Glasgow Life Assistant (Pool Lifeguard) – 19 Posts

Organisation: Glasgow Life
Salary: £25,346.03 - £26,895.74
Location: Various
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 18 January 2026
Job Description: Location: Various
Ref: GLA14689

We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and that starts with the people who work here.
Glasgow Life is a charity like no other. Our vision is to improve the lives of everyone in our city. To help us achieve that, we are looking for Pool Lifeguards to join our Sport Operations team. You don’t need a lifeguard qualification to apply (unless you want to join the bank team), as we provide training for competent swimmers who are enthusiastic about making a real difference through culture and sport in Glasgow.
What you need to know
Permanent Hours:
- Full Time - 35 hours per week, worked over 5 days out of 7 Depending on the venue, weekday shifts can start as early as 5:45am and finish as late as 10:30pm, with weekend shifts running between 8am and 8pm. Rotas usually follow a three-week cycle, giving you plenty of notice of your working hours.
- Part Time – There are several options available. This includes 7 or 10 hours per week worked over the weekend, or 15 or 20 hours per week across evenings and weekends. Depending on the venue, these may be covered in one shift or split across multiple shifts. Rotas usually follow a two-week rotation, giving you plenty of notice of your working hours.
- Bank - Work on an as-needed basis, ideal if you need flexibility. (Available only for qualified lifeguards).
Pay Details: Full Time salary is £24,371.18. This will be pro-rata for part-time. The hourly salary is £13.35 per hour.
Location: City-wide, with your main base discussed at interview. Our Pools are: Bellahouston, Scotstoun, Tollcross, Gorbals, North Woodside, Pollok, Drumchapel, Springburn, Easterhouse, Maryhill and Castlemilk.

What you’ll do
As a Pool Lifeguard you’ll be part of an established team, reporting to the Duty Manager. You’ll play a key role in ensuring the safety of all swimmer and visitors whilst delivering excellent customer service and maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene throughout the venue. You’ll supervise the pool and changing areas, respond to emergencies, assist with activities and events, and support reception duties including managing bookings, answering enquiries, and welcoming customers. You’ll also help with venue routines, opening and closing procedures, and complete all required training to maintain qualifications, contributing to the smooth operation of the venue and a positive experience for all visitors. Your work will make a visible and lasting difference in supporting our communities, helping people get active, creating cultural experiences or working behind the scenes to make it all happen.
Learn more about our Pool Lifeguard role in our video found in the Further Information section on MyJobScotland.
Who you are
We’re looking for someone with the right skills who brings energy to the role. If the following sounds like you, apply today!
We’re looking for candidates who:
• Hold a current Pool Lifeguard qualification (e.g., STA, NPLQ) — certificates and training hours will be verified at interview. OR, be willing to attend a scheduled STA Pool Lifeguard qualification course.
• Are confident and competent swimmers, able to complete a Pool Lifeguard swim test, including jump/dive into deep water, swim 100m on front/back without stopping, swim 50m in under 1 minute, surface dive down to the deepest part of the pool to recover a mannequin, tread water for 30 seconds and climb out unaided.
• Are willing and able to attend regular training to maintain a pool lifeguard qualification.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and customer service skills, with experience working with the public.
• Work effectively as part of a team.
• Can set up equipment and facilities for customer use.
• Prioritise safety, maintaining a secure, safe and welcoming environment for all visitors and staff.
• Has proficient literacy and numeracy skills.
Download the Person Specification in the Job Attachments section on MyJobScotland. Use this to shape your application and show how your experience aligns with the job.
If you still have questions about the role, please contact us at paul.mcdonald@glasgowlife.org.uk
What we offer
At Glasgow Life, our work changes lives. As a charity, we bring communities together and support wellbeing through sport, culture, heritage, and learning.
Learn more about Glasgow Life in our 10 Facts video in the Further Information section on MyJobScotland.
We support you to live a great life. Inside and outside of work. Some of our benefits include:
• Holiday - When you join, you’ll get 30 days’ holiday. Plus 6.5 public holidays if you’re full-time. This increases to 35 days after 5 years of service. Fancy a bit more time off? You can buy extra holiday too!
• Pension - Join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a Defined Benefit scheme that provides you with a secure pension for later life.
• Support - Sometimes we all need support and a listening ear. Our free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme can support your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
• Discounts - As a colleague, you can enjoy discounts on the things you love, from Glasgow Club memberships to our museum shops and our online store. We are also part of the cycle-to-work scheme, helping you stay active.
• Flexibility and development - We are proud of our flexible and inclusive work policies, which help you balance work and life. We also offer support for learning, development and career progression.
Please note that Glasgow Life, as an ALEO to Glasgow City Council, is currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure which may impact on current salaries quoted in job adverts, see https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation for more information.
How to Apply
To get started, complete our short application form. You’ll fill out details of your qualifications, training and work history and answer the question, ‘What skills and qualities make you a good fit for this job?’. Be sure to refer to the Person Specification, which lists the criteria when answering this question. When selecting candidates for interviews, managers will look for candidates who meet all the ‘essential’ criteria.
Important Dates:
Closing date for this job is 11.59pm 18 January 2026. Interviews will be held between 25 to 28 January.
Interviews will consist of a competency-based interview followed by a Pool Lifeguard swim test.
For candidates who need training to gain the Pool Lifeguard qualification, this will be provided through two options. Training can be completed either as a six-day course on weekdays or as a course over three consecutive weekends, with both running from 8:30am to 4:30pm. While exact dates are yet to be confirmed, candidates must be able to commit to one of these two options. Training is expected to take place in March or April and will be discussed in more detail at interview.
Learn More About Us
Our Sports service gets Glasgow moving! From Glasgow Club gyms to Walking Football and Learn to Swim programmes, we help people of all ages and abilities enjoy the power of sport—keeping active, healthy and connected. Learn more here - https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/sport

Diversity and Fair Work at Glasgow Life
We’re working to build a team that reflects the rich diversity of Glasgow’s communities — where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to be their full, authentic selves at work. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Learn more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer. We’re also committed to Fair Work First principles, including effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect for all our staff. Learn more about our approach to Fair Work First here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/about-us/fair-work-first. We’re working hard to address underrepresentation in our workforce. We especially welcome applications from people with disabilities and from ethnic minority communities.
Ready to apply?
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We’re excited to hear from you. Let’s shape a great Glasgow life — together.

To apply for this vacancy online please visit Glasgow Life Assistant (Pool Lifeguard) - 30 Posts - GLA14689 | Glasgow Life | myjobscotland
Closing date is 11.59pm on Sunday 18th January 2026

Information is available in alternative formats, on request.
How to apply: https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/glasgow/glasgow-life/jobs/glasgow-life-assistant-pool-lifeguard-30-posts-453691