Lifeguard - Summer 2027

Job Introduction

LIFEGUARD

Location: Neilson Alana Beachclub, Croatia
Season: April – November
Qualifications Required: Recognised Pool Lifeguard qualification (see details below)
Eligibility: UK & EU passport holders
Salary: £625 PCM gross, plus shared accommodation, meals, flights, and an excellent overall package.

As a UK-based business operating overseas, we’re able to arrange the required visas and work permits for UK and EU passport holders to work legally in our resorts.

In a Nutshell

• Help keep our guests safe while spending your season at Neilson Alana Beachclub in Croatia.
• Join a supportive Pool and Active Team and build valuable professional experience.
• Be a friendly, reassuring and responsible presence around the pool.
• Develop your confidence, guest service skills and lifeguarding experience throughout the season.

About Us

For almost 50 years, Neilson has been creating unforgettable active holidays in some incredible Beach Club destinations.

From sailing and watersports to tennis, fitness, biking, swimming and much more, our guests are at the centre of everything we do.

We’re looking for enthusiastic, adaptable people with great personalities, a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for creating brilliant holiday experiences.

Some of our roles require specific professional qualifications before you can join us, and Lifeguard is one of them. But we don’t expect every applicant to arrive with years of experience behind them.

If you’ve got the required qualification, the right attitude and you’re ready to learn, we’ll provide the support, environment and experience to help you develop throughout your season.

About You

You’re qualified, responsible and safety-conscious, but you’ve also got a great personality and genuinely enjoy being around people.

You understand that lifeguarding requires concentration, professionalism and excellent judgement. You can stay alert, recognise when something doesn’t look right and respond calmly and confidently when needed.

At the same time, you’re approachable, polite and engaging. You’ll become a familiar face around the pool and understand that a friendly conversation, helping a family or simply making someone feel welcome is all part of creating a brilliant Neilson holiday.

You don’t necessarily need years of lifeguarding experience behind you. If you’ve recently qualified and have the right attitude, work ethic and maturity, we’d still love to hear from you.

You’re energetic, organised and resilient, happy working as part of a close-knit team and willing to get involved in wider resort life. You listen, learn and take feedback positively, and you’re excited by the opportunity to develop both professionally and personally during your season.

Most importantly, you understand the responsibility that comes with keeping people safe and can be trusted to maintain professional standards even when nobody is reminding you to do so.

Role Overview

As a Neilson Lifeguard, your number one priority is simple: keeping our guests safe.

You’ll supervise pool areas, identify potential risks, help prevent accidents and respond professionally and effectively should an emergency occur.

You’ll work closely with the Head Lifeguard and wider Active Team, following established operating procedures and maintaining consistently high standards of vigilance, professionalism and guest care.

While safety always comes first, you’ll also be part of the wider resort experience. You’ll interact with guests throughout the day, answer questions, support activities around the pool and help create the friendly, energetic atmosphere our Beach Clubs are known for.

This is different from our specialist Swim Coach & Lifeguard position. As a Lifeguard, you are not expected to hold a professional swimming teaching qualification or take responsibility for delivering the Neilson swimming lesson and coaching programme.

For newly qualified Lifeguards, this is a brilliant opportunity to turn your qualification into genuine professional experience. You’ll be supported by experienced colleagues while developing your confidence, judgement, communication skills and ability to work within a busy overseas resort.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supervise pool areas and maintain a safe environment for guests at all times.
• Apply effective surveillance and preventative lifeguarding techniques.
• Remain alert and proactively identify potential hazards and unsafe behaviour.
• Respond calmly, confidently and effectively to incidents and emergency situations.
• Administer First Aid when required.
• Ensure guests follow established pool safety procedures and operating rules.
• Identify, manage and report risks promptly.
• Maintain consistently high standards of health, safety and professionalism.
• Build positive relationships with guests and provide friendly, helpful customer service.
• Provide a visible and reassuring presence around the pool environment.
• Support the Swim Coach & Lifeguard and wider Active Team with the safe operation of pool-based activities where required, without taking responsibility for formal swimming instruction unless appropriately qualified and specifically authorised to do so.
• Assist Fitness Instructors with the safe operation of pool-based activities where required.
• Keep pool facilities, equipment and surrounding areas clean, organised and welcoming.
• Monitor equipment and supplies and report maintenance or stock requirements promptly.
• Work closely with the Head Lifeguard and follow agreed operational and safety procedures.
• Support the daily set-up and pack-down of pool operations.
• Get involved with guest events, briefings and wider resort activities.
• Work closely with colleagues across the resort to deliver an exceptional guest experience.
• Support resort set-up and close-down at the beginning and end of the season.
• Assist with airport transfers, arrivals and departures, giving guests a warm and professional Neilson welcome.
• Support other departments where operationally required.

