Lead Lifeguard

City-of-Santa-Maria,-C; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Santa Maria is seeking a Lead Lifeguard to oversee day-to-day operations at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center or local high school pools. This part-time, 32-hour-per-week position focuses on lifeguard leadership, staff training, and ensuring patron safety.

Ideal candidates bring lifeguarding experience, customer service strengths, and a proactive, team-oriented approach. Certifications include lifeguarding, CPR for the professional rescuer, and Title 22, with additional responsibilities

Qualifications

• Two years of lifeguarding experience preferred.
• One year of college or university work in recreation, physical education or related field.
• Current certifications: Lifeguarding, CPR for the professional rescuer, Title 22.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, supervise and direct day-to-day activities of lifeguarding staff.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing and hiring aquatic personnel; conduct staff trainings.
• Prepare incident/accident reports and enforce pool safety rules.
• Safeguard swimmers and patrons and provide lessons with swim instructors as needed.
• Assist with general facility maintenance and housekeeping tasks.

Skills

Lifeguarding

Public safety

Team leadership

Customer service

Communication

Initiative

Reliability

Safety protocols

First aid/CPR

Education

College coursework in recreation/PE

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Closing Date: 10/08/2026 8:00 AM

Under general direction of assigned supervisor, performs duties and responsibilities related to the building and leading of a lifeguard team and is responsible for day-to-day oversight of programs, activities and staff at either the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center or one of the high school pools.

The Lead Lifeguard position is an Individual Contributor role that provides pool patron safety, leadership and staff training. Their role enables the Santa Maria residents to learn about safety around water and to enjoy a healthy, safe and pleasant environment to participate in recreational activities.

NOTE: This is a Part-time (32 hours per week) job class and is benefit eligible.

WHO WE ARE:

The City of Santa Maria is a full-service city with a Council/Manager form of government with over 700 employees and serves approximately 108,000 constituents. The City is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The community is a harmonious balance of coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business. Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers reasonably priced housing, community festivals, quality schools, cultural arts, a local airport, wineries, and higher education institutions and is near locally accessible beaches.

WHAT WE DO:

The Lead Lifeguard position will work in the Recreation Division at one of three aquatic facility locations. The locations are the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center, Pioneer Valley High School pool, and Santa Maria High School pool. Candidates must have certification in American Red Cross lifeguarding, CPR for the professional rescuer, and Title 22. The incumbent will be involved in safeguarding aquatics patrons and providing day-to-day leadership of other aquatic staff as needed.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The ideal candidate will be reliable, courteous, energetic and a team player; motivated self-starter, who works well independently and takes initiative; communicates effectively with a wide range of people and motivates fellow employees; demonstrate an ability to provide exemplary customer service and perform other duties as assigned in a professional manner while presenting a positive public image; and has at least one year of experience serving in a lead or supervisory role, preferably in an aquatics or recreation setting.

REQUIRED SUBMITTALS:

• Application


• Cover letter highlighting experience and explaining interest in position.


• Resume

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION:

Lead Lifeguard - Senior Lifeguard

• Monitors, supervises and directs the day-to-day activities at the facilities and the actions of Lifeguarding staff;


• Assists with recruiting, interviewing and hiring aquatic personnel and written evaluations of staff; responsible for staff meetings, trainings and in-service training; assists with the disciplinary process of aquatic staff.


• Reports any problems, issues or circumstances that transpire at their assigned location; prepares written incident/accident reports.


• Safeguards swimmers and patrons and enforces pool safety rules and regulations while lifeguarding.


• Assists swim instructors in teaching swimming lessons as needed.


• Assists with general facility maintenance.


• Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of the department director.

• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.


• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.


• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.

• Ideally, two years of lifeguarding experience; and


• One year of college or university work in recreation, physical education or related field.


• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.


• Must be at least 18 years of age, in good health, and possess appropriate physical strength to perform duties as a lifeguard.


• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
  
  
  
  • Lifeguarding, first aid, public safety, and role of the professional rescuer.
  
  
  • Rules and regulations of an aquatic facility.
  
  
  • Effective lifesaving techniques, CPR, first aid.
  
  
  • Accident prevention and accident management.
  
  
  • Intervention and conflict resolution strategies.
  
  
  • Legal duty to perform.
  
  
  • Special issues associated with conducting activities for citizens possessing a wide variety of physical and mental abilities.
  
  
  • Team building techniques and supervision of lifeguards.
  
  
  • Health and safety regulations.
  
  
  • Current standards for lifeguarding facilities.
  
  
  • Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
  
  
  • Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent).
  
  
  • Use computer and other office equipment effectively.
  
  
  
  


• Required licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment, such as:
  
  
  
  • American Red Cross Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR, AED, Title 22, and Bloodborne Pathogens.
  
  
  • Possession of a current (less than two years old) Tuberculosis clearance.
  
  
  • The American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor/Instructor Trainer, American Red Cross Title 22 Instructor/Instructor Trainer and American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor/Instructor Trainer are desired.
  
  
  
  

Individual Contributor:

Incumbents should have a solid foundation of the following core competencies identified by the organization to be essential and listed in order of importance (click the hyper link to see the full definition Individual Contributor Competencies):

• Team Player - Effective performers are team oriented, share resources, respond to requests, and support a spirit of cooperative effort.


• Customer Orientation - Effective performers are in touch with community needs and review the organization through the eyes of Santa Maria residents. They go out of their way to anticipate needs.


• Integrity - Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.


• Communicativeness - Effective performers recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings. They actively seek information from a variety of sources and disseminate it in a variety of ways. They use modern technologies to access and circulate information, even across great distances. They take responsibility for ensuring that their people have the current and accurate information needed for success.


• Initiative- Effective performers are proactive and take action without being prompted. They do not wait to be told what to do or when to do it. They see a need, take responsibility, and act on it. They make things happen.


• Composure - Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.


• Functional/Technical Expertise - Effective performers are knowledgeable and skilled in a functional specialty (e.g., finance, public works, planning, information technology, human resources, etc.), and remain current in their area of expertise.


• Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.


• Learning Agility - Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.


• Drive/Energy - Effective performers have a high level of energy and are ambitious and passionate about their role. They have stamina and endurance to maintain a fast pace.

Application Ranking:

Application, including resume and cover letter will be evaluated and scored. Candidate's final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by their complete application packet upon meeting the employment standards of the position.

Departmental selection interviews with the hiring department will be scheduled once the Eligibility List has been established.

Prior to a formal offer of employment, applicants must pass a thorough background investigation to the satisfaction of the City.