture of safety, teamwork, and exceptional service

About the Town of High River

High River provides the warmth and familiarity of a small town, featuring countless outdoor trails and parks that await your next adventure. Our downtown offers a variety of unique stores and businesses that take pride in fostering connection in our community. High River is a people-first community where families put down roots for generations. Nestled within Foothills County with the Rocky Mountains framing the view to your west, our community of 14,000 is rooted in people and promotes an environment to help you build lasting relationships.

Through the dedication and passion of our 150 employees, we deliver important services to the community. Our purpose, or why we do what we do, is because we want to make a difference in our community now and for generations to come (our 'why'). To achieve this, we inspire and respect one another, we can be counted on, we are better together, and we dare to be different (our 'how').

We've embarked on a workplace culture journey that has enhanced our commitment to people; both our employees and the community we serve. We have identified three pillars to achieve our workplace culture:
A
ccountable,
E
xcellence and
C
onnected (ACE).

For more information, please visit our website at

About the Aquatics Division

As part of our exciting expansion, we're thrilled to be well underway on the construction of a brand-new pool and aquatics facilities. As the Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in leading a passionate team. Working closely with the Manager, Recreation, as part of a larger Leisure Services team, the successful candidate will craft an all-inclusive, comfortable, and vibrant space for our community to enjoy. Aquatics is devoted to providing an essential life skill to our community–a skill that has the potential to be a true lifesaver.

This opportunity marks an exciting chapter for our town as a whole, and we invite you to be at the forefront of this remarkable journey.

About the Opportunity

The
Town of High River
is looking for a
full-time Manager, Aquatics
, based in
High River, Alberta.

Reporting to the Director, Community Services, this role is responsible for managing, planning, and overseeing the daily operations of our Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex's pools and aquatics programs. As a key leader within the Leisure Services Department, you'll mentor and develop a diverse team while ensuring the safety, efficiency, and exceptional service delivery of the Town's aquatics facilities and programs.

Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leading, coaching, and developing a team of aquatic staff including full-time, part-time, and casual employees
• Establishing and implementing service delivery models and operational standards for aquatics programs
• Overseeing the recruitment, scheduling, training, and performance management of aquatic staff
• Ensuring compliance with all safety regulations, standards, and protocols to safeguard patrons and employees
• Developing and administering operational and capital budgets, business plans, and financial reports
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with community partners, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies
• Monitoring community and industry trends to inform program planning and continuous improvement
• Supporting the reopening of the pool facilities and ensuring readiness of programs, staffing, and operations
• Championing workplace culture, teamwork, and alignment with the Town's ACE (Accountable, Connected, Excellence) values
• Providing professional advice, reports, and presentations to the Director, Council, and other stakeholders
• Promoting health and safety best practices and participating in the Town's Emergency Management Program

About You

To qualify, you will need a
post-secondary degree or diploma in Recreation, Physical Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field
. A minimum of
10 years of progressively responsible experience
in a related field, including at least
5 years in a managerial capacity
, will also be essential.

Some flexibility is required to support a 7-day operating schedule, including occasional evenings or weekends.

Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued:

• Experience managing operations within a recreation or aquatics facility
• Proven success in recruiting, developing, and leading diverse teams of full-time, part-time, and casual employees
• Strong understanding of safety standards, water safety programs, and aquatics operations
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage operational and capital budgets
• Knowledge of municipal or public-sector environments, policies, and procedures
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant software applications

As our ideal candidate, you will bring strong leadership, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills, with the ability to inspire and engage a young and dynamic team. You are adaptable, hands-on, and calm under pressure, capable of balancing the day-to-day realities of a 7-day operational environment with long-term planning and community-focused service delivery.

This is an opportunity for a practical and collaborative leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, values teamwork and accountability, and is passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and high-performing aquatics programs that serve the needs of the community.

All employees must be willing and able to pass a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.

About the Benefits

In the Town of High River, people come first. We continue to offer a positive, welcoming and healthy work environment where each employee's contributions make a difference and work/life balance is highly valued and respected.

Compensation based on skills and experience is an annual salary of
$120K–$125K
, along with a host of excellent benefits, including:

• Employer-paid medical and dental coverage
• Participation in the LAPP pension plan with contribution matching plus 1%
• 4 weeks of starting vacation, with additional paid time off earned through a flex program (work extra half an hour, earning approximately one paid day off per month)
• Personal leave days to support work-life balance
• Health Spending Account for additional wellness support
• Relocation assistance to help you settle into the community
• A supportive and collaborative team culture that values accountability, connection, and excellence

If you have the skills necessary to bring success to the role, then we invite you to apply today