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Open: January 23, 2026 — Closes: June 23, 2026
Summary
These positions are temporary/seasonal not to exceed 1560-hour appointments. they are located at Gateway National Recreation Area. Temporary positions not-to-exceed 1560 hours in a service year may be terminated/extended based on management needs. Defined seasonal May through September.
Major Duties
This is an open continuous vacancy announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled, or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement. The first cut-off date is 11:59 pm (ET), February 26, 2025, with future cutoff dates on or around the 26th of each month. MAJOR DUTIES: GS-03: Under guidance of a surf-lifeguard supervisor, lead or authorized designate, the incumbent will acquire proficiency in the performance of the following tasks: surveillance of activities of park visitors recreating on the beach; maintain lifeguard equipment; monitor weather, tide, ocean current and other related conditions; rescue swimmers in distress; provide urgent first-aid. You must be able to pass the surf-lifeguard test. Candidates must pass all parts of the test - includes the following: Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes using a swimming stroke performed on the front only; and Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes. All applicants will be tested upon entry on duty. GS-04: Maintain vigilant surveillance of the activities of park visitors who are not only recreating in the ocean, but also at the water's edge. Maintain oneself, and also one's equipment, in a state of constant readiness, to be able to respond-very literally at a moment's notice-to life-threatening, on-the-job emergencies. Use surf-lifeguarding techniques that focus first and foremost on incident prevention rather than on incident intervention. Monitor weather, tide, ocean current, and related conditions that may not only affect the safety of those recreating in the ocean, but also at the water's edge. Warn park visitors about actions or conditions that are unsafe both in the ocean and on the beach. Rescue, alone or with others, swimmers in distress or in danger of drowning using a rescue-flotation device, rescue board, ocean kayak, surfboat, or motorized craft. Provide urgent first-aid care, including basic life support and CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), and the use of oxygen and automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment. You must be able to pass the surf-lifeguard test. Candidates must pass all parts of the test - includes the following: Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes using a swimming stroke performed on the front only; and Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes. All applicants will be tested upon entry on duty. GS-05: These positions involve performing or leading work concerned with protecting the public against preventable danger and drowning death in the waters officially designated for swimming at a crowded and extended surf-beach seashore area. This work typically involves preventive surf-life guarding; rescuing, either individually or as a member of a team, persons in distress or in danger of drowning; administering urgent first-aid care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; controlling usually large crowds; operating and maintaining rescue equipment and enforcing agency regulations. Required to be able to work outdoors for long periods of time. You must be able to pass the surf-lifeguard test. Candidates must pass all parts of the test - includes the following: Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes using a swimming stroke performed on the front only; and Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes. All applicants will be tested upon entry on duty.
