Aquarist 1 / DSO

Loggerhead Marinelife Center•Juno Beach, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides assigned specimens with excellent day-to-day care through approved husbandry practices. It involves keeping exhibits, reserve tanks, support equipment, and workspaces well-maintained to Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) standards. The role is responsible for monitoring animal health, water quality, and accurate recordkeeping. It also coordinates animal health issues with supervisors and veterinarians, administers treatments and quarantine procedures, and interacts positively with guests. The aquarist participates in the transport and acclimation of specimens and is fully accountable for animals and systems under care in assigned areas. The position may involve providing coverage for other areas as assigned and working collaboratively in a creative environment to contribute to the efficient operation of the department. The aquarist works a schedule set by the supervisor, which may encompass non-traditional days and hours, and may be asked to report to work for animal care and life support emergencies. Under the general direction of the Curator, the Dive Safety Officer performs a variety of duties supporting underwater diving activities to ensure they are carried out in an effective and safe manner.

Requirements

SCUBA instructor certification through recognized training agency.
Diving First Aid instructor that includes CPR, First Aid, AED, Oxygen Administration from recognized training agency.
Driver’s license.
Minimum 6 months of experience in a similar public aquarium setting.
Knowledge of aquatic animal food preparation and feeding techniques.
Understanding of when to act independently and when to seek consultation from supervisory staff.
Basic understanding of aquarium systems, functions, and maintenance.
Skill in database management.
Ability to work holidays, weekends and a non-traditional work week as well as respond to after-hours emergencies.
Ability to follow laws and regulations relating to the care of wildlife in accordance with LMC and industry best practices.
Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials using basic computer skills in Word, Excel, internet navigation, e-mail, and spreadsheet programs.
Ability to use hand and power tools.

Nice To Haves

An undergraduate degree in Marine Biology or related field preferred.
Certified diving instructor with ADSO experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain an environment conducive to the health and well-being of all animals within LMC’s collection.
Completes inspection rounds of specimens, exhibits and reserve tanