Lifeguard

Position Information

The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department is hiring lifeguards to work the 2026 Summer Season!

Salary starting at $24.35

Multiple positions available!

As a Lifeguard you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments, and perform duties that include:

• Monitoring swimming beaches at Spring Lake swimming Lagoon, and Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach
• Supporting family fun activities at Spring Lake Water Park
• Lifeguarding the Vamos A Nadar water safety program
• Supporting Junior Lifeguard Camp
• Educating the public on the Russian River Water Safety Patrol when visiting the beaches at Steelhead, Sunset, and Forestville River Access
• Performing water rescues and administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other first aid, when needed

As an ideal candidate you will possess one or many of the following:

• Lifeguard Training Class (American Red Cross or YMCA)
• United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) Lifeguard Training Certificate
• Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22) Card Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for the Professional Rescuer (American Red Cross or American Heart Association)
• American Red Cross Emergency Responder or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Lifeguards must attend a paid, 80-hour training the weeks of June 8 - 12 and June 15 - 19, 2026. Additionally, Lifeguards are provided a uniform that is required to be worn while on duty. Lifeguards work between the hours of 10:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Peak season is between May - September, and a typical work schedule is 32-40 hours per week.

For details about the various lifeguard work environments across the County, please visit

Regional Parks hires 15-20 Lifeguards/Supervising Lifeguards per season. As a United States Lifesaving Association Certified Agency, the County of Sonoma Regional Parks Department ensures Lifeguards are trained in over 80 hours of first aid rescue techniques.

Important Note: This position requires the ability to complete a 550 yards (500 meters) open swim in under 10 minutes.

Extra-Help Employment

Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Intermittent, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most regular employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage, accrual of vacation, participation in the County retirement program, or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Intermittent, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of 1,380 hours within any twelve-month consecutive period.

Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple temporary, extra-help positions in the Regional Parks Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Experience and

Education:

Any combination of experience, training, and education that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. A typical way to qualify is:
Recent experience in water activities and water-related safety, such as swimming, boating, canoeing, and other related activities. Applicants will be required to demonstrate the ability to swim 550 yards (500 meters) in less than 10 minutes. Experience as a Lifeguard is highly desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The positions advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Lifeguard Academy: Within six months of hire and prior to any assignment of lifeguard duties, successful completion of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Lifeguard Academy and obtaining the necessary certifications which comply with current standards for open water lifeguards.

Desired

Certifications:

Possession of a valid American Red Cross/Lifeguard Training certificate, YMCA Lifeguarding Certificate, United States Lifesaving Association Lifeguard Training Certificate, or equivalent certification, AND an Emergency Medical Services Authority First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22) card, AND American Red Cross or American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for the Professional Rescuer, AND possession of a valid American Red Cross Emergency Responder or Emergency Medical Technician certificate is desirable.

Considerable knowledge of: modern water safety practices and accepted lifesaving and lifeguarding techniques; current principles and the…