Recreation Aid & Assistant (Surf-Lifeguard) (Seasonal)
What you'd do
These positions serve as Recreation Aids/ Recreation Technicians (Surf Lifeguard) with the Gateway National Recreation Area. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is May - September, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: August 2026 All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.
Major duties
MAJOR DUTIES: GS-03: Under guidance of a surf-lifeguard supervisor, lead or authorized designate, the incumbent will acquire proficiency in the performance of the following tasks: surveillance of activities of park visitors recreating on the beach; maintain lifeguard equipment; monitor weather, tide, ocean current and other related conditions; rescue swimmers in distress; provide urgent first-aid. You must be able to pass the surf-lifeguard test. Candidates must pass all parts of the test - includes the following: Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes using a swimming stroke performed on the front only; and Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes. All applicants will be tested upon entry on duty. GS-04: Maintain vigilant surveillance of the activities of park visitors who are not only recreating in the ocean, but also at the water's edge. Maintain oneself, and also one's equipment, in a state of constant readiness, to be able to respond-very literally at a moment's notice-to life-threatening, on-the-job emergencies. Use surf-lifeguarding techniques that focus first and foremost on incident prevention rather than on incident intervention. Monitor weather, tide, ocean current, and related conditions that may not only affect the safety of those recreating in the ocean, but also at the water's edge. Warn park visitors about actions or conditions that are unsafe both in the ocean and on the beach. Rescue, alone or with others, swimmers in distress or in danger of drowning using a rescue-flotation device, rescue board, ocean kayak, surfboat, or motorized craft. Provide urgent first-aid care, including basic life support and CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), and the use of oxygen and automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment. You must be able to pass the surf-lifeguard test. Candidates must pass all parts of the test - includes the following: Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes using a swimming stroke performed on the front only; and Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes. All applicants will be tested upon entry on duty. GS-05: These positions involve performing or leading work concerned with protecting the public against preventable danger and drowning death in the waters officially designated for swimming at a crowded and extended surf-beach seashore area. This work typically involves preventive surf-life guarding; rescuing, either individually or as a member of a team, persons in distress or in danger of drowning; administering urgent first-aid care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; controlling usually large crowds; operating and maintaining rescue equipment and enforcing agency regulations. Required to be able to work outdoors for long periods of time. You must be able to pass the surf-lifeguard test. Candidates must pass all parts of the test - includes the following: Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes using a swimming stroke performed on the front only; and Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes. All applicants will be tested upon entry on duty. Physical Demands: The work requires speed and endurance capacity both of them very demonstrably above average so as to be able to do the following, back-to-back and at full throttle (as described, above, under Factor 4 Complexity, Entry 1). The lack of such speed and endurance capacity can lead to consequences that are literally irrevocable. To guard against that happening, the incumbent, together with all other members of this park's surf-lifeguard staff GS 03 thru GS 07, inclusive, participates in the following mandatory, supervisor-conducted and -documented, physical conditioning and skills- proficiency training regimen for the entire period of employment: Run 1.25 miles in less than 12 minutes. (Two times weekly); Participate in a simulated ocean-rescue drill. (Once weekly); Review urgent-care and CPR / AED procedures. (Once weekly). The aim of this ongoing training regimen is to assure that the incumbent-like all other surf-lifeguard staff maintains a minimum performance level that increases the likelihood of success in meeting the demanding challenges singular to surf-lifeguard work: In a word, then, this ongoing and rigorous training seeks to make very real the phrase, "At the ready." You must be able to lift 50 pounds. Working Conditions: The work environment involves potentially high risks (e.g., those associated with long-term exposure to the sun, the risk of marine-animal attack, the risk of inadvertently being pinned under a 300-pound surf boat in the attempt to beach it, etc. The foregoing representative sample of potentially high risks associated with surf-lifeguard work requires the incumbent and, likewise, all other surf-lifeguard staff to take prudent precautions to eliminate, or to at least very significantly minimize, the job- related risks in question.
What you need to qualify
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. To qualify for this position at the GS-03 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience. General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Examples of general experience would be working a YMCA, at a summer camp, Boy Scout/Girl Scout clubs, customer service, etc. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year above high school with some course work related to the position such as physical education or recreation. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION of Experience and Education: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: 6 months of general experience AND 6 months of specialized experience. You must include mm/yy beginning and ending dates and hours worked per week for each period of employment or volunteer service. General Experience is any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Examples of general experience would be working as a lifeguard at a YMCA, counselor at a summer camp, work as a leader with Boy Scout/Girl Scout clubs. Specialized Experience is experience which is in the occupation of the position to be filled, in a related occupation, or in one of the specialized areas within that occupation, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Some examples of specialized experience are a) Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility; b) Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities; c)Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities; d) Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children) -OR- EDUCATION: :Successfully completed two years above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to recreation (e.g., basic psychology, group dynamics, physical education, arts and crafts, etc.) This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. -OR- COMBINATION of Experience and Education: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE:At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience which is in the occupation of the position to be filled, in a related occupation, or in one of the specialized areas within that occupation, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade. Some examples of specialized experience are a) Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility; b) Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities; c)Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities; d) Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children). -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least four years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of 24 semester hours in recreation or physical education. You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION Education and Experience: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. ** Applicants must provide a valid Lifeguard certification from a nationally recognized organization, CPR certification, and First Aid certification prior to entry on duty. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.