Aquatics - Lifeguard

Job Description

Posted Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 5:00 AM | Expires Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 4:59 AM

The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is one of the largest charities in the DC area. The Y serves as an anchor in the community offering programs and services encompassing youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Position:
Lifeguard Salary: $15.20 per hour

About the Job

The Lifeguard position supervises swimming activities at the Y’s aquatic facilities and protects the safety of all swimmers by preventing accidents and by responding to an emergency quickly and efficiently to minimize the danger to those involved. Some of the exciting tasks you will do as a Lifeguard include but are not limited to:

• Enforces pool regulations and water safety policies.
• Administers first aid in the event of injury, rescues swimmers in distress or danger of drowning, and administers CPR and/or artificial respiration, if necessary.
• Evaluates conditions for safety and initiates aquatics emergency action plan as required.
• Inspects pool facilities, equipment, and water to ensure that they are safe and usable.
• Supervises and assists in cleaning the pool and related facilities and equipment, assists with chlorine residual water tests and with records and charts of water tests and records of accidents, and adds chemicals to pool.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Must be 16 years of age and able to swim.
• Possess an outgoing personality with the ability to relate well with participants of various age groups.
• Must be attentive, multi-faceted, reliable, and a proven problem solver.
• Prefer CPR and First Aid certifications.

Working Conditions:

• Must have the physical ability to meet all prerequisites for YMCA Lifeguarding.
• Must be able to lift and move around objects of 40 pounds or more.
• Swim 500 yards.
• Tread water for two minutes (legs only).
• Retrieve training victim from bottom deep end.
• Active victim rescue with tube.
• Passive victim rescue with tube.
• Backboard victim.
• Ability to see and hear participants in distress or asking for assistance.

Benefits:

As a YMCA employee you get great benefits and discounts from banks, credit unions, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Dell, veterinary pet insurance, supplemental (AFLAC, ALLSTATE, Vision Care, Legal Shield), and even Zip Car. The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington provides progressive employee benefits, including a 10% employer‑funded retirement plan with vesting after two years of service or 1000 hours compensated time in each of those two years;

403(b) savings plan; high quality and affordable healthcare; free YMCA membership for employee, spouse and dependents; paid time off/sick leave, numerous professional development opportunities.