Lifeguard - Extra Help

Full Job Description

The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department is hiring lifeguards to

work the 2026 Summer Season!

As a Lifeguard you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments, and perform duties that include:

• Monitoring swimming beaches at Spring Lake swimming Lagoon, and Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach
• Supporting family fun activities at Spring Lake Water Park
• Lifeguarding the Vamos A Nadar water safety program
• Supporting Junior Lifeguard Camp
• Educating the public on the Russian River Water Safety Patrol when visiting the beaches at Steelhead, Sunset, and Forestville River Access
• Performing water rescues and administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other first aid, when needed

As an ideal candidate you will possess one or many of the following:

• Lifeguard Training Class (American Red Cross or YMCA)
• United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) Lifeguard Training Certificate
• Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22) Card Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for the Professional Rescuer (American Red Cross or American Heart Association)
• American Red Cross Emergency Responder or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Lifeguards must attend a paid, 80-hour training the weeks of June 8 - 12 and June 15 - 19, 2026. Additionally, Lifeguards are provided a uniform that is required to be worn while on duty. Lifeguards work between the hours of 10:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Peak season is between May - September, and a typical work schedule is 32-40 hours per week.

For details about the various lifeguard work environments across the County, please visithttp://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Activities/Swimming.aspx
Regional Parks hires 15-20 Lifeguards/Supervising Lifeguards per season. As a United States Lifesaving Association Certified Agency, the County of Sonoma Regional Parks Department ensures Lifeguards are trained in over 80 hours of first aid rescue techniques.

Important Note: This position requires the ability to complete a 550 yards (500 meters) open swim in under 10 minutes.

For details about the various lifeguard work environments across the County, please visit http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Activities/Swimming.aspx

Extra-Help Employment

Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Intermittent, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions.

In addition, they do not receive most regular employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage, accrual of vacation, participation in the County retirement program, or eligibility to take promotional examinations.

Intermittent, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of 1,380 hours within any twelve-month consecutive period.

Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple temporary, extra-help positions in the Regional Parks Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Requirements

Experience and Education: Any combination of experience, training, and education that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. A typical way to qualify is:
Recent experience in water activities and water-related safety, such as swimming, boating, canoeing, and other related activities. Applicants will be required to demonstrate the ability to swim 550 yards (500 meters) in less than 10 minutes. Experience as a Lifeguard is highly desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The positions advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Lifeguard Academy: Within six months of hire and prior to any assignment of lifeguard duties, successful completion of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Lifeguard Academy and obtaining the necessary certifications which comply with current standards for open water lifeguards.

Desired Certifications: Possession of a valid American Red Cross/Lifeguard Training certificate, YMCA Lifeguarding Certificate, United States Lifesaving Association Lifeguard Training Certificate, or equivalent certification, AND an Emergency Medical Services Authority First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22) card, AND American Red Cross or American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for the Professional Rescuer, AND possession of a valid American Red Cross Emergency Responder or Emergency Medical Technician certificate is desirable.

Qualifications

Considerable knowledge of: modern water safety practices and accepted lifesaving and lifeguarding techniques; current principles and the performance of first aid techniques.

Knowledge of: summer camp practices and methods of working with youth in a camp or program capacity; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and composition.

Ability to: swim 550 yards (500 meters) in under ten minutes; swim for extended periods and accomplish swimming rescues; use appropriate rescue equipment; perform first aid treatments, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation; visually observe and evaluate emergency situations and to respond quickly in making swimming rescues; deal effectively and tactfully with the public in the enforcement of water safety and park regulations; understand and accept differences in human behavior; effectively interact with all populations, such as individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, educational, generational, and/or socio-economic backgrounds; read and write English and to speak clearly and effectively; operate radio and telephone communication devices effectively; and work weekdays, weekends, holidays, and/or irregular hours.

Additional Information

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position.

Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department.

The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment.

Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation.

Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position.

If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.

You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail.

All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement.

Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging.

We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve.

The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CA

HR Technician: VH