Ocean Lifeguard

Martin County Board of County Commissioners; Florida; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Martin County Board of County Commissioners seeks an Ocean Rescue Lieutenant to oversee lifesaving operations on county beaches, providing first aid and coordinating water rescue efforts. The role requires maintaining exceptional physical fitness, performing open-water rescues, and enforcing beach safety while assisting in emergency shelters during disasters.

This position may require duties during natural or man-made disasters and ongoing drills to maintain readiness, including passing required

Qualifications

• Knowledge of approved water rescue methodology.
• Knowledge of applicable county rules, regulations, and ordinances related to park and beach use and to use and exercise tact, firmness, and good judgment in enforcement of such rules and regulations.
• Ability to meet the physically arduous challenge routinely presented in water rescue of drowning persons.
• Ability to prevent dangerous situations from arising and to recognize emergencies and take effective action.
• Ability to perform work that is physically demanding and/or arduous and maintain high levels of physical fitness and extraordinary agility, and competency to staff/provide health care services in special needs shelters during times of emergency or major disaster.
• Maintain high level of skill in life saving techniques and ocean swimming.
• Must be able to pass current physical agility test as recognized by the US Lifesaving Association (and/or a nationally recognized agency) MCBOCC currently uses the USLA recommended 500-meter swim in 10-minutes or less.
• Ability to learn departmental policies and procedures.
• Must possess a High School Diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma.
• Must complete a minimum of one thousand (1000) hours ocean lifeguarding experience within twelve (12) months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provides basic first aid and assists with pre-hospital on-the-scene emergency medical care including open water rescue of drowning victims.
• Maintains high standard of physical/cardiopulmonary fitness through established daily on-duty workout program in order to ensure agility and physically demanding strength needed for applicable duties, such as running, swimming, and lifting patients.
• Maintains high level of mental acuity in order to distinguish necessary aquatic characteristics during daily observation.
• Maintains constant observation over assigned beach areas with a high level of mental acuity.
• Conducts routine checks of equipment to ensure that all first-aid supplies and life sustaining equipment are maintained and operational at all times.
• Carries out routine applicable duties, including participation in regularly scheduled physical/agility drills and training sessions.
• Staff special needs shelters during times of emergency or major disaster.
• Performs work related to this job description as required.

Skills

Water rescue knowledge

First aid

Physical fitness

Lifesaving skills

Ocean swimming

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Under the Ocean Rescue Lieutenant, provides skilled protection of the lives, health, safety and welfare of the public visiting Martin County beaches.

In the event of a natural or man-made disaster that may threaten the area, the employee may be required to perform emergency duties as directed.

(Note: The listed duties are illustrative only and are not intended to describe each and every function, which may be performed in the job class. The omission of specific statements does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

Provides basic first aid and assists with pre-hospital on-the-scene emergency medical care including open water rescue of drowning victims

Maintains high standard of physical/cardiopulmonary fitness through established daily on-duty workout program in order to ensure agility and physically demanding strength needed for applicable duties, such as running, swimming, and lifting patients.

Maintains high level of mental acuity in order to distinguish necessary aquatic characteristics during daily observation.

Maintains constant observation over assigned beach areas with a high level of mental acuity.

Conducts routine checks of equipment to ensure that all first-aid supplies and life sustaining equipment are maintained and operational at all times.

Carries out routine applicable duties, including participation in regularly scheduled physical/agility drills and training sessions.

Staff special needs shelters during times of emergency or major disaster.

Performs work related to this job description as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

(Note: The knowledge, skills, and abilities identified in this class specification represent those needed to perform the duties of this class. Additional knowledge, skills and abilities may be applicable for individual positions.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Knowledge of approved water rescue methodology.

Knowledge of applicable county rules, regulations, and ordinances related to park and beach use and to use and exercise tact, firmness, and good judgment in enforcement of such rules and regulations.

Ability to meet the physically arduous challenge routinely presented in water rescue of drowning persons.

Ability to prevent dangerous situations from arising and to recognize emergencies and take effective action.

Ability to perform work that is physically demanding and/or arduous and maintain high levels of physical fitness and extraordinary agility, and competency to staff/provide health care services in special needs shelters during times of emergency or major disaster.

Maintain high level of skill in life saving techniques and ocean swimming.

Must be able to pass current physical agility test as recognized by the US Lifesaving Association (and/or a nationally recognized agency) MCBOCC currently uses the USLA recommended 500-meter swim in 10-minutes or less.

Ability to learn departmental policies and procedures.

Must possess a High School Diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma.

Must complete a minimum of one thousand (1000) hours ocean lifeguarding experience within twelve (12) months of hire.

Additional qualifying education and/or experience which provide the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted one for the other on a year for year basis.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License

Must possess a current BLS CPR certification

Must attain First Responder Certification through Martin County Fire Rescue during New Hire Training onboarding process

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction)

Acceptable hearing (with or without correction)

Ability to sit for long periods of time.

Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, calculator, telephone, copier, and other related office equipment as necessary.

Must be able to meet and maintain the timed bi-annual swim test requirement.

Occasional lifting/light physical work.

Occasional walking, running, carrying, working speed, hand/wrist movement, swimming/waves.

Frequent standing.

Constant speaking, hearing, seeing, color vision use, depth perception use.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed primarily outdoors.

Involves frequent interaction with people.

Occasionally wet, working on slippery surfaces, wavy/choppy.

Very frequently humid.

Constantly outside, hot, noisy, working with adequate lighting and ventilation, working from high places, exposed to burns, exposed to insects.