Ocean Rescue Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $56,810.21 - $79,937.73 Annually
Location : City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 26-40
Department: Fire & Marine Safety
Opening Date: 07/20/2026
Closing Date: 8/10/2026 12:00 AM Pacific
The Position
Senior Ocean Lifeguards are responsible for beach safety, code enforcement, and emergency medical technician (EMT) duties. Operates, inspects, and performs maintenance on emergency rescue equipment and vehicles. Acts as a lead to lower level staff. Senior Ocean Lifeguards may be required to work extended hours and days to meet operational needs of the City.
Examples of Important & Essential Duties (included but not limited to)
Essential Duties: (These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)

• Assists in planning, organizing, implementing, and controlling day to day lifeguard service; organize and implement first aid, water safety, accident prevention, and rescue training.
• Assists the Marine Safety Sergeant and Marine Safety Lieutenant with hiring, evaluation, supervision, and training of new and seasonal staff in basic and advanced rescue operations, medical protocols and procedures, accident prevention, City procedures, and OSHA required training.
• Leads water training drills and daily physical training as directed by the Marine Safety Sergeant.
• Serves as lead patrol guard while performing preventative actions and safety interventions; make swimming and rescue board type rescues in the ocean.
• Performs preventative actions, such as safety warnings, beach closures, patrols, and maintenance of rescue equipment; monitors weather conditions (i.e. tidal, storm, flooding, heavy surf, etc.); monitors coastal and beach environment for hazards; removes hazards; maintains beach towers.
• Performs safety interventions and/or effects rescues in the surf, open ocean, river/stream, under water, and on beaches, cliffs, or roadways, which includes: determining if intervention is required; making rescues; routing victims to secure locations; determining if back-up is required; administering first aid and/or medical assistance; and, performing other related tasks.
• In the absence of higher-ranking Marine Safety Supervisors, assumes command functions of Incident Command System (ICS).
• Under the general direction of the Marine Safety Sergeant, implements beach closures when environmental safety considerations dictate and/or on order of the County Health Department.
• Responds to requests for information from the general public; enforces beach regulations; facilitates educational sessions related to beach and ocean safety issues; advises the public of codes, laws, rules, and regulations.
• Drives and operates watercraft and four-wheel drive emergency vehicles to patrol and respond to water and other emergencies; works in conjunction with helicopter search and rescue; supervises, assists with, or performs swimming, repelling, paddling, and water lifesaving operations to achieve water and cliff rescues; performs SCUBA under water recovery; supervises, assists with, or performs EMT medical aid or CPR as required.
• Serves as a tower dispatcher.
• Prepares and maintains various records and reports including records of actions taken, training records, and time sheets.
• Assists the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department in park and beach maintenance, encroachment monitoring, quarterly safety inspection, park signs, beach and access safety, and bluff erosion monitoring.
• Performs facility and equipment maintenance of all lifeguard rescue gear, medical equipment, emergency vehicles, and vessels and towers including ocean rescue gear, specialized rescue gear, medical and first aid supplies, phones and radios, uniforms, office and janitorial supplies, PA/siren systems, emergency lights, specialized racks, winch, tires, engine, brakes, transmission, rescue sled, and trailer.
• Performs a variety of code enforcement duties including informing and warning beach users of municipal codes, Fish and Game regulations, boating laws, and penal and vehicle statutes; issue citations for municipal and vehicle codes; train and supervise other lifeguard citation officers; ensure compliance with ticket processing procedures and court appearances.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

In addition to the duties listed above, the Senior Ocean Lifeguard assigned to the Junior Lifeguard Program may be responsible for:

• Assisting in directing and coordinating the activities of the Junior Lifeguard Program;
• Assisting with the preparation of work schedules;
• Conferring with contract lifeguards regarding assignments, performance of personnel, program problems, training, citizen, and parental complaints, and other operational issues;
• Instructs participants, coordinates and provides direction to junior lifeguard instructors, and participates in active marine safety activities, such as beach and ocean rescue operations and first aid;
• Assists with developing the Junior Lifeguard Program annual calendar, program applications, and assists in the program application process;
• Prepares Junior Lifeguard Program correspondence and related reports; compiles records and files; responds to inquiries and provides program information, general public, and other interested parties;
• Acts as liaison to the public, assists in solving complaints, coordinates program activities and schedules including field trips and Junior Lifeguard competitions; coordinates program activities with other agencies;
• Assists supervisors with purchasing, personnel, and payroll;
• Inventories program equipment, assesses equipment needs, and ensures adequate maintenance of various equipment and Junior Lifeguard vehicle.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Minimum Qualifications
Training and Experience (position requirements at entry):

• High School Diploma, or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.), and completion of 4 Full-time Summer Seasons (typically 400 hours/season) of water safety experience involving rescue, first aid, lifesaving techniques for people using an open water area (Ocean) or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
• Minimum Age: 18 years of age by date of hire.

