LAKE LIFEGUARD CANDIDATE, Temporary

County of Los Angeles; Arcadia (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Los Angeles invites applications for an intensive lake lifeguard trainee program overseeing three lakes: Castaic Lake, Bonelli Lake, and Santa Fe Dam Lake. The role begins with a rigorous academy and evolves into active water safety duties.

No prior experience is required, but applicants must swim 1000 meters in 18 minutes, pass fitness tests, and hold a CA Class C driver's license or alternate transport.

Qualifications

• No experience or prior training required.
• Swim 1000 meters in 18 minutes or less.
• Pass a Physical Class 4 fitness assessment.
• Valid California Class C driver’s license or alternative transportation.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Vision: 20/30 in each eye; hearing constraints as listed.

Responsibilities

• Participates in a training academy.
• Learns lifesaving techniques and procedures for lake surveillance, rescue, and ordinance enforcement.
• Receives field training to perform rescues and medical care.
• Learns identification of open water hazards and human behavior near water.
• Learns and prepares for CPR and first aid certifications.

Skills

Swim 1000m in 18m

Physical endurance

Driver's license

Age 16+

Vision 20/30

Hearing limits 25–35 dB

Job description

SALARY: $18.47 Hourly

LAKE LIFEGUARD SALARY RANGE (UPON COMPLETION OF ACADEMY): $29.83 - $31.49 per hour

FILING OPENING: The application filing period will begin on September 24, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

Exam number: D2947F

We welcome applications from everyone.

About The Job

Participates in an intensive training academy in advanced open water lifeguarding and emergency medical response. Oversees water safety and patrol beaches at the Department of Parks & Recreation's three regional lakes. (Castaic Lake, in Castaic, Frank G. Bonelli Lake, in San Dimas, and Santa Fe Dam Lake, in Irwindale)

Why work for us?

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, over 116,000 employees in more than 38 Departments, we provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more. We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. The County has more than 2,300 different job descriptions, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the country. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

Essential Job Functions

• Under close supervision, participates in a training academy.
• Through classroom and field training, learns proper lifesaving techniques and procedures for lake surveillance, victim recognition, lake entry, lake rescue, vessel assistance, and park and lake ordinance enforcement.
• Receives instruction and participates in field training to learn proper procedures and acquire proficiency in the rescue or evacuation of persons endangered by hazardous lake conditions and in the provision of emergency medical care.
• Receives instruction in the identification of, and human behavior related to open water and unsafe lake conditions.
• Receives instruction in enforcement of county ordinances.
• Receives instruction and prepares for authorized lifesaving, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certifications.

Requirements

• No experience or prior training is required.
• Candidates must have the ability to swim 1000 meters in 18 minutes or less.
• Physical Class 4 - Arduous - Involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in safety positions.
• A valid California Class C Driver’s License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• Must be at least 16 years of age at time of swim test.
• Vision: At least 20/30 in each eye without correction.
• Hearing: No greater than a 25 dB loss in the better ear as averaged over the test frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz. No greater than a 35 dB loss in the worse ear as averaged over the test frequencies, and no peak loss greater than 45 dB at any of the test frequencies.

Potential Work Sites

• Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, San Dimas, CA
• Castaic Lake, Castaic, CA
• Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, CA

Shift: Various; includes weekends, nights, and holidays.

Application And Filing Information

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY U.S. MAIL, FAX OR IN-PERSON WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Social Security Number: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Testing Accommodation: If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, let us know by contacting the ADA/Testing Coordinator at [phone].

Department Contact Name: Francis Sanchez

Department Contact Number: 626-612-1494

Department Contact Email: [e-mail]

Teletype Phone: [phone]

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law.

Employment Eligibility

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

Testing Accommodations for Applicants

The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting.

Fair Chance

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Veteran’s Credit

Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.