Department:

Emergency Services

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

This just in: we have an upcoming hiring event!

Make a Difference. Protect Our Beaches. Join the Sarasota County Lifeguard Team!

If you're passionate about serving your community, enjoy working outdoors, and have strong swimming skills, don't miss this opportunity to become a Sarasota County Beach Lifeguard. Meet the hiring managers, successfully complete the tryout and interview, and you could receive a conditional job offer the same day!

Full-Time Opportunities

• Starting Pay Rate: $20.10-$21.31/hour, based on prior beach lifeguarding experience

• Additional $1.50/hour pay additive for current, valid State of Florida EMT-B certification

• Excellent benefits, including paid time off, holiday pay, and Florida Retirement System (FRS) participation

Open Tryout Details

• Date: Friday, August 28, 2026

• Time: 9:00 a.m. 

• Location: Lido Beach Pavilion (400 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236)

Tryouts begin at 9:00 a.m., so please plan to arrive 10-minutes prior for sign-ins.

What to Expect:

• 500-meter pool swim test (must be completed in 10:00 minutes or less, or be able to meet this requirement within 30 days of hire)

• Qualified candidates may interview immediately following the swim test

• Potential conditional offers may be made on the spot

** All applicants must complete the swim test to be considered for employment. Please arrive prepared to participate in the swim test and an in-person interview.
 

Apply today to share your candidate information with the department prior to the event!

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:

1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

• If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)  

2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)  

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. 
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.