Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Lifeguard and Swim Instructor

Job Summary

Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services is looking for enthusiastic candidates that are skilled in working with all ages and abilities in recreation activities. You will represent the City in a capacity of enforcing program structure and rules that ensure the physical and mental safety of all participants and staff and assisting and/or lead teaching in the swimming pool area. Experience in these fields as well as exceptional customer service and problem solving is desired. Job locations can include Firstenburg Community Center and Marshall Community Center.

Posting closes on April 24, 2026.

Job Details

Essential Functions:

• Communicate and work well with diverse customers of all ages and abilities, and City employee team.
• Assist in providing a safe program and environment for participants and staff.
• Understand and implement City of Vancouver values: Compassionate, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative, Empowered; policies, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as required through assigned program.
• Work a flexible schedule including, days, evenings, holidays and weekends.

Recommended Qualifications:

• Current CPR/First Aid card required within 30 days of employment, offered by City of Vancouver.
• Able to always maintain a calm and professional demeanor, including during emergencies.
• Maintain a professional appearance, adhere to dress code, and provide excellent customer service.
• Successful completion of a background check for applicants 18 and older.
• Successfully pass employment references.

Physical Requirements:

• Some heavy lifting.
• Working outdoors and exposure to weather elements.

Abilities:

• Respond quickly and effectively in an emergency and report all accidents, injuries and safety health hazards according to City guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with the public, program participants, other city employees.
• Monitor and interact with a large, diverse group of participants while multitasking duties and expectations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Ability to listen and carry-out instructions both written and verbal.
• Comply with policies and procedures of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services programs/area of assignment.
• Successfully complete training/certification as required by department or position.

Qualifications

Lifeguard $17.13-21.39

• Must be 16 years or older.
• $300 training bonus after completing all training and orientation
• Knowledge of safe swimming rules and regulations.
• Able to protect the life and wellbeing of each person using the aquatics facility at a given time.
• Able to learn, maintain knowledge of and carry out facility-established emergency procedures.
• Able to always keep physically fit and mentally alert to respond to any emergency.
• Able and willing to perform water rescue techniques.
• You will need to attend all staff meetings, orientations, and in-service training.
• Tentative training dates: May 27 - 31

Qualifications:

• Ellis & Associates Pool Lifeguard Certification (maintained as current throughout employment)
• Able to locate and operate all emergency equipment, including backboard, oxygen and AED
• Able to tow a guest in distress to safety
• Able to successfully complete a swim test consisting of: swimming 200 yards in with a front facing stroke without stopping, treading water for 2 minutes without use of hands, diving feet first to 9 feet, picking up a 10 lb brick and bringing it to the surface while showing that you have control.

Swim Instructor $17.56-21.39

• Must be 16 years or older.
• $300 training bonus after completing all training and orientation.
• Teach skills that may save a life and will make a huge difference in people's lives.
• Will work with ages six (6) months to senior citizen and teach them how to be safe on, in and around the water.
• Help participants build lifelong safety skills, build strength and endurance for swimming laps, competitively or just for having fun in the water.
• Responsible for providing a safe aquatic experience to all participants.
• Monitor the pool environment and assure that all pool users are safely following pool rules. helping to perform routine cleaning and maintenance duties in the pool and locker room areas.

Qualifications:

• Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification (maintained as current throughout employment)
• Able to monitor and maintain the safety of several children at a time, from the point of drop off to pick up.
• Able to safely pickup, hold, and lift a child from the deck and in the water.
• Able to successfully complete a swim test consisting of swimming 25 yards of each of these strokes: freestyle, backstroke, sidestroke, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, swimming 15 yards of butterfly and swimming at least 100 yards without stopping

Job Posting End Date

April 24, 2026