Ocean Rescue Lieutenant

Our employees uphold and promote the mission, vision, and core values of the City of Jacksonville Beach. To be successful, an individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the job and demonstrate a strong desire to be a part of our EPIC Team:

• Empowerment –Enabling employees to achieve work-life balance & professional growth and success
• Pride – A small coastal city dedicated to displaying a big heart through our commitment to the community
• Integrity – We hold ourselves, individually and collectively, accountable to our community and our organization
• Communication – Open & honest dialogue with our community and throughout our organization
• Teamwork– Working together with our community to achieve common organizational goals

This position performs responsible, skilled public safety and protective service work participating in and assisting in the supervision of ocean rescue activities; does related work as required. Work is performed under the regular supervision of the Ocean Rescue Supervisor. Supervision is exercised over ocean rescue personnel.

Essential Functions

• Performs all functions of an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard in preventing situations hazardous to the health and safety of beach patrons through alert, responsive observations of the beach and the ocean.
• Supervises employees, performs employee evaluations, participates in staff development, training, disciplinary action, recruitment, and hiring activities.  
• Monitors inventory of emergency operational supplies and equipment, performs procurement functions. 
• Leads organized physical and medical training to ensure staff performs at highest level of professionalism.
• Trains Ocean Rescue Lifeguards both seasonally for re-certification and on a daily basis, depending on current conditions and upcoming events.
• Maintains equipment and vehicles in working order, orders medical supplies, and ensures vehicle service plans are followed.
• Serves as Incident Commander for on scene calls for service, making lead decisions during emergency situations.
• Ensures proper scheduling and beach coverage of staffed lifeguard towers. 
• Maintains and files schedules, time sheets, guard sheets, and financial records.
• Performs other related tasks as required. 

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma or equivalent and two years of experience as an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard. Must have at least 1,000 hours as an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard unless approved by the Department Director. Experience as an Instructor in Ocean Rescue, EMS, or other related fields is preferred.

Special Qualifications:

A driver’s license valid in the State of Florida; First Responder or ARC Emergency Medical Responder (EMR); CPR for the Professional Rescuer or Basic Life Support CPR/AED. 

Must have or be able to obtain within a timeframe set by the Department Director: an active/valid State of Florida Emergency Medical Technician License; USLA Open Water Lifeguard Training; valid Florida Boating Safety Course that is recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, approved by NASBLA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800;  Ocean Rescue Division Response Officer series training. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of approved ocean rescue methods and specific medical aid techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of ocean currents and how to fight them.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and techniques of artificial respiration.
• Thorough knowledge of the rules and regulations relating to ocean and beach activities.
• Ability to exercise tact, firmness, and good judgment in enforcing rules and regulations.
• Ability to prevent dangerous situations from arising, to recognize emergencies and to take effective action.
• Skill in surf swimming, lifesaving and medical aid.
• Ability to swim long distances in rough water to handle frantic and hysterical persons in the water and to overcome any possible obstacles.
• Ability to instruct and supervise the public in the prevention of various dangers.
• Ability to pass annual recertification swimming and running tests.
• Ability to direct the work of subordinate staff under emergency conditions.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, associates, and the general public.

Physical Demands

The work is heavy work requiring the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: 

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending terrain, ladders, stairs, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily outdoors under extreme weather and environmental conditions such as cold, heat, noise, vibration, hazards, atmospheric conditions, and exposure to oils, dust, dirt, fumes, and noises.  The worker may be exposed to blood borne and/or waterborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.

Other Information
 Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 
 
 The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Jacksonville Beach and the employee and is subject to change by the City as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.