Under the direction of the Head Lifeguard and/or the Pool Manager/Assistant Pool Manager in the Parks & Recreation Department the Lifeguard creates a safe and welcoming atmosphere while promoting and maintain safe swimming conditions in the pool, deck and surrounding areas in accordance with Departmental policies and procedures.
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience 0-1+ years of experience as a Lifeguard. Experience interacting with people of various ages with diverse backgrounds. Must be 16+ to apply.
Certifications: First Aid/AED.
Required: American Red Cross (ARC) Lifeguard certification (or similar).
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Sound knowledge of proper swimming techniques and water safety rules. Knowledge of CPR and water rescue methods and techniques.
Ability: Ability to follow written and verbal instructions. Ability to provide lifesaving rescue. Ability to work professionally with members, volunteers and staff.
Skill: Highly skilled in the application of lifeguarding surveillance and rescue techniques. Excellent conflict resolution and communication skills. Multilingual skills in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole, Mandarin, and/or Nepali is preferred but not required.
Covers work that requires some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain or standing or walking most of the work period. Occasionally, work may require lifting heavy objects and carrying them. There may be a need to stretch and reach to retrieve materials. Usually, the work will require extended physical effort over a significant portion of the workday.
Physical and Mental Requirements
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 position’s essential functions.
Physical Skills
Sitting, standing, walking, climbing/ladders, squatting/kneeling, reaching, grasping, pushing/pulling, twisting/bending, lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs. multiple times per shift, talking, hearing, and seeing.
Motor Skills
Duties are both mental and physical; the job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
Visual Skills
Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
Hours: Part-Time/Seasonal
Salary: $20.00 - $31.00 hourly based on experience; no benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Date Posted: March 13, 2024
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The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
of Total Rewards:
Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.

CITY GOVERNMENT: Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City Council govern the City of Somerville, dubbed the "Best Run City" in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe. Numerous national awards and recognition bestowed upon Somerville in recent years include ranking as a top ten Walk Friendly Community and a "Biker's Paradise", three "All America City" awards, four designations as a U.S. "100 Best Communities for Young People," and federal recognition for the Shape Up Somerville healthy living program.
THE CITY ITSELF: Somerville just may be the most interesting 4.1 square miles in New England. Next door to Boston and Cambridge, Somerville is not just close to the abundance of history, high tech, top schools, and culture the Boston area offers, it's a central part of it. George Washington raised the first U.S. flag here, and today Somerville's diverse population of 81,000 spans all walks of life and hails from across the globe (more than 60 languages are spoken by students in our public schools). The City is known for its commitment to progressive ideals, thriving green-tech and innovation hubs, vibrant town squares packed with independent local businesses, a popular restaurant scene, ethnic markets, a proud blue-collar and immigrant heritage, a high-quality workforce, access to higher learning (including Harvard, MIT, and Tufts), and an active and always original arts and maker community (more artists per square mile live here than in any U.S. city other than NYC).
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