Skills & Experience

You’ll be great at this if you…

• Hold a recognised Pool Lifeguard qualification.
• Take safety seriously and understand the responsibility that comes with the role.
• Can remain focused, vigilant and alert for extended periods.
• Have excellent situational awareness and attention to detail.
• Can remain calm and make sensible decisions under pressure.
• Are responsible, trustworthy and professional.
• Have a great personality and enjoy interacting with guests.
• Are considerate, polite and approachable.
• Have a strong work ethic and are happy to get stuck in.
• Are energetic, adaptable and flexible.
• Are organised and manage your time well.
• Are a great team player and enjoy supporting the people around you.
• Are willing to listen, learn and develop throughout the season.
• Are resilient and can maintain high standards during busy or challenging periods.
• Can work independently when required.
• Can confidently communicate in English.
• Are genuinely excited about the opportunity to live, work and develop overseas.

It’d be a bonus if you also have…

• Previous professional lifeguarding experience.
• Previous customer service experience.
• Experience working with children and families.
• Experience working within hospitality, leisure, activity centres or holiday environments.
• Previous overseas or seasonal experience.

Previous experience is certainly beneficial, but it isn’t everything. We’re equally interested in people with the right qualification, personality, attitude, maturity and willingness to learn.

Qualifications

You must hold a recognised Pool Lifeguard qualification to be considered for this role.

Relevant qualifications include:

• National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) or recognised equivalent.
• Recognised UK, Irish, European or international Pool Lifeguard qualifications and equivalent certifications.

Your Pool Lifeguard qualification must include appropriate First Aid training and remain valid for the duration of your contract.

If you’re unsure whether your qualification is suitable, please proceed with your application and provide full details of your certification for us to review.

You do not need to have completed every required qualification before submitting your application.

If you’re currently working towards, booked onto or planning to complete the required Pool Lifeguard qualification before your start date, please go ahead and apply and provide details of the qualification and your expected completion date within your application.

For full details covering Neilson qualification requirements and recognised equivalents, please click here: List of Accepted Qualifications

First Aid Requirements

The appropriate First Aid training included within your recognised Pool Lifeguard qualification is sufficient for this role.

You do not need to complete an additional Emergency First Aid at Work qualification.

Your Pool Lifeguard qualification, including its associated First Aid training, must remain valid for the duration of your contract.

We’ll validate your certification as part of the onboarding process.

For further information about Neilson’s First Aid requirements, please click here: First Aid Guidance

What’s in it for you?

Joining Neilson is more than just a summer job. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, build confidence, experience incredible destinations, and become part of a close-knit team creating unforgettable holidays every day.

The experience, resilience, and people skills you’ll develop along the way will stay with you long after the season ends – wherever life takes you next.

Alongside the experience, you’ll get:

• A paid seasonal role in an incredible overseas destination.
• Shared staff accommodation, so you’re right at the heart of resort life and part of the team from day one.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner while on duty, so your meals are taken care of.
• Travel to and from resort, subject to staff travel policy.
• Use of selected resort facilities in your spare time, so you can enjoy the destination too.
• Friends and family holiday discounts, giving the people at home the chance to experience Neilson for themselves.
• Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you settle in, develop your skills and make the most of your season.
• Opportunities to gain additional qualifications through the Neilson Academy.
• Career development opportunities through our Jump Up and Jump Higher programmes.
• Visa and work permit support where applicable.
• Role-specific uniform provided.
• One day off each week, plus accrued holiday.
• Emergency medical and dental insurance.
• 24/7 independent mental health support.

It’s a season that gives you more than a payslip – you’ll come home with new skills, new friends, incredible memories and an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left resort.

Please note: All Neilson Active employees are required to complete a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment process.