Seasonal Supervisory Recreational Aid and Assistant (Surf-Lifeguard)

National Park Service • Gig • Patchogue, NY, US • 3w ago

Summary

The typical season is April-Sept, but can vary due to weather, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April-May 2026.

NOTE: OPM has identified this position as eligible for an exception to the typical 1039 hour season. This exception allows up to 1560 hours which may extend the season dates noted above. See additional information section for details.

Duties

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Responsible for the professional management and supervision of the Seashore's protected beaches, water safety recreation use program and emergency services.
Responds to emergency water related calls in and outside of the protected beach zones utilizing a rescue floatation device and swim fins, or a rescue board or kayak.
Develops and provides training to Seashore personnel in the following areas: CPR/ AED, first aid, oxygen administration and personal safety procedures; the Seashore's lifeguard standard operation procedures, including search and rescue techniques; proper use, care and maintenance of equipment; communication system and report writing procedure and submission.
Provides supervision to GS-3, GS-4, GS-5 and GS-6 Recreational Aid and Assistant (Lifeguard) personnel.
Ensures educational information is presented and distributed to park visitors, neighbors, staff and others.

Requirements

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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 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 may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
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.
Applicants must be at least (1)18 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.
Must possess and maintain a valid U.S. driver's license prior to entry on duty.
Must be able to obtain and maintain nationally recognized certificates in CPR/AED, and First-Aid within 30 days of entry on duty.
Must be able to obtain and maintain nationally recognized instructor's certificate in lifeguarding within 30 days of entry on duty.
You must be able to pass the surf-lifeguard test. Candidates must pass all parts of the test - includes the following: Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes using a swimming stroke performed on the front only; and Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes. All applicants will be tested upon entry on duty.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/12/2026-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.

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. For this position specialized experience is defined as experience: Providing supervision to Recreation Assistants (Lifeguard); patrolling and providing lifesaving services to the public at a pool or beach facility; managing a pool or beach facility; and conducting lifeguard and lifesaving training for a staff of Recreation Assistants (Lifeguard).

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of 1 full year of graduate education where it is DIRECTLY related to the work of the position. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

COMBINATION: 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.

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.

CTAP/ICTAP: 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. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP or 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

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 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.

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

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.

NOTE: In support of Executive Order (EO) 14189 "Celebrating America's 205th Birthday" and EO 14314 "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks" the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved an exception to the 1039 hour time limitation for this position. This approval extends the time limitation to 1560 hours for this temporary seasonal appointment.

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

Physical Demands: May require long periods of standing or sitting atop a fixed lifeguard tower, walking or running over rough, uneven hazardous surfaces, exposure to the sun, sand, wind, and rain, and lifting moderately heavy items. Strenuous exertion is required in search and rescue operations.

Working Conditions: Work is performed indoors and outdoors. Incumbent may be subject to weather variances and biting insects, as well as subject to cold water, waves, hot humid weather and marine organisms.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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