Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.
As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:
The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:
In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.
Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.
Salary: $17.00 - $20.54 Hourly (GS.04N)
Work Hours: Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.
Work Location: Depends on assignment.
FLSA Status: This is a Non-Exempt position.
Department: Community Development - Aquatics
Supervise the pool facilities with priority given to the safety of patrons. Enforce water safety rules, rescue persons in distress, perform first aid and CPR as needed, complete reports, and perform required maintenance. Must be comfortable working independently with minimal supervision.
The Lifeguard 2 is the second level in a three-level lifeguard series.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)
Participate in pre-season training and orientations, and attend staff meetings. Complete a minimum of four (4) hours of in-service training every month.
Be familiar with the aquatic division policies and procedures manual (annually). Recognize, understand, and consistently apply safety rules, policies, and guidelines for the pool and aquatic area.
Must have a thorough understanding of all EAP (Emergency Action Plans) for all incidents in pools, such as missing swimmer, active shooter, fight, weather, and drowning emergencies.
Maintain or improve your current level of swimming fitness.
Must be able to meet the certification requirement and demonstrate lifeguard skills at any time during employment.
Supervise pool patrons while in or around the pool areas.
Maintain active surveillance of the pool area.
Evaluate potentially dangerous situations and, if necessary, respond to all emergencies immediately, perform the appropriate required rescue for the situation, and provide proper first aid as needed.
Complete required reports as necessary for adequate tracking within the pool areas. Rescues must be documented and recorded on the rescue map within the designated areas.
Communicate any problems and/or concerns to supervisory staff on hand.
Trains lower-level staff on essential functions and performs job shadowing.
Substitutes for Lifeguard 3 when unavailable to perform the required duties.
Maintenance and cleaning of pool area: i.e., hosing of locker areas, deck, hallways, emptying trash, picking up trash, as outlined on the daily maintenance log.
Examines the playing surface before every game to ensure safe playing conditions; uses appropriate signals and mechanics; reports unsafe conditions to the supervisor. Inspects sporting equipment and/or examines participants in order to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
Reports facility maintenance needs to be supervised as necessary.
Complete facility safety checks, opening and closing duties, report unsafe conditions, and take action to correct conditions.
Complete the breakdown activity process for assigned areas and put equipment up at the end of games if needed.
Assist with swim lessons as necessary.
Administer group orientations and swim tests.
Perform secondary duties when not on duty, such as water clarity tests, daily reports, assisting the front desk, adding chemicals, and collecting fees for programs, as necessary.
Ability to safely operate pool vacuum systems.
Establish and maintain effective relations with patrons and fellow employees.
Maintain a high level of sportsmanship and penalize unsporting behavior.
Be familiar with pool programs and schedules, and answer all inquiries from the public.
Communicates with other sporting officials, coaches, facility managers, subordinates, or the public by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person in order to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.
Work non-standard hours and substitute as needed.
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
Performs other duties as assigned.
DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):
None
Must be at least 16 years old and possess one (1) year of previous lifeguard experience. Possess effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to understand and follow through with directions.
The incumbent must have a current American Red Cross, YMCA, or Ellis lifeguard certification.
Ability to read and comprehend written material. Ability to write. Ability to listen and apply information and instructions. Ability to understand mathematical concepts, including basic math. Ability to see possible dangerous situations and quickly respond to those situations. Ability to operate pool cleaning equipment, test kits, and use rescue equipment.
Positions in this class typically require sight, hearing, speech, walking, stooping/bending, standing, sitting, reaching, coordination, manual dexterity, climbing, and mental alertness. Sight—seeing well enough to locate possible hazards in and around the pool. Hearing—hear well enough to determine sounds of distress. Speech—speak well enough in a loud voice to communicate hazards and dangerous conditions to others. Walking—frequently walking around the pool area. Stooping and bending—frequently during maintenance duties and instructing swim lessons. Stand/sit—frequently sitting or standing to supervise the pool and facilities. Reaching—frequently when using rescue techniques. Coordination—frequently to swim and perform water rescue techniques. Manual dexterity—frequently performing routine maintenance and filling out records and forms. Climbing—frequently being able to climb pool ladders, entering and exiting pool and lifeguard stands. Mental alertness—frequently observing/scanning the pool area while sitting or standing for extended periods of time. Swimming—must be able to pass the prerequisite swim skills at any time during your employment.
Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Inside work: Cold/heat: humid air, temperature 87-98 degrees. Noise/vibration: exposed to excessive noise of swimmers and machinery. Hazards: moderate exposure to pool chemicals and blood-borne pathogens. Hazards: moderate exposure to pool chemicals and blood-borne pathogens. Outside work: Cold/heat (wet/dry): adverse weather conditions possible, long exposure to the sun. Noise/vibration: exposed to excessive noise. Hazards: moderate exposure to pool chemicals and blood-borne pathogens.
Safety Sensitive: Y
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: Y
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check / drug screening / lift test.
The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
KNV 9/02/2026
260728 KS/KM
Chattanooga, the 4th largest city in the state, is located in Southeast Tennessee near the border of Georgia at the junction of four interstate highways. The city has received national recognition for the renaissance of its beautiful downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront. The city boasts the most productive affordable housing program in the nation, and is notable for leveraging development funds through effective public/private partnerships, with significant civic involvement on the part of private foundations. Chattanooga was one of the first US cities to effectively use a citizen visioning process to set specific long-range goals to enrich the lives of residents and visitors.