An A.A./A.S. degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university is highly desirable.
Licenses/Certifications:

• Valid California Driver's License;
• City of Encinitas Lifeguard Academy Training certificate, or equivalent completion of a Lifeguard Academy meeting the advanced guidelines for open water lifeguard training and standards of the United States Lifesaving Academy (USLA);
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification (CPR) (American Heart Association "BLS Provider," or American Red Cross "CPR for the Professional Rescuer") or equivalent;
• Current Emergency Medical Technician- Basic (EMT-B) License with the State of California;
• Rescue Watercraft Operator certificate or equivalent and California Boater Safety Card;
• Beach Driving Certificate/Lifeguard Vehicle Operations or equivalent;
• FEMA IS-100, Introduction to the Incident Command Systems (ICS) Certification;
• FEMA IS-200, Basic Incident Command Systems Certification;
• Candidate must be able to obtain EMT-B accreditation with the County of San Diego EMS Office by the time of appointment

Valid County of San Diego Paramedic (EMT-P) License is highly desirable.
Application Process and Deadline
A completed application with an attached resume ANDcover letter AND copies of all required certifications is required.
*** Incomplete application packets will not be reviewed ***
Apply by August 9, 2026
- Testing dates/times are to be determined.
- Qualified applicants will be invited to test for the position via email from HR.
- Applicants that are currently employed as contract lifeguard staff will not be required to test.
- Applicants that pass the test will be invited to move forward in the recruitment process.
Testing includes the following components:

• Swim 550 yards in under 10 minutes
• Run Swim Run (150-yard run, 250-yard swim, and 150-yard run, in under 8 minutes)
• Dummy Drag of 50 feet in 30 seconds (150 lbs)

The City of Encinitas and the San Dieguito Water District provide equal opportunity employment for all persons without regard to race, color, religion/religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, age, physical disability, ancestry, genetic information, medical condition, political affiliations, veteran status, Family Leave Act status, AB60 CA Driver's License status or status with pregnancy, child birth or breastfeeding. The City and Water District encourage minorities, disabled persons and women to apply. Qualified applicants who move to the next level of the selection process must notify the Human Resources Office if accommodation is needed. A thorough background check will be conducted for the candidate(s) seriously considered for the position including fingerprinting and reference checking. A contingent job offer may be given pending the results of medical evaluation, which includes a physical, TB test and drug and alcohol screening. Applicants will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.
City of Encinitas & San Dieguito Water District
2026 Benefits Summary
Service Employees International Union, Local 221 (SEIU)
Cafeteria Health Plan
The employer's "Flexible Benefit Plan" contribution will make available for each employee a monthly amount equal to the high median of the monthly premiums of all CalPERS health plans available in San Diego County. Under the City's Section 125 Cafeteria Benefits Plan qualified benefits include: health, dental, vision, dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) and healthcare FSA. The remaining balance is available as additional taxable income capped at one-half of the monthly cafeteria contribution
Retirement
The City contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS):
Retirement Tier - Local Miscellaneous Retirement Formula
Tier 2 - Classic2.0% @ 60
Tier 3 - New Member2.0% @ 62
Retirement Tier - Other Safety (Lifeguards)Retirement Formula
Tier 2 - Classic3.0% @ 55
Tier 3 - New Member2.7% @ 57
457 Deferred Compensation
The City offers a 457 and/or 401(a) deferred compensation. These accounts are voluntary and employee funded.
Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
The City provides Basic Group Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D). Group Term Life Insurance is equal to 1x your basic annual earnings up to a maximum of $150,000. AD&D is up to the amount of your Group Term Life Insurance.
Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)
STD benefits are 70% of your weekly earnings up to a maximum of $3,500 per week.
Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)
LTD benefits are 66% of monthly earnings up to a maximum of $8,000 per month. San Dieguito Water District employees pay for their LTD premium.
Sick Leave
Employees accrue nine (9) hours of sick leave for each calendar month of paid status (4.153 hours per pay period). New employees are granted a beginning balance of (9) hours. Less than full time employees accrue sick leave in an amount prorated by FTE status. Accrued sick leave carries over from year to year.
Vacation Leave
Employees earn vacation hours based on the following years of service:
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire - 5 Years 104 hours
6 - 10 Years 128 hours
11 - 15 Years 152 hours
16+ Years 184 hours
Credit is given to new employees for related continuous prior public service employment at the rate of one year for every two years worked.
Paid Leave for Family Member Illness
Each new full-time employee is granted a beginning balance of fourteen (14) hours of paid time off to attend to family member(s) in need of the employee's assistance in times of illness or parental leave to bond with a new child; 1.3846 hours of additional paid leave is accrued each pay period. The maximum accrual is about eighty three (83) hours.
Parental Leave (Baby Bonding)
Employees who qualify for California Family Rights Act (CFRA) baby bonding will be eligible for twelve (12) weeks of employer paid leave. Available leave is prorated based on FTE status.
General Election Leave
Employees shall be provided a half day of paid leave to vote at the employee's polling location or a full day of paid leave to volunteer for the County Registrar of Voters for a General Election.
Holiday Closure
Each year, City Hall is closed from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day.
Holidays
Employees receive thirteen (13) fixed holidays and five (5) floating holidays (45 hours) per fiscal year.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Confidential services are available to employees and household members to assist with personal and professional issues. Five sessions per issue are available each calendar year.
Computer Purch