Lifeguard I

Salary: $26.20 - $31.46 Hourly
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Limited, No Standard Hours
Job Number: JH-T11948-202606
Business Area: 1912 - Fire-Rescue
Opening Date: 06/19/2026
Closing Date: 1/11/2027 11:59 PM Pacific


JOB INFORMATION


LIFEGUARD I CANDIDATES MUST APPLY BEFORE TAKING THE PERFORMANCE TEST. ONCE APPLICATIONS ARE APPROVED, CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED AND GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SELF SCHEDULE FOR THE PERFORMANCE TEST. YOU MUST SELF SCHEDULE FOR THE PERFORMANCE TEST. YOU WILL NOT BE TESTED WITHOUT FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE.

Bay and Ocean Lifeguard positions guard swimmers at public beaches and bays, perform rescues, administer first aid, warn swimmers of dangerous water conditions, enforce aquatic beach regulations and ordinances, clean and maintain lifeguard equipment, operate rescue boats, drive emergency vehicles such as pickup trucks and 2 and 4-wheel drive vehicles, give information to the public, and maintain records and write reports; and perform other duties as assigned.


NOTES:

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Lifeguard I positions will be available primarily on a full-time basis during the summer. Some positions may continue on a part-time basis during the spring and fall.
• Lifeguard I employees may be required to work holidays and weekends, and are subject to 24-hours emergency call-back with pay.
• Lifeguard I employees must furnish and wear standard apparel prescribed by the Lifeguard Services Division.
• Lifeguard I employees must requalify for required certificates to retain employment.
• Lifeguard I employees are required to pass a swimming performance test administered by the Lifeguard Services Division once a year to retain employment.
• In accordance with California Public Resources Code section 5163, all persons holding Lifeguard I positions must get tested for tuberculosis (TB) when hired and every four years thereafter as a condition of continued employment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS


You must meet the following requirements by June 30, 2027:

AGE: 18 years of age or older.


CERTIFICATES: You must have ALL of the following valid certificates:

1. American Red Cross Emergency Medical Response (EMR) Certificate.
2. American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers OR American Heart Association CPR/AED for Healthcare Providers Certificate.
3. Certificate of completion for the Miramar College Introduction to Open Water Lifeguarding course (San Diego Regional Lifeguard Academy) dated within the last two years.

NOTES:

• A current County of San Diego Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate will satisfy the EMR Certificate requirement.
• Miramar College offers the American Red Cross Emergency Medical Response training. For more information, please contact us at or call the San Diego Lifeguard Service at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io, or Miramar College at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
• The Introduction to Open Water Lifeguarding course will be valid for two calendar years from the date of completion. The course will be valid for two additional calendar years if proof of employment for a total of 320 hours (one season) as a beach lifeguard during the original period of validity of the certificate of completion is submitted.
• Prompt completion of these requirements is encouraged. Failure to meet all the requirements and be in possession of a valid certificate of completion for the Miramar College Introduction to Open Water Lifeguarding (San Diego Regional Lifeguard Academy) by June 30, 2027 may result in the termination of the contingent employment. Under no circumstances will employees be permitted to work as a Bay and Ocean Lifeguard until all requirements are verified and are on file.
• Candidates selected for contingent employment who do NOT have the required San Diego Regional Lifeguard Academy certificate of completion dated within the last two years by June 30, 2027 will be required to attend and complete one of two San Diego Regional Lifeguard Academies scheduled in the spring of 2027. Candidates who have completed all pre-employment processes will attend the academy WITH PAY.
• Candidates selected for contingent employment who have a San Diego Regional Lifeguard Academy certificate of completion dated within the last two years by June 30, 2027 will be required to attend and complete a Lifeguard Refresher Training Course scheduled in late spring 2027.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.


HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Emergency Medical Technician Certification issued by the County of San Diego.

SCREENING PROCESS


The screening process will consist of the following components:

1. APPLICATION REVIEW: Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met.


2. PERFORMANCE TEST: IF YOU MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND YOUR APPLICATION IS APPROVED, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AND GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO VIEW AVAILABLE TEST DATES AND SELF SCHEDULE FOR ONE OF THE PERFORMANCE TESTS. Once scheduled, you will be guaranteed admission to the examination you select.


The performance test will be held at Ventura Cove on Mission Bay (1000 West Mission Bay Drive), beginning at 9:00 a.m. and is a pass/fail examination which consists of a 500-meter swim that must be completed in 10 MINUTES OR LESS.


NOTES:

• YOU MUST SELF SCHEDULE FOR THE PERFORMANCE TEST. YOU WILL NOT BE TESTED WITHOUT FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE.
• Candidates must provide valid government-issued photo identification (e.g., driver license, military ID, Department of Motor Vehicles ID, or passport) on the day of the performance test. FOR MINORS ONLY, a current school-issued ID with a photograph will be accepted.
• Candidates, who are between 17 and 18 years old at the time of the performance test, must submit a Release of Liability Waiver signed by their parent or guardian in order to take the performance test. Candidates must bring this signed waiver to the performance test. Falsification of the Release of Liability Waiver is cause for disqualification and/or termination of employment. Waivers will also be available on the date of the performance test.
• Candidates may not wear goggles, wetsuits, rash guards or swim caps made of neoprene during the performance test.
• Candidates who fail the performance test may be allowed to re-take the performance test once on the same day. You may also self schedule to take the test during any of the subsequent performance test dates.

3. INTERVIEW: Candidates who pass the performance test will be invited to participate in an interview either on the date of the performance test or a later date as determined by the hiring department. Candidates will be notified of the specific time and location at the performance test.


Candidates who pass the performance test will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be considered by the hiring department.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION


PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, which may include a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All of these processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may be cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.


VISION REQUIREMENT: Uncorrected vision must not be worse than 20/40 in both eyes together with acceptable color vision. Vision between 20/20 and 20/40 in both eyes together must be corrected to 20/20 both eyes together with glasses or contact lenses. Monocular vision is not acceptable.


If you have undergone any type of refractive vision surgery (or "touch-up" surgery) such as Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), radial keratotomy (RK), or photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) a year or longer prior to being medically considered for a Lifeguard I position, you must be substantially free of vision problems such as: impaired vision at night or under dim lighting conditions; sensitivity to glare; starbursts experienced around light sources such as street lights or headlights; hazing or blurring of vision; eye irritation and pain; progressive regression of visual acuity; and daily changes in visual acuity. Your vision must be 20/20 both eyes together. If it is not, it may be no worse than 20/40 both eyes together and must be corrected to 20/20 both eyes together with glasses or contact lenses. You will be asked to submit the results of a recent eye examination from your private ophthalmologist documenting the status of your vision. We will request this information from you following the medical examination given by the City.


If you have undergone any type of refractive vision surgery (or "touch-up" surgery) within less than a year of being medically considered for a Lifeguard I position, you may be hired on a conditional basis if you successfully complete a City-provided vision examination prior to hire and at periodic intervals thereafter until one year has elapsed from the date of the last vision surgery or "touch-up" surgery. You must be substantially free of the vision problems outlined in the paragraph above. Your vision must be 20/20 both eyes together. If it is not, it may be no worse than 20/40 both eyes together and must be corrected with glasses or contact lenses to 20/20 both eyes together.


NOTE: The contents of this announcement are for the general information of candidates. They do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Final determination of a candidate's medical suitability for employment is determined at the time of the medical examination.
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.


Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).


Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01


I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03


If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04


The minimum age for this job is 18 by June 30, 2027. Will you meet the minimum age requirement?

• Yes
• No

05


Which of the following valid certificates do you possess?

• American Red Cross Emergency Medical Response (EMR) Certificate.
• American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Certificate.
• American Heart Association CPR/AED for Healthcare Providers Certificate.
• Certificate of completion for the Miramar College Introduction to Open Water Lifeguarding course.
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification issued by the State of California.
• None of the above.

Required Question