Lifeguard - Paid Training

Salary: $22.01 - $27.90 Hourly
Location : King County Aquatics Center, 650 SW Campus Dr., Federal Way, WA 98023, WA
Job Type: Temporary
Job Number: 2026-27026
Department: DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks
Division: Parks
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Part Time


Summary
Join the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC) as a Lifeguard through our Paid Lifeguard Training Program! No prior experience or certification is necessary to apply. If selected, you'll receive all required certification training at no cost and get paid while you train. Start your journey toward a rewarding role where you'll make a difference in the community and earn as you learn!


Are you already certified as an American Red Cross lifeguard? Apply now and you will be scheduled for an interview!


Lifeguards at WKCAC enjoy flexible hours, good pay, and a rewarding job that serves the community. They are responsible for the supervision and safety of pool users and spectators by educating and promoting habits and attitudes that lead to safe recreation, and for enforcing safety rules and responding to emergencies in an appropriate manner. This position requires the ability to deal courteously and appropriately with the public in a variety of situations. Individuals must be able to work both independently and as part of an overall staff team.


The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC), a legacy venue from the 1990 Seattle Goodwill Games, stands as one of the premier natatoriums in the nation, featuring both diving and swimming complexes. Renowned for hosting the 2000 and 2012 Olympic Diving Trials, it hosted the BIG-12 Swimming and Diving Championships and the 2025 NCAA Swimming Championships. With one of the most active competition schedules in the country, WKCAC features all-day events, including high-profile televised national and international competitions that significantly enhance King County's reputation. Beyond its competitive offerings, the facility welcomes the public for team training, lap swims, family swims, and swimming lessons, while also providing a banquet hall for weddings, parties, and corporate events.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Lifeguard, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at


Apply now for a rewarding career at the of the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Actively monitor the activities of WKCAC pool users and patrons. Educate the public and enforce the rules and regulations of the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. Ensure that safety hazards are corrected and report all unsafe conditions to appropriate parties.
• Respond to emergencies by addressing injuries and emergency situations by providing appropriate care within your level of training as a certified lifeguard while adhering to OSHA training and safety standards.

• Report all incidents of damages or injuries using the appropriate reporting systems accurately and in timely manner.
• Assist in cleaning and maintaining the pool and related facilities and collect lost and found items.
• Assist in staging the facility for various swim sessions and large-scale events.
• Provide excellent customer service to all patrons and staff.
• Teach swimming techniques and water safety.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring:

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to adhere to established safety standards and procedures.
• Ability to respond appropriately and effectively to emergency situations.
• Must be at least 15 years of age.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to assist with rental set-up, clean-up, and take-down.
• Ability to bend, reach, sit for long periods of time

Competencies You Bring:

• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Communicates Effectively : Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Courage : Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• American Red Cross First Aid, CPR & AED - within 6 months into employment
• Bloodborne Pathogens & Preventing Disease Transmission - within 6 months into employment

Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:

• Work Location : King County Aquatics Center, 650 SW Campus Dr., Federal Way, WA 98023
• Work Schedule: Work is onsite with a schedule that varies based on monthly events. Most events occur on weekends throughout the day and occasionally on weekday evenings. This position supports rentals and events at the WKCAC during those times with a minimum of 10 hours per month. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Pre-employment Swim Evaluation: Applicants to this paid training opportunity must successfully complete both a 20-minute virtual interview AND a preliminary swim test to be considered for hire.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Optional Resume (will be reviewed if submitted)
• Optional Cover Letter (will be reviewed if submitted

Who to Contact: Questions about the Program? Contact Meagan Viken, Aquatic Facility Supervisor, at with questions related to the job or the "Lifeguard Paid Training" program. You can also leave a voicemail for Meagan at View phone number on click.appcast.io. We look forward to hearing from you! For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Nia Williams at
Discover More About the Parks Division: Visit our and check us out at , , and


Discover More About DNRP: Visit our , explore an of our recent accomplishments and check us out at , , , , , and


Sign up for to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.
If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Nia Williams at


King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here .

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
This position is not eligible for King County leave, holiday, insured, or other benefits. Please contact the recruiter on the posting for any additional questions regarding associated benefits.
01


Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant?

• Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
• No

02


If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
Required Question