Become a Gateway Lifeguard

Duration:

1 minute, 3 seconds

Recruitment video for lifeguards at Gateway.

 

Gateway National Recreation Area is looking for dedicated staff to help keep our visitors safe. This is a federal job within the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior. Our beaches are at Jacob Riis Park, Queens, Great Kills Park, Staten Island, and Sandy Hook, in N.J. Lifeguards are on duty daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day from 10 am to 6 pm.
Pay ranges from at entry level GS 3 step 1($17.74/hr) to GS-7 step 10($35.88/hr) for supervisory guards.

Start Your Journey

Prep your resume. Lifeguard announcements are open now through June. All federal positions are advertised through USAjobs.gov. You can search for these positions by using the combination of National Park Service and the location of New York, New York or Highlands, New Jersey. You should specifiy which location you'd like to work in your application. All positions are listed below.

Train

Gateway National Recreation Area does not test ahead of time, but you will need to be able to accomplish the following items to be a succesful lifeguard.

• Swim 550 yards continuously in less than 10 minutes, using a swimming stroke performed on the front only.
• Run 1.25 miles continuously in less than 12 minutes.

Guard

If you are found qualified you will be contacted and may be offered a position to guard one of our beaches. Drug testing and medical exams are required for all lifeguards. You must also have a valid driver's license.

 

Important Facts About the Federal Hiring Process

The Federal Government does not have a standard job application. Your resume is your application.
You must apply through USAjobs.gov. This is the only way to apply for a federal position.
US Citizenship is required for all civilian federal positions.

 

Federal Resume

Whether you're a current federal employee or new to the Federal Government, your resume is the primary way for you to communicate your educations, skills, and experience. Federal positions often require experience in certain types of work for a certain period or time. Your resume should show how your skills and experiences meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job.

Here are some tips from USAjobs.gov for applying for a federal job.

Include dates, hours, level of experience, and examples for each work experience.
For each work experience listed, make sure to include:

• Start and end dates (including the month and year).
• Number of hours worked per week.
• Level and amount of experience.
• Examples of relevant expereinces and accomplishments to prove ability to perform tasks at level required by job stated in job announcement.

Include volunteer work and roles in community organizations.

More information about creating a federal resume can be found on USAjobs.gov.

 

Lifeguard Job Announcements

Recreation Aid (Surf Lifeguard)
Open Period: 1/23/24 to 6/26/24
Series and Grade: GS 0189 03
Salary: $17.74 per hour
Location(s): Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, and Staten Island Units
Who Can Apply: The public
Job Description: Under guidance of a surf-lifeguard supervisor, lead or authorized designate, the incumbent will acquire proficiency in the performance of the following tasks: surveillance of activities of park visitors recreating on the beach; maintain lifeguard equipment; monitor weather, tide, ocean current and other related conditions; rescue swimmers in distress; provide urgent first-aid.

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.
This is a temporary position. The typical season is end of April to end of September, but can vary due to weather, project needs, or funding.

Recreation Assistant (Surf Lifeguard)
Open Period: 1/23/24 to 6/26/24
Series and Grade: GS 0189 04
Salary: $19.91 per hour
Location(s): Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, and Staten Island Units
Who Can Apply: The public
Job Description: Maintain vigilant surveillance of the activities of park visitors who are not only recreating in the ocean, but also at the water's edge. Maintain oneself, and also one's equipment, in a state of constant readiness, to be able to respond-very literally at a moment's notice-to life-threatening, on-the-job emergencies. Use surf-lifeguarding techniques that focus first and foremost on incident prevention rather than on incident intervention. Monitor weather, tide, ocean current, and related conditions that may not only affect the safety of those recreating in the ocean, but also at the water's edge. Warn park visitors about actions or conditions that are unsafe both in the ocean and on the beach. Rescue, alone or with others, swimmers in distress or in danger of drowning using a rescue-flotation device, rescue board, ocean kayak, surfboat, or motorized craft. Provide urgent first-aid care, including basic life support and CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), and the use of oxygen and automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment.

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.

This is a temporary position. The typical season is end of April to end of September, but can vary due to weather, project needs, or funding.

Lead Recreation Assistant (Surf Lifeguard)
Open Period: 1/23/24 to 6/26/24
Series and Grade: GS 0189 05
Salary: $22.28 per hour
Location(s): Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, and Staten Island Units
Who Can Apply: The public
Job Description: These positions involve performing or leading work concerned with protecting the public against preventable danger and drowning death in the waters officially designated for swimming at a crowded and extended surf-beach seashore area. This work typically involves preventive surf-life guarding; rescuing, either individually or as a member of a team, persons in distress or in danger of drowning; administering urgent first-aid care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; controlling usually large crowds; operating and maintaining rescue equipment and enforcing agency regulations. Required to be able to work outdoors for long periods of time.

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. Pre-employment physical examination will be required prior to entry on duty at applicant's expense. Current valid nationally recognized CPR/AED course-completion certificate required prior to enter on duty.

This is a temporary position. The typical season is end of April to end of September, but can vary due to weather, project needs, or funding.

Supervisory Recreation Assistant (Supervisory Lifeguard)
Open Period: 1/23/24 to 7/19/24
Series and Grade: GS 0189 06
Salary: $24.83 per hour
Location(s): Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, and Staten Island Units
Who Can Apply: The public
Job Description: Serves as a supervisory surf-lifeguard, the incumbent plays a key role in the delivery of in-service training the includes instruction in surf-rescue techniques either with or without equipment, and the administration of urgent first-aid care and CPR; schedules, assigns, and monitors work for adherence to established performance standards; counsels subordinates in technical matters; prepares reports mandated by applicable guidelines, payrolls etc. This position involves leading/supervising work concerned with protecting the public against preventable danger and drowning death in the waters officially designated for swimming surf-beach seashore area. This work typically involves preventive surf-life guarding; rescuing, either individually or as a member of a team, persons in distress or in danger of drowning; administering urgent first-aid care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; controlling usually large crowds; operating and maintaining rescue equipment; enforcing agency regulations; and performing and supervising other related work.

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. Pre-employment physical examination will be required prior to entry on duty at applicant's expense. Current valid nationally recognized CPR/AED course-completion certificate required prior to enter on duty.

This is a temporary position. The typical season is end of April to end of September, but can vary due to weather, project needs, or funding.