(Seasonal) Recreation Assistant/Aid (Lifeguard) Job

Vacancy No. PW-1548-SR-25-12632638-DE Department National Park Service
Salary $19.24 to $28.07 Grade 3 to 4
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/25/2025 Close Date 3/12/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
San Francisco, CAStinson Beach, CA


Summary

These positions are located in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, in the Division of Visitor and Resource Protection.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Golden Gate National Recreation Area is April to May but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2025

Visit Golden Gate National Recreation Area for additional park information and Stinson Beach for position location specific information.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary depending on funding, weather conditions and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding.

Duties

  • Performs as an open water/ocean lifeguard. Meets United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) standards for a Seasonal Open Water Lifeguard.
  • Ensures all aquatic rescue and emergency equipment is maintained and stored.
  • Responds to a wide variety of emergency search and rescue situations.
  • Assists with the instruction and supervision of Volunteer in the Park (VIP) program.
  • Provides visitors information.
  • Assists Law Enforcement staff with enforcement of rules and regulations to designated aquatic areas and resource protection.
  • Educates visitors about life habits and behavior of Park fauna.
  • Provides informal and formal interpretive and information services to the general public and special interest groups concerning area marine resources and aquatic safety services.
  • Prepares Case Incident reports.
  • Assists other agencies.
  • Conducts traffic control for vehicle accidents.
  • Complies with OSHA programs within the park.
Additional Conditions of Employment: You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

Pre-employment medical required for new hires or those who have not had one in 5 years.

Physical fitness requirement as per RM-57, United States Lifesaving Association, American Red Cross, and other applicable guidelines must be met prior to and on a continuing basis during employment. Successfully completes pre-employment test demonstrating adequate physical strength and stamina to perform rigorous duties of an open water lifeguard.

Demonstrates the ability to swim 500 meters (550 yards) over a measures course in ten minutes. There is a high-stress component to much of the incumbent's work assignment.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

For additional information about these positions, please contact:
Scott Palmer, Scott_Palmer@nps.gov
Xave Agnew, Xave_Agnew@nps.gov

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
  • You possess a current, valid, nationally recognized lifeguard certification issued by the United States Lifesaving Association or American Red Cross or a similar certification.
  • You will assist with Emergency Medical Services and must be certified in First Aid and CPR prior to any assignment on the beach. Will be trained as a First Responder during course of employment.
  • Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/12/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position performs ocean lifeguarding duties, and a nationally recognized lifeguard certification issued by United States Lifesaving Association or American Red Cross, or a similar certification agency, is required. You must provide a legible copy (front & back) of the certificate with your application package.

- AND -

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position performs ocean lifeguarding duties, and a nationally recognized CPR/ First Aid certification issued by American Red Cross, or a similar certification agency, is required. You must provide a legible copy (front & back) of the certificate with your application package.

To qualify for this position at the GS-03 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least six months of general experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of this position; OR is experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of 1 year above high school with course(s) related to the occupation. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. A combination of education and general experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements for experience, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 6. To compute the percentage of the requirements for education divide your total amount of semester hours by 30 or quarter hours by 45. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-04 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least six months of general experience AND six months of specialized experience. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers, or resort recreational activities. Teacher's aid in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities. Aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service. Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities. Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children). Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop. Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility. Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.
-OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of two years (60 semester hours) of education above high school with at least 12 semester hours in any combination of related courses related to recreation (e.g., basic psychology, group dynamics, physical education, arts and crafts). IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
-OR-
Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. A combination of education and general and specialized experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements for experience, divide your total months of qualifying general experience by 6 and your total months of qualifying specialized experience by 6. To compute the percentage of the requirements for education divide your total amount of semester hours by 60 or quarter hours by 90. You must include hours worked per week in your resume.


Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

Physical Demands: The work of the incumbent regularly includes long periods of sitting, standing, swimming, paddling, hiking and/or climbing, in many cases on steep, rough, slippery, and/or rugged terrain. Strenuous exertion is frequently required in lifesaving, search and rescue, medical and related emergency activities. Lifting or carrying equipment weighing over 50 pounds, such as lifesaving or search and rescue equipment, is required. In some assignments, heavy packs may have to be carried long distances over mountainous, coastal, or cliff terrain.

Duties involve performing physically rigorous assignments, oftentimes in isolated outdoor hazardous environments, frequently while exposed to severe weather conditions. Panicked victim(s) must be physically confronted, subdued, rescued and returned to shore. Victims may be restrained to ensure Park visitor and employee safety.Duties require manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip and knee joints. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that incumbent may perform the duties satisfactorily.

Working Conditions: While some work may be performed in an office setting, most of the work is performed outdoors in all kinds of weather and climatic conditions. The work is performed at various hours of the day and night and for prolonged periods during emergency situations. The employee is frequently exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations in emergency types of situations requiring use of a wide range of personal protective gear (some of which may be uncomfortable, wet, or inconvenient to wear), adherence to specific safety procedures and other precautions. Emergency operations require entry into hazardous environments, exposure to dangerous persons, animals, substances and potential exposure to infectious disease.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility.

The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • First Response
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Technical Competence


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a panel resume review, ??????????????and structured interview. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/12/2025:

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
  2. Complete All Required Assessments.
  3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
    • Veterans Preference Documentation:
      • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
      • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
      • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
  4. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
  5. Documentation that you meet Selective Factor - Lifeguard Certification with CPR.
  6. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 90 on the rating criteria for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/12/2025. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

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  4. Select documents you want included in this application.
  5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
  6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
  7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
  8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
  9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  10. Review and Submit Application.
  11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  12. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
    • To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
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Agency contact information

Christopher Lee
Address
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Fort Mason
Building 201
San Francisco, CA 94123
US

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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