Temporary Surf Instructor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $1,568.00 - $2,626.95 Biweekly
Location : City of Norfolk, Norfolk, VA
Job Type: Intermittent Temporary
Job Number: 13933
Department: Parks & Recreation
Division: Aquatics
Opening Date: 08/16/2026
Closing Date: 8/27/2026 12:00 AM Eastern
Description
Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications.
The City of Norfolk's Department of Recreation is seeking experienced Beach Lifeguards to ensure a safe swimming environment for city beach patrons at assigned locations. Other duties include emergency response including administering first aid, CPR, defibrillation, oxygen and appropriate patient care. Beach Lifeguards are also responsible to stay current with mandatory trainings and promote water safety by enforcing beach safety rules to ensure safe use of the City of Norfolk beaches.
Norfolk's Department of Recreation, Parks and Open Space is proud to announce it has been awarded national accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies. This ensures we will continue to provide quality recreational services that enrich the lives of Norfolk's residents.
Department Hiring Rates:
Captain - $26.00/hour
Lieutenant - $25.00/hour
Lifeguard - $22.00/hour
This is a part-time position in which weekends are required
Essential Functions
Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Reads and prepares written reports, correspondence, memos, technical manuals, periodicals and related information.
• Performs general mathematical calculations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Develops implements and evaluates aquatic programs and budgets.
• Completes all required paperwork, including daily, weekly, monthly, and annual reports as well as incident and accident reports.
• Attends all required staff meetings and in-service training sessions.
• Supervises and monitors performance of beach lifeguards including input on hiring/disciplinary actions and work objectives/effectiveness, and realigning work as needed.
• Performs work which requires considerable initiative and independent analytical and evaluative judgment.
• Required to communicate with agencies outside of the division to include law enforcement and fire rescue.
• Participates in and oversees aquatic staff mandatory physical trainings and maintains all required skills to successfully complete the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Program and Norfolk Beach Lifeguard Academy.
• Maintains all required job-related certifications.
• Ensures the safety of swimmers and park beach patrons by using American Red Cross Lifeguarding and United States Lifesaving Association standards.
• Promotes water safety and enforces beach safety rules to ensure safe use of the City of Norfolk Beaches.
• Utilizes preventative lifeguarding skills and performs water rescues according to training standards.
• Administers first aid, CPR, defibrillation and oxygen according to division standards of care.
• Assists in beach operations, cleaning duties, maintenance, and trash pickup.
• Operation and use of beach specific rescue equipment to include surf rescue boards, elevated lifeguard stands, communication equipment, spinal injury equipment, sit-on kayaks and motorized all-terrain vehicles.

Education/Experience
Work requires the ability to read and understand written instructions, to understand simple processes and the routine operation of machines. Level of knowledge equivalent to less than high school or equivalency.
Required:

• Current American Red Cross Lifeguard or YMCA Lifeguard Training Certificate
• Current CPR Certificate (CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer)
• Current First Aid Certificate
• Successful completion of all Norfolk Beach Lifeguard Physical Qualifications to include swimming and running competencies.
• Successful completion of the Norfolk Beach Lifeguard Academy conducted by City of Norfolk Aquatics Division.

Additional Preferred Experience for Beach Lifeguard Lieutenant:

• Minimum of one year Beach Lifeguard experience.
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Management Certification.
• Emergency Medical Technician or Medical First Responder.

Additional Preferred Experience for Beach Lifeguard Captain:

• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Management Certification.
• Emergency Medical Technician or Medical First Responder.
• Minimum of one season beach lifeguard management experience.

Additional Information & Requirements
Work Location: Norfolk Public Beaches
This is a part-time position staffing beaches during the following hours:

• Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
• Saturdays 9:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
• Sundays 9:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
• Seasonal Holidays 9:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
• This position requires weekend work

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
  
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
  
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
  
• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College (6 months or more)
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher

03
Do you possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguard Training or YMCA Lifeguard Training Certificate?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you possess a current CPR Certificate (American Red Cross CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer)?

• Yes
• No

05
Do you have a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06
This position requires the successful completion of a swimming competencies, visual and hearing competencies, job knowledge examinations, water rescue skills screening and participation in beach lifeguard academy. Are you willing and able to participate in and complete this process?

• Yes
• No

07
Do you possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification?

• Yes
• No

08
Do you possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguard Management Certification?

• Yes
• No

09
How many years of experience do you possess working as a lifeguard in a swimming pool or public beach?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1-2 years
• 2-3 years
• More than 3 years

10
Work hours for this position are scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., alternate beach/pool locations, weekends and seasonal holidays. Are you willing and able to meet this scheduling requirements?

• Yes
• No

11
Have you supervised beach lifeguards for at least one season?

• Yes
• No

12
Have you been referred by a current City of Norfolk employee? If so, please list name and department.
13
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

• Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
• Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
• No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

Required Question