National Park Service
Summary
This is an open continuous announcement, in which applications are collected over several months, and have multiple cut‑off dates. Applications received by the initial cut‑off date will be considered first.
INITIAL CUT OFF IS Thursday, January 8, 2026 Duties
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. Major Duties GS-3
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. 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. 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. Environmental and Equipment Monitoring: Assists in inspecting beach areas for hazards, correcting or reporting deficiencies, and maintaining assigned safety and rescue equipment. 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
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. Emergency Response: Performs ocean rescues, provides emergency medical care, participates in search and rescue operations, and operates off‑road vehicles (ATVs) for rapid response. Environmental Monitoring: Inspects beach areas for safety and environmental concerns, makes corrections when possible, and reports unresolved issues to appropriate personnel. 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. 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 employee will also use various rescue devices such as rescue fins, rescue kayaks and rescue paddleboards and must exhibit an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye, or a best corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better. The role involves long periods of sitting, standing, and running over uneven terrain and driving ATVs in adverse weather conditions. The employee must meet daily running of 1.25 miles in 12 minutes or less and a timed swim of 500 yards in less than 10 minutes. Strenuous exertion is required in search and rescue operations. Working Conditions
Most 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 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. Requirements
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. Submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment; subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Pass a pre‑employment medical examination and meet physical fitness standards throughout employment. Wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards; a uniform allowance will be provided. Possess a valid state driver's license by start date. May be required to complete training and operate a four‑wheel drive vehicle, ATVs, and small watercraft. Meet age and education requirements as described in the qualifications section. Government Housing may be available. Special priority status for certain federal or displaced individuals may apply. Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (03/31/2026) unless otherwise stated. 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, and full or part‑time hours worked. Failure to provide adequate information will result in that time not being credited. For GS‑3: At least six (6) months of general experience or one year above high school with coursework related to the position; or a combination of experience and education equal to 100% of the requirement. Specialized experience for GS‑4 requires six (6) months of general experience AND six (6) months of specialized experience, or equivalent combination. Education
Submit legible transcripts from an accredited institution. Transcripts need not be official for initial application but must be official before beginning employment. Foreign education must be evaluated by a private organization or deemed equivalent to a U.S. accredited program. Additional Information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Temporary seasonal employees can maintain non‑competitive rehire eligibility under limitations. Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government and upholding the rule of law and the Constitution. Additional information about 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 rewarding. 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.
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This is an open continuous announcement, in which applications are collected over several months, and have multiple cut‑off dates. Applications received by the initial cut‑off date will be considered first.
INITIAL CUT OFF IS Thursday, January 8, 2026 Duties
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. Major Duties GS-3
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. 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. 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. Environmental and Equipment Monitoring: Assists in inspecting beach areas for hazards, correcting or reporting deficiencies, and maintaining assigned safety and rescue equipment. 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
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. Emergency Response: Performs ocean rescues, provides emergency medical care, participates in search and rescue operations, and operates off‑road vehicles (ATVs) for rapid response. Environmental Monitoring: Inspects beach areas for safety and environmental concerns, makes corrections when possible, and reports unresolved issues to appropriate personnel. 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. 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 employee will also use various rescue devices such as rescue fins, rescue kayaks and rescue paddleboards and must exhibit an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye, or a best corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better. The role involves long periods of sitting, standing, and running over uneven terrain and driving ATVs in adverse weather conditions. The employee must meet daily running of 1.25 miles in 12 minutes or less and a timed swim of 500 yards in less than 10 minutes. Strenuous exertion is required in search and rescue operations. Working Conditions
Most 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 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. Requirements
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. Submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment; subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Pass a pre‑employment medical examination and meet physical fitness standards throughout employment. Wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards; a uniform allowance will be provided. Possess a valid state driver's license by start date. May be required to complete training and operate a four‑wheel drive vehicle, ATVs, and small watercraft. Meet age and education requirements as described in the qualifications section. Government Housing may be available. Special priority status for certain federal or displaced individuals may apply. Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (03/31/2026) unless otherwise stated. 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, and full or part‑time hours worked. Failure to provide adequate information will result in that time not being credited. For GS‑3: At least six (6) months of general experience or one year above high school with coursework related to the position; or a combination of experience and education equal to 100% of the requirement. Specialized experience for GS‑4 requires six (6) months of general experience AND six (6) months of specialized experience, or equivalent combination. Education
Submit legible transcripts from an accredited institution. Transcripts need not be official for initial application but must be official before beginning employment. Foreign education must be evaluated by a private organization or deemed equivalent to a U.S. accredited program. Additional Information
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Temporary seasonal employees can maintain non‑competitive rehire eligibility under limitations. Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government and upholding the rule of law and the Constitution. Additional information about 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 rewarding. 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.
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