What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lifeguard position at City of Richmond (CA)?
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 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.
Please click here to view the complete job description.
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.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:
- The City’s policy is that all persons hired on or after October 18, 2021, must be fully vaccinated, including the booster, for COVID-19. New employees will be required to provide proof of complete vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before employment may commence. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Human Resources.
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.
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!
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.
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.
WEBSITE: www.ci.richmond.ca.us
Analyst: N. Williams
08/2026
Salary : $22 - $25