SLSNZ - Seasonal Event Safety Lead

Lead the Team. Keep Events Safe. Help Everyone Return Home Safe.

Casual | Northern Region events | 2026/27 season

Why This Role Matters

Surf Life Saving events bring our members, clubs and communities together. Behind every enjoyable and successful event is a skilled safety team making sure people, equipment and operational controls are ready for changing coastal conditions.

We’re looking for an experienced Seasonal Event Safety Lead to provide confident, on-the-ground leadership of Event Guard and water-safety operations at Northern Region Junior Surf and Senior Sport events. You’ll coordinate people, equipment and operational response so events are delivered safely, professionally and effectively throughout the season.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll be the operational lead for the Event Guard team at assigned events, turning event safety plans into clear, practical action on the beach and in the water.

This includes:

• Coordinating the safe set-up, positioning, checking and pack-down of Event Guard equipment and safety assets

• Briefing, deploying and actively supervising Event Guard personnel across assigned land- and water-based positions

• Maintaining oversight of conditions, course activity, team coverage and emerging risks, and adjusting deployment within delegated authority

• Leading the team’s immediate operational response to incidents and emergencies, with prompt escalation when required

• Maintaining clear communication with the Event Safety Officer, Event Referee, Event Management Committee and event officials

• Supporting and mentoring developing lifeguards while fostering professionalism, inclusion, teamwork and a positive safety culture

• Monitoring fatigue, workload and wellbeing so the team remains safe and fit to perform

• Completing event-safety records and contributing practical lessons through post-event debriefs

At its core, this role is about helping our people operate with confidence, keeping safety at the centre of every decision and ensuring participants can enjoy Surf Life Saving sport in a well-managed environment.

For full position description click here.

What You’ll Bring

You’re a calm and credible operational leader who communicates clearly, makes sound decisions under pressure and knows when to act and when to escalate.

• You enjoy bringing people together and helping others perform at their best.

• A current, refreshed Surf Lifeguard Award and current membership of an SLSNZ club

• Strong operational surf lifesaving experience in dynamic coastal and event environments

• Demonstrated experience in Event Guard operations, event water safety and SLSNZ Sport

• Experience leading, coordinating or supervising volunteers or operational teams

• A sound understanding of SLSNZ competition rules, event safety plans, risk controls and relevant emergency response procedures

• Clear communication, practical problem-solving and the confidence to provide direction under pressure

• An impartial, professional and collaborative approach when working across clubs and event stakeholders

• The physical capability and availability to undertake water-safety, equipment-handling and event set-up duties

Knowledge of Northern Region events and venues, additional relevant lifesaving or operational qualifications, and experience mentoring lifeguards would be an advantage.

Why Join Us

At Surf Life Saving NZ, people are at the heart of everything we do. We support our clubs, volunteers and each other through our Kawa Tātaki:

Collaboration - working together to achieve more

Integrity - doing what’s right

Respect - valuing people and perspectives

Wellbeing - caring for ourselves and others

Fun - enjoying the journey

You’ll be part of a purpose-driven organisation committed to a vision that no one drowns at the beach in Aotearoa New Zealand, while helping deliver safe, enjoyable events for our members and communities.

Sound Like You?

If you’re an experienced lifeguard who can lead calmly, support volunteers and keep safety at the centre of fast-moving event operations, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and help lead safe, professional and enjoyable Surf Life Saving events across the Northern Region. For more information, contact Gabriella de Latour at gabriella.delatour@surflifesaving.org.nz.

Applications close Monday 5 October, 9am.

This casual seasonal role supports the 2026/27 event programme across Northern Region venues. It requires early starts, weekend and public-holiday work, travel, work in variable weather and coastal conditions, and physical water-safety and equipment-handling duties.