Learning Development Lead - Pool Operations

Location: Northville

Job Title: Learning Development Lead - Pool Operations
Reports to: Director of Pool Operations
Location: Travel Required (Multi-location, up to 75%)
FLSA Status: Full Time, Exempt
Summary: We are seeking a passionate and experienced Learning & Development Lead to oversee and elevate the training of swim instructors and aquatic staff across our network of franchise locations. This role plays a vital part in ensuring our teaching standards, safety practices, and customer service excellence are consistent and compliant with our brand. The Learning & Development Lead will also be responsible for onboarding and developing Assistant General Managers (AGMs) who are specialized in the aquatics side of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Training & Development
• Design and deliver hands-on, poolside training workshops for new and existing swim instructors.
• Support the development and rollout of instructional materials, training manuals, and best practices for aquatic instruction.
• Facilitate onboarding and continuous learning for new AGMs specializing in aquatics, ensuring they meet leadership and instructional benchmarks.
• Mentor AGMs to become high-performing leaders and trainers within their respective schools.
• Evaluation & Compliance
• Conduct regular on-site visits to franchise locations to observe lessons, provide feedback, and coach instructors.
• Evaluate instructor performance using standard rubrics and provide actionable development plans.
• Ensure franchisee operations are in compliance with brand standards, safety policies, and instructional protocols.
• Partner with local leadership to identify performance gaps and develop strategic training responses.
• Workshops & Professional Development
• Host regional or national aquatic-focused workshops and seminars to advance instructor skills and engagement.
• Stay current with industry standards and integrate best practices into training content.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth among aquatic teams.
• Collaboration & Leadership
• Work cross-functionally with operations, safety, and franchise support teams to ensure cohesive training efforts.
• Serve as a brand ambassador and training liaison to franchise owners and their teams.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of training strategies and long-term learning initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in swim instruction, aquatics programming, or a related leadership/training role.
• Proven experience training, coaching, or mentoring instructors or operational leaders.
• Excellent understanding of swim school operations, safety compliance, and customer service principles.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Ability to travel frequently to franchise locations (including overnights and weekends as needed).
• Lifeguard, CPR, and relevant aquatic instructor certifications (e.g., WSI, STA, Swim England) are preferred.
• Experience in franchising or multi-site operations is a plus.

Success in This Role Looks Like:

• Elevated instructor performance and customer satisfaction scores.
• Strong, capable AGMs leading high-quality aquatic programs.
• Franchise locations consistently meet brand and instructional standards.
• A proactive, energized training culture that drives excellence across the network.

Work Location: On the road

Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Each Goldfish Swim School is an independently owned and operated franchise. The respective Franchisee is the employer at each Goldfish Swim School location. Each franchisee can set their own wages, benefit programs and terms and conditions of employment, which may vary at each Goldfish Swim School location.