Aquarist III - Dive Safety Officer (DSO)

Job Title/Position: Aquarist lll – Dive Safety Officer (DSO)

• Reports to: General Aquarium Curator
• Schedule: Full-Time; Tuesday – Saturday
  • Availability to work weekends, holidays, and irregular hours subject to change
• Pay Rate: $21.00-$22.50 per hour plus benefits

JOB SUMMARY

Facilitate the day-to-day operations of the Reiman Aquarium within Discovery World Science + Technology Center.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other minor duties may be assigned.

• Work with and prepare diets for an assortment of fish, elasmobranchs, aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, misc. coral, crustaceans, jellyfish, and freshwater plants
• Ensure optimal care for Aquarium or Terrarium animals and plants by testing water quality, performing water changes/changing out substrate, making saltwater as needed, and monitoring temperature and humidity levels
• Monitor and maintain multiple exhibits and their life support systems; conduct backwashes, water changes, protein skimmer and pump maintenance, UV sterilizer routine maintenance, and more
• Help design and build exhibits and help select animals for the Aquarium. Assist with acquisition and transport as needed
• Assist with aquaculture, quarantine, and treatment procedures as directed by Curator and the Quarantine Specialist - Aquarist ll.
• Schedule, tend, emergency respond and dive for routine maintenance in warm and cold-water temperatures using equipment provided by Discovery World – Reiman Aquarium.
• Ensuring all Aquarium staff members and Volunteer divers are up to date on all required certifications and documentation and certifying Aquarium staff members and Volunteer divers on required certifications as needed.
• Work individually but also collaborate and coordinate with coworkers and Curator to complete shared responsibilities, such as daily opening and closing checklists, monthly/weekly checklists, and any other team projects
• Perform biopsies, necropsies and administer medication under supervision of the Curator, Quarantine Specialist - Aquarist ll, or the Veterinarian, as needed
• Fill out appropriate checklists and logs for animal acquisition, health, relocation, mortality, and routine maintenance as well as all dive logs and documents.
• Participate in public speaking programming, work with children, and perform tours, theatre shows, teach classes, and other educational opportunities
• Help train and mentor new Interns on day-to-day operations as instructed by the Intern Coordinator Specialist – Aquarist ll
• Help train and mentor new Aquarist Assistants Volunteers as instructed by the Aquarist Assistant Volunteer Coordinator – Senior Aquarist
• Participate in weekly Aquarium, and monthly All-Staff meetings
• Ability to open, close, run the day-to-day operations of the Aquarium alone, in the absence of the Curator and other Aquarists, when necessary
• Perform all other duties as assigned

ADVANCED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to Aquarist IIl jobs and responsibilities, Aquarist III will be expected to fulfill all or some of the following requirements.

• Communicate, implement, document, and organize the following program:
  • Diver Operations as the Dive Safety Officer (DSO) and/or Dive Program and Dive Equipment Inventory Specialist.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Listed below are key points regarding work environment of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  The normal setting for this job is in the Aquarium or in quarantine spaces.

• Physical effort in handling objects over 50lbs and repetitively carrying and lifting heavier items
• Physical occupational risk exposure (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals, animal bites, and envenomation risk, etc.)
• Frequent walking, bending, kneeling, climbing ladders and stairs, etc.
• Exposure to environment which involve fresh and saltwater, dirt, odors, noise, a variance in hot and cold room temperatures, as well as diving in saltwater and freshwater exhibits of temperature between 60°F-84°F
• Motor coordination with finger dexterity most of the workday

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to perform the job.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience at Discovery World as an Aquarist or 5 years paid experience in another Aquarium and/or Zoo setting. Or a combination of 3 years at Discovery World plus 2 or more previous paid year(s) in another Aquarium and/or Zoo setting
• Bachelor’s Degree in a Marine or Freshwater science related field, such as Biology, Ecology, Zoology, etc.

• Dive Instructor SCUBA Certification (At minimum a Master Diver Certification – But must be able to obtain an Instructor level Certification within 1 year of hire)

• Current CPR/First Aid/AED Training
• Forklift Operation Trained
• DAN Emergency Oxygen Provider Certification

• Valid Driver’s License

Other Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

• Knowledge and use of basic hand tools, larger power tools, and plumbing with PVC
• Life Support Operations and the ability to perform and train others on maintaining the following equipment
  • Bead, sand, and glass media filters and smaller filtration systems, UV sterilization, pumps, and plumbing
  • Knowledge of Ozone in combination with life support and water quality and protein skimmer maintenance
• Water quality and the ability to perform the following:
  • Basic testing knowledge of Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Chlorine, dissolved oxygen, pH, Mg, Alk, Ca, and other water quality standards and testing
• Advanced experience with Terrariums and Aquariums and working with fish, elasmobranchs, aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, misc. coral, crustaceans, jellyfish, and freshwater plants
• Advanced troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities
• Coral propagation and care experience
• Aquaculture and fish fry rearing/Cold-water Jellyfish aquaculture experience
• Live insect culture breeding and care experience

Dive Safety Officer (DSO) and/or Dive Program and Inventory Specialist Jobs and Responsibilities:

• Oversee and coordinate the Reiman Aquarium Dive Program
• Update all policies, procedures, and the Dive Manual yearly and as needed
• Ensure all dive equipment is up to date on proper testing, calibrations, and inspections
• Keep and maintain an inventory of all dive equipment, dive, and maintenance logs
• Keep and maintain a log for, and perform routine maintenance for the SCUBA tank air compressor, ensuring Air Quality tests are being done as scheduled
• Act as main point of contact for all Volunteer Divers, ensuring they are all up to date on current policies and procedures, medical forms, and other required forms as they relate to the Reiman Aquarium and its Dive Program
• Schedule and make a monthly calendar for all dives in the Aquarium
• Ensure the dive area, dive shower area, dive cart, etc. are kept clean and organized
• Oversee all diver training of all new and current Volunteer Divers, Interns, and Aquarium Staff members 
• Lead the Discovery World and Aquarium staff in CPR/AED/First Aid and Emergency Oxygen Provider classes and certifications as needed (bi-annually)
• Ensure all SCUBA tanks and emergency spare airs are being properly taken care of, inspected, tested, and filled regularly along with all other required dive gear and equipment