Lifeguard

The University of Auckland is seeking a Lifeguard to join Hiwa, the university’s state-of-the-art Recreation Centre perched in central Auckland on Symonds Street. This is a full-time, permanent role that sits in a busy hub for sport and wellbeing, perfect for someone who likes an active, social environment and wants to help keep a diverse campus community safe. The post comes with a competitive salary and a chance to grow your skills in a facility that showcases modern recreation design.

Hiwa’s Aquatic Hall is a high-calibre setting, featuring a versatile stainless-steel pool, dive wells with springboards, and premium recovery spaces like a spa and sauna. It’s more than a pool job, it's about safeguarding patrons while sharing in the energy of a central-city campus. If you enjoy public safety work and interacting with people from all backgrounds, this could be a great fit.

The role is structured around a 37.5-hour week, with a salary range of $55,634 to $60,000 per annum ($28.53 to $30.70 per hour). The final offer will be negotiable based on your skills and experience. A full description of duties is available in the position description linked here.

Be ready for the pool deck

Day-to-day, you’ll keep the pool safe through vigilant supervision while delivering friendly customer service to a broad mix of visitors. You’ll test and monitor water quality and make sure everything aligns with health and safety standards, so the space remains welcoming and secure for everyone who uses it.

Your lifeguard toolkit

• Background as a lifeguard is ideal, or proven success in another fast-paced, customer-facing role
• Strong customer service and people skills, with an ability to connect with a diverse crowd
• Clear communicator with a sharp eye for health and safety processes and compliance
• Excellent swimming ability and physical fitness suited to active supervision and rescue
• Reliability and punctuality, plus availability to cover the rostered shifts

Extras that help you stand out

• A current lifeguard qualification is helpful but not essential, as the right candidate will receive comprehensive training
• Having a Pool Lifeguard Practising Certificate and/or a First Aid Certificate would be a definite bonus

Pay and practical details

The University offers a salary between $55,634 and $60,000 per year for this permanent role, equating to about $28.53 to $30.70 per hour. The calendar includes fixed shifts: Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30am to 1:30pm, Friday from 1:15pm to 9:30pm, and Saturday from 10:30am to 6:30pm. The position sits at Hiwa on Symonds Street in Auckland, a central campus location. Benefits include five weeks of annual leave, discounted public transport for permanent and long-term fixed-term staff, and KiwiSaver/Superannuation matching up to 6.75%. There are also flexible working arrangements, including some flexibility in hours and on-site amenities, plus parental leave provisions and opportunities for career development.

Smart tips for your application

Lead your resume with a line about your availability for the set shifts (Tue–Thu 5:30am–1:30pm; Fri 1:15pm–9:30pm; Sat 10:30am–6:30pm) and any lifeguard or fast-paced, safety‑and‑service experience you’ve had.

Back up the must-have skills with concrete examples that show you’ve upheld health and safety standards and communicated clearly with a diverse group of people. If you’ve supervised water quality checks or implemented safety procedures, spell that out with a brief context and result.

In interviews, expect to discuss public-safety scenarios, how you handle safety protocols, and your approach to monitoring water quality and compliance. Be ready to describe how you’d respond to an incident while maintaining service excellence for patrons.

If you don’t yet have a current lifeguard qualification, ask about the training timeline and what support the university offers to bring you up to speed. A smart question to close with is about the expected timeframe for completing any required certifications after you’re offered the role.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted online by Sunday 18th October 2026 and must include a brief Cover Letter and your updated CV. Email applications are not accepted. For a confidential discussion, you can reach Emily Spurgeon, Aquatic Team Leader, at [email protected]. A full description of duties is available via the position description link above.