OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The splash of a cannon ball. The spring of a diving board. The call and response of Marco Polo. These are the familiar and fond sounds of summer at community pools. But, a call for “Help” is a scary one. When that call comes, we all want to know there’s someone ready to answer it.
That’s the job of a lifeguard.
The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department is putting out the call to hire seasonal lifeguards for its two aquatic fun centers.
The Jervy Gantt Aquatic Fun Center at 2390 SE 36th Ave. opens for the season on May 18 and the Hampton Aquatic Fun Center at 255 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. opens May 25.
The city says this position is open to anyone 16+ who can pass the pre-requisites.
Candidates must meet these requirements:
- Current lifeguard certification
- Swim 150 yards continuously
- Submerge to a depth of 7 to 10 feet
- Tread water for two minutes
Starting pay is $19 per hour, with returning lifeguards earning at least $20 per hour.
BONUS: The city is incentivizing applicants by offering a retention bonus of $1,000 plus reimbursement of lifeguard certification program fees. There is a catch. To receive the bonus, the city says the employee must sign a contract with Human Resources, work a minimum of 24 hours each week, and miss no more than three scheduled days for the season.
You’ll find the job description and link to apply here.