Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)

These positions are either located in the Maryland district or Virginia district. The primary goals of the lifeguard operation are to prevent drowning within the designated lifeguard area, to provide appropriate medical care for ill and injured visitors and to respond appropriately to incidents outside of the lifeguard area. These positions serve as Surf Lifeguards at one of two protected beach units. The purpose of the position is to provide protection for visitors and the resources.

The GS-3 Recreation Aid (Surf Lifeguard-in-Training) is a training and support role, focused on learning and assisting.
The GS-4 Recreation Assistant (Surf Lifeguard) is a fully operational role, with independent responsibilities in safety enforcement, emergency response, and public education.

Major Duties GS-3

1. Training and Development: Receives over 100 hours of pre-season and daily in-service training in EMS, surf lifeguard skills, physical fitness, and safety procedures to prepare for lifeguard responsibilities.
2. Emergency Response Support: Learns to perform ocean rescues, provide emergency medical care, and assist in search and rescue operations under supervision, including operating ATVs for emergency response.
3. Visitor Safety and Education: Trains to supervise beach visitors, enforce safety rules, and educate the public on surf hazards, park regulations, and wildlife interaction through direct contact and presentations.
4. Environmental and Equipment Monitoring: Assists in inspecting beach areas for hazards, correcting or reporting deficiencies, and maintaining assigned safety and rescue equipment.
5. Documentation and Reporting: Learns to complete lost-and-found reports, incident records, and daily operational logs in accordance with federal and agency guidelines.

Major Duties GS-4

1. Visitor Safety and Enforcement: Supervises beach visitors using safety controls (e.g., signage, flag systems, enforcement actions) and provides education on park rules, surf hazards, and wildlife interaction.
2. Emergency Response: Performs ocean rescues, provides emergency medical care, participates in search and rescue operations, and operates off-road vehicles (ATVs) for rapid response.
3. Environmental Monitoring: Inspects beach areas for safety and environmental concerns, makes corrections when possible, and reports unresolved issues to appropriate personnel.
4. Public Communication and Education: Conducts surf condition assessments, posts safety data, and delivers interpretive presentations to educate the public on surf safety and park policies.
5. Equipment and Documentation: Maintains rescue and safety equipment, completes lost-and-found and incident reports, and ensures accurate data entry on daily logs and signage.

Physical Demands: The duties affiliated with this position are considered rigorous; as such, the incumbent will be required to meet prescribed medical standards prior to employment in accordance with RM-57. The work requires daily strenuous physical exertion including running ½ mile or more with heavy rescue equipment, swimming long distances against currents and strong surf with heavy victims in tow and lifting and carrying heavy persons through large breaking waves.

The incumbent will be using various rescue devices such as rescue fins, rescue kayaks and rescue paddleboards in the ocean surf zone environment where they may be paddling, swimming and kayaking long distances through large breaking waves to execute effective rescues. The employee is required to exhibit an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye or a best corrected (contact lenses or spectacles) visual acuity of 20/20 or better.

The work of the employee regularly includes long periods of sitting, standing, and running over uneven terrain. The employee will also be driving ATVs in adverse weather conditions. The duties of the position require daily running and swimming and the employee must meet the prescribed physical requirements as measured by a timed swim of 500 yards in less than 10 minutes and a run of 1.25 miles in 12 minutes or less. Strenuous exertion is required in search and rescue operations.

Working Conditions: Most of the work is performed outdoors subject to weather variances such as extreme heat or cold, rainy conditions, high UV indexes, cold water temperatures, large waves, and marine organisms. The employee is frequently exposed to high risk and potentially dangerous situations when involved in emergency response situations requiring the use of a wide range of personal protective gear. Emergency operations will require entry into hazardous environments, exposure to dangerous persons, animals, substances, and potential exposure to infectious diseases. The terrain can be uneven and consists of soft or hard packed sand mixed with seashells and other debris.

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.
• 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.
• You must pass a pre-employment medical examination and meet physical fitness standards throughout employment.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You must possess, by your start date, and maintain a valid state driver's license.
• You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), and small watercraft.
• 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.
• Government Housing may be available.
• 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.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/31/2026-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.

You will not receive credit for experience that does not indicate the exact hours worked per week or is listed as "varies". Please ensure your resume/employment history includes all the information listed above. Failure to adequately provide the information stated above will result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.

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 (6) months of general experience. General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

Examples of general experience may include:

• Performing basic manual or clerical tasks in a recreational, hospitality, or service setting.
• Assisting with routine setup or cleanup of facilities, equipment, or event spaces.
• Providing basic information or directions to the public or visitors.
• Observing or shadowing others in a support role without independent responsibility.
• Performing entry-level tasks that require following instructions and working under close supervision.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one year above high school with some course work related to the position such as physical education or recreation. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

COMBINATION of Experience and Education: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. For GS-3 level positions, determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the 6 months experience required for GS-3; then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the 1 year of education that meets the requirements for GS-3. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-3.



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: 6 months of general experience AND 6 months of specialized experience.

General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

Examples of general experience may include:

• Performing basic manual or clerical tasks in a recreational, hospitality, or service setting.
• Assisting with routine setup or cleanup of facilities, equipment, or event spaces.
• Providing basic information or directions to the public or visitors.
• Observing or shadowing others in a support role without independent responsibility.
• Performing entry-level tasks that require following instructions and working under close supervision.

Specialized Experience is experience which is in the occupation of the position to be filled, in a related occupation, or in one of the specialized areas within that occupation, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

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.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to recreation (e.g., basic psychology, group dynamics, physical education, arts and crafts, etc.).

-OR-

COMBINATION of Experience and Education: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. For GS-4 level positions, determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the 1 year of experience required for GS-4; then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the 2 years of education that meets the requirements for GS-4. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-4. Courses related to recreation (e.g., basic psychology, group dynamics, physical education, arts and crafts, etc.).

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.

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.

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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 three categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
• 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
• Interpersonal Skills
• Public Safety and Security
• Technical Competence

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/31/2026:

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. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
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 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 85 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.

Next steps