Lifeguard

Salary: $21.67 - $25.09 Hourly
Location : 3230 Macdonald Ave., Richmond, CA 94804, CA
Job Type: Part Time
Job Number: 2026-1830 PTC
Department: Community Services - Recreation
Opening Date: 08/04/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Introduction
Part-Time/Hourly Seasonal Opportunity
Dive in and become a City of Richmond Lifeguard! We are hiring part-time lifeguards for Richmond's two indoor aquatic facilities - The Richmond Plunge and the Richmond Swim Center. Both pools are open year-round. During rotations, Lifeguards attentively observe swimmers, ensure compliance with pool rules, perform customer service functions at the front window, and teach youth swim lessons. As a Lifeguard on the Richmond Aquatics team, you can continue to build your lifeguarding skills and reinforce emergency rescue techniques as a team through monthly training sessions.
Although the Lifeguard recruitment is ongoing, hiring is based on the staffing needs of the City of Richmond Aquatics Division. Applicants must possess a valid American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification to receive an offer of employment. Applicants who already hold a current certification will receive priority consideration for referral.
Applicants who are not currently certified may still be considered for future employment opportunities. However, they must successfully complete a Lifeguard Certification course offered in-house by the City of Richmond, if available, or through an outside provider.
After an application is submitted, and depending on staffing needs, Richmond Aquatics management may contact the applicant to participate in an in-water skills assessment to determine eligibility to advance in the selection process.
The hourly salary for this classification is as high as $25.09 at the top step, with approved Cost of Living Adjustments on July 1, 2027 (5%). Additionally, City-paid benefits include sick leave in accordance with state law.

Position Description and Duties
The Lifeguard enforces rules and regulations pertaining to the health and safety of swimmers, staff, and the public to prevent accidents; performs rescues at City aquatic facilities, and performs other duties as assigned.
This part-time position is distinguished from the Senior Lifeguard by less supervisory responsibility. The position of Lifeguard primarily serves as a monitoring and rescuing function.
The ideal candidate will possess:

• Work collaboratively with lifeguards and accept guidance from senior staff.
• Remain alert and respond appropriately to unsafe behavior and emergencies.
• Provide professional and courteous customer service.
• Maintain clean, organized, and hazard-free aquatic facilities.
• Clearly explain pool rules, safety policies, and registration procedures.
• Be willing to learn and teach swim lessons.
• Be flexible in working evenings, weekends, and holidays.

The City of Richmond is the City of Pride and Purpose, and we value those traits in our employees!
The following list is intended to be illustrative in nature and does not necessarily represent the entire range of work duties expected of employees within the job classification.

• Maintain constant surveillance of the swimmers, staff, and the public to safeguard participants from drowning and other accidents.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and scheduling lifeguard personnel.
• Monitor activities to prevent accidents; educate and direct swimmers regarding unsafe behavior; recognize and respond to emergencies; rescue swimmers in distress; and provide first aid care for medical emergencies, injury, and sudden illness that may include heart attack, bleeding, spinal injury, or drowning.
• Maintain records and reports.
• Keep aquatic areas clean and free from hazards, enforce rules and regulations.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Explain safety policies, procedures, and regulations to the public.

Minimum Qualifications
Required Education and Experience

• Fifteen (15) years of age.
• Graduation from or currently enrolled in an institution working toward a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Required Licenses or Certifications

• Current Lifeguard Training Certification from the American Red Cross, YMCA, or equivalent.
• Current First Aid and CPR for Public Safety Personnel in accordance with Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

Required KSA for Successful Performance of Job Duties
Knowledge of:

• Lifeguarding, first aid, public safety and the role of a professional rescuer.
• Accident prevention and accident management.
• Intervention and conflict resolution strategies.
• CPR and first aid techniques and equipment.
• Working knowledge of ADA and its relation to an aquatic operation.
• Health and safety regulations.
• Current methods and standards for lifeguarding public facilities.

Ability to:

• Stay alert, respond quickly, and cope with stress and fatigue.
• Swim with proficiency and endurance; perform and assist rescuers.
• Enforce the rules and regulations of an aquatic facility.
• Perform CPR and first aid.
• Work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends, shifting assignments as program needs change.
• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of temperatures.

Additional Information
Application and Selection Process
To Apply: Interested individuals must apply online by fully completing the City of Richmond Employment Application, including answers to supplemental questions. Incomplete applications or those lacking in sufficiently detailed information will be rejected. Resumes or prior applications will not be accepted in lieu of a thoroughly completed application. All communication regarding this recruitment will be via email. Each applicant must apply with a monitored email address.
Qualifying Phase: All completed applications will be evaluated based on job-related qualifications criteria, which may include desirable qualifications and the specific needs of the hiring department(s). Candidates may be screened for better qualified.
Selection Process: The applications of those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be submitted to the Community Services Department hiring manager for further consideration. The better-qualified candidates may be invited to continue in the selection process, which will include an interview. Applications will remain on file for six (6) months.
Background Check and Tuberculosis Testing: Candidates will be required to complete a background check and Tuberculosis testing as a condition of employment.
About the City of Richmond The City of Richmond lies on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, five miles north of Berkeley and seven miles northeast across the Bay from downtown San Francisco. A hub of multimodal transportation, many of our residents and businesses are located in Richmond because of its central location and easy access to the Amtrak/Capitol Corridor, BART, AC Transit, the ferry, and two freeways (I-80 & I-580). Residents, visitors, and employees enjoy Richmond's numerous recreational opportunities, which include 32 miles of shoreline and over 3,000 acres of shoreline parks, more segments of the Bay Trail completed than any other city, several recreational boat harbors and yacht clubs, and thousands of acres of contiguous inland regional parks and open space. The City has substantial economic resources but is still affordable compared to other Bay Area cities. Our community is welcoming, diverse, and actively engaged. Richmond is truly the City of Pride and Purpose!
Immigration Reform Control Act In compliance with the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986, individuals offered employment by the City of Richmond will be required to show documentation of eligibility to work in the United States as a condition of employment.
Non-Discrimination Policy The City of Richmond is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and prohibits discrimination against any applicant on the basis of race, religion, citizenship, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), sexual orientation, or military or veteran status or any other basis protected by law.

Disaster Service Workers
California Government Code Title I, Sections 3100 - 3109, declares all public employees to be Disaster Service Workers, subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law. More information can be found here.
EOE/ADA/DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE
WEBSITE:
Analyst: N. Williams
08/2026
THIS JOB CLASS IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS.
01


I certify that all information provided in my application and this Supplemental Questionnaire is true to the best of my knowledge and I understand that an incomplete application or false information will lead to disqualification from the selection process.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you over the age of 18?

• Yes
• No

03


If you answered "No" to Question 2, are you able to obtain and provide a valid work permit issued by your school?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you have a current Red Cross Lifeguard Certificate? Please enter "Yes" or "No."If yes, provide the certificate's expiration date or the email address associated with your Red Cross certification. This may be different from your personal email address.
05


If you do not have a current Lifeguard Certificate, are you able to perform the following in-water skills required to enroll in an American Red Cross Lifeguarding course? (Richmond Aquatics staff will coordinate the in-water skills test at one of our pools.)(1) Swim 200 yards using the front crawl or breaststroke, tread water for two minutes without using your hands, and then complete the remainder of the 200-yard swim.(2) Swim 20 yards, dive into seven feet of water, retrieve a 10-pound brick from the bottom, swim back while holding the brick, and exit the pool without using a ladder within 1 minute and 40 seconds.

• Yes
• No
• Not Applicable; I have a current Lifeguard certificate.

06


Please specify what swimming or Lifeguarding experience you have (swim team participant, swim lesson instructor, swim coaching, coaching other sports, etc.). Please indicate what your role was for each activity.
07


Please select all the times you are available to work from the options below. You can choose multiple options if applicable.

• Summer Only
• Year Round
• Weekday Mornings (6 am-1 pm)
• Weekday Evenings (4 pm-8 pm)
• Weekends (Saturdays & Sundays)

08


Please list two (2) references, including former employers if possible. (Do not list relatives)
Required Question