Lifeguard

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We are seeking a Lifeguard to join our team at Hiwa, the university’s state-of-the-art Recreation Centre located right in the heart of Auckland on Symonds Street.

This is much more than a typical pool role as you will be working at a vibrant hub for sport and wellbeing that serves as the social heartbeat for our students and the wider community. Our Aquatic Hall is a world-class facility featuring a versatile stainless-steel pool, dive wells with springboards, and premium recovery spaces like our spa and sauna.

As a lifeguard in this engaging environment, you will be responsible for the safety of a diverse range of patrons while enjoying the buzz of a central city campus. If you have a background with the university or simply thrive in an active and social setting, this is a brilliant chance to develop your professional skills in a facility that represents the very best in modern recreation design.

The main responsibilities of this role include:

• General lifeguard duties, including pool supervision
• Providing exceptional customer service
• Pool water testing and monitoring
• Ensuring pool safety and H&S standards are met

This is a permanent full-time position  (37.5 hours per week). The salary range is $55,634 to $60,000 per annum ($28.53 to $30.70 per hour). The final offer will be negotiable depending on your skills and experience.

The set shifts for this role are:

• Tuesday to Thursday: 5:30am - 1:30pm
• Friday: 1:15pm - 9:30pm
• Saturday: 10:30am - 6:30pm

A full description of your duties and the role are provided in the position description linked HERE.

He kōrero mōu | About You

Our ideal candidate is not just a confident swimmer, but a proactive, responsible, and approachable professional. We are looking for individuals with a genuine interest for public safety, strong customer service skills, and a dedication to creating a safe, positive, and genuinely inclusive environment for all university community members.

This is a dynamic, high-visibility role where your self-awareness and attention to detail are key to protecting our patrons.

Training & Qualifications:

• While holding a current lifeguard qualification is highly desirable, it is not essential we provide full, comprehensive training for the right candidate.
• A Pool Lifeguard Practising Certificate and/or a First Aid Certificate would be a definite bonus and highly advantageous.

E rapua ana mātou | We are seeking:

• Experience working as a lifeguard is ideal, or demonstrable success in any other fast-paced, customer-focused role.
• Outstanding customer service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage positively with a diverse range of people.
• Strong communication skills with an eye for detail regarding health and safety procedures and compliance.
• Highly confident swimming skills and the physical fitness required for effective pool supervision and rescue.
• The ability to be fully reliable, punctual, and available for the rostered shifts.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university, guided by a commitment to excellence and service to our communities. With more than 6,000 academic and professional staff, we support a diverse community of over 47,000 students.

Guided by our values, we work collaboratively to advance knowledge, foster equity and inclusion, and contribute meaningfully to New Zealand’s social, cultural, and economic well-being.

We cultivate an environment that supports your growth and rewards excellence with a range of staff benefits, including:

• Competitive salary and five weeks of annual leave
• Discounted public Transport for permanent and long-term fixed term staff
• Superannuation/KiwiSaver, matching up to 6.75%
• Flexible working arrangements, including working from home and flexible hours
• Leading, and inclusive parental leave provisions
• Career development opportunities and a range of benefits, including discounted insurance, memberships, and on‑site amenities

Additional Information

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Please submit your application online by the closing date of Sunday 18th October 2026. Your application should include:

• A brief Cover Letter explaining why you're interested in this role and how your skills match the requirements.
• Your updated CV.

Please note that we do not accept email applications.

For a confidential discussion, you are welcome to contact Emily Spurgeon, Aquatic Team Leader at [email protected]

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz