Lifeguard

Salary: $16.75 Hourly
Location : Durango, CO
Job Type: Part-Time
Job Number: 2026-00037
Department: Parks & Recreation
Division: Recreation Center - 4557
Opening Date: 03/06/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Schedule Details:: Part time, 20-27 hours per week. Available shifts from 5:15am-8:00pm, 7 days a week.


Description
Help us create a safe and fun swimming environment for our community! As a Lifeguard, you'll monitor pool areas, respond to emergencies when they arise, and help with the daily cleaning and upkeep of our aquatic facilities. Prior lifeguarding experience is preferred but not required. We'll facilitate training and certification for qualified applicants who pass a pre-employment swimming skills and knowledge test.

This part-time position offers flexibility and work-life balance . It's also a great opportunity to start a career in municipal government or related fields. Many of our former lifeguards have gone on to exciting careers in law enforcement, firefighting, EMT, and more.

About the Facilities:

Located at the Durango Community Recreation Center, our Aquatics Center is home to two pools, one 11-lane lap pool and one zero-depth leisure pool, as well as a 23-person hot tub and outdoor splash pad. The lap pool features public swimming lanes and one-meter and three-meter diving boards. The leisure pool features a current channel/lazy river, vortex, 160-foot waterslide, two lap lanes, and a shallow area with play features for children. During the summer months, our lifeguards may have shifts at Lake Nighthorse's Swim Beach & Wibit Aqua Park in addition to Rec Center shifts.

City of Durango's Trail to Excellence

The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here.

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the of providing excellent service and reaching the city's vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the


As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because:

• Your ideas help shape citywide improvements.
• The work you do ties directly into measurable goals.
• You'll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results.

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing - and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve.
Essential Job Duties
What You'll Do in This Role:

• Recognize and respond effectively in emergencies.
• Enforce all aquatic facility rules and regulations.
• Inspect the facility on a daily schedule and report any unsafe conditions or equipment problems to the supervisor.
• Perform cleaning duties as assigned by your supervisor.
• Complete records and reports.
• Participate in regular in-service training sessions.
• Maintain current required certifications.
• Exercise regularly to maintain strength and endurance.
• Attend and participate in professional meetings and stay informed of new trends and innovations in the field of recreation and facility management.

Minimum Qualifications
You Have:

• The ability to pass a pre-employment swimming and lifeguarding skills test.
• Current American Red Cross Lifeguard/First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer Certifications, or the ability to obtain these upon hire.

You Will Succeed in This Role If You:

• Stay alert and can make quick decisions during emergencies.
• Provide friendly, high-quality customer service.
• Are reliable and available to work the scheduled hours for this position.

Supplemental Information
What We Can Offer You: The following perks are available for part-time and seasonal employees.

• Free pass to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink and Ski Area
• Free Transit pass.
• Eligibility to participate in the City's Annual Wellness Challenge and a chance to receive prizes and cash rewards.
• Flexible scheduling to work-life balance.

To view the full job description, click here.
Belong at the City of Durango:

We believe in creating an inclusive workforce that welcomes diversity of thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences.

The City of Durango is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

City of Durango's Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
Part Time and Seasonal employees are eligible for a free transit pass, recreation center pass and Chapman Hill pass, with discounted rates for family members in the same household.

Visit our for more information.
01


Do you have any relatives who currently work for the City of Durango?

• Yes
• No

02


If you answered yes, provide your relative's name, the department they work in, and their relationship to you.
03


Have you been previously employed by the City of Durango?

• Yes
• No

04


If you answered yes, provide previous City positions and approximate dates for those positions.
05


Have you ever been convicted of a crime, including misdemeanors, deferred sentences/judgements?

• Yes
• No

06


If you answered yes to having been convicted, you are REQUIRED to provide DATE(S) and DESCRIPTION(S) of offense(s) below.
07


Are you able to pass a pre-employment swimming and lifeguarding skills test?

• Yes
• No

08


Do you have or are you able to obtain the following certifications upon hire? Current American Red Cross Lifeguard/First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer Certification.

• Yes
• No

Required Question