Job Title: Water Park Operations Manager
Department / Division:Summer Waves / Amenities
Status:Exempt / Full-time (Year-round)
Pay:$48,000 - $56,000 (DOQ)
Reports to:Summer Waves General Manager
Benefits: Full Benefits eligible including health insurance, flex benefits, 10 paid holidays, vacation and sick leave accrual, amenities and parking pass.
Retirement: State Employee Retirement System -GSEPS (Pension plus matching 401k)
Closing date: 4:00pm January 23, 2026. This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.
To Apply: Fill out the application completely and attach your resume AND a cover letter. Incomplete applications or applications without accompanying documents when required will not be considered.
Job Summary:
Under general supervision, coordinates the daily operations of Summer Waves Water Park. Responsibilities include supervising aquatic, maintenance, and first aid staff, maintaining proper chemistry levels to maintain state codes, and administering the park’s safety programs. The Operations Manager also assists the General Manager with financial planning, implementing safety procedures and policies, and preparing and completing a project work list each offseason.
Description:
- Assist Aquatic/ Maintenance managers with day-to-day tasks.
- Works with the JIA Human Resources Dept. for personnel hiring, onboarding, training, and evaluation including annual performance reviews, time sheet review and approval, promotion plans, coaching, technical training, and support.
- Assure compliance with ethical, fiscal, and professional standards aligned with JIA requirements for all staff and departmental assets (e.g., fleet vehicles, park equipment, attractions, chemicals).
- Assist GM with financial records, planning, and report filing.
- Understands the ticketing/POS system and can help the sales manager as needed during the season with day-to-day operations
- Ensures the smooth and efficient operation of the waterpark facilities by participating in activities including daily inspections/checklists, proper staff scheduling and training, monitoring ticket and season pass sales, and maintain obtainable off season work plans for equipment and attraction repairs and maintenance. Keeps all pool records as required by the state.
- Directs safety efforts by establishing a preventative safety focus with walks, maintenance of pools and facility, proactive staff training, emergency response, and follow up investigations.
- Maintains in-service documentation, all certification records and updates aquatic and operational manuals.
- Teaches Summer Waves staff orientations.
- Demonstrates exceptional guest relations’ skills, handling any customer problems that arise appropriately.
- Orders and maintains supplies and materials for daily operations and ensures an accurate inventory system on all equipment and supplies.
- Performs the function of “Right to Know’ facilitator for the water park; trains staff, maintains current file of all chemicals and hazardous materials used at the water park, keeps files of trained employees.
- Follows established safety and first aid procedures, including proper documentation of accidents.
- Responds to extreme guest situations and performs immediate and appropriate service recovery.
- Works with the General Manager to plan, implement, and monitor the safety and aquatics programs.
- Plans and completes special maintenance and facility projects in the offseason.
- Maintains slides, pools, and water features including but not limited to fiberglass repairs, plumbing, caulking, and painting.
- Maintains steel structures by sandblasting and painting as needed.
- Follows established safety and first aid procedures, including proper documentation of accidents.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- High school degree or a recognized equivalent. Relevant college degree preferred.
- Minimum of three (3) years experience in water park or similar facility.
- Minimum of two (2) years recent supervisory skills with proven ability to train and develop employees.
- May consider any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position. The following certifications must be valid at time of hire or be obtained within three (3) months of hire: Certified Pool Operator (CPO), Water Safety Instructor, and American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor with water park module.
- Strong organizational skills required.
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:
- Ability to crouch, kneel, and/or bend up to one half hour per normal work day.
- Ability to stand, walk, crouch, climb, kneel, crawl, bend at waist, or remain in a prone position during an emergency situation.
- Ability to work with arms bent up to two-thirds of working day, and with arms extended up to one-third of normal working day.
- May be required to have arms extended for a longer period of time during an emergency situation.
- Ability to push and pull with arms with a force of up to two pounds for one half hour each normal working day.
- May be required to push and pull with arms with greater than fifty pounds of force during emergency situation.
- May be required to twist and rotate arms during and emergency situation.
- May be required to lift and carry heavy emergency equipment weighing up to seventy pounds during an emergency situation.
- Ability to grasp and manipulate objects, and perform fine finger dexterity movements for up to one-third of normal working day. This work involves eye-hand coordination and some bilateral coordination. May be required to grasp and manipulate objects and perform finer finger dexterity work with exceptional speed and bilateral coordination during emergency situations.
- Majority of work is conducted outside, will be exposed to extreme temperatures or humid conditions routinely.
- May be exposed to noisy environments during emergency situations.
- May be exposed to hazardous materials such as chemicals.
- May be exposed to exhaust or chemical fumes.
- Most work is conducted on concrete, natural ground and in water. May be required to work on inclines or ramps, or stairs and ladders. Working surface is both wet and dry conditions.
- Performs work with direction. May work with one or two other people. May work with a large group of people.
This description of job responsibilities is intended to reflect the major responsibilities and duties of the job, but is not intended to describe minor duties or other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.
This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified. Applicants who complete the online application process will receive an email receipt of submission to the email address provided. If email confirmation is not received, applicant may contact Human Resources at 912-635-4024 for confirmation, however, due to the volume of applicants received, we are unable to provide information on application status after receipt. Applicants who need assistance to accommodate a disability may request and accommodation by contacting Human Resources at 912-635-4024.
All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Incomplete applications or applications without accompanying documents when required will not be considered. Selected applicants will be contacted for the next steps in the selection process. Successful completion of background check is required including credit when applicable to the position. Relocation expenses are not authorized, applicants should consider this when applying.
Jekyll Island Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Authority supports equal employment opportunities for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. The Jekyll Island is a Drug-free Workplace.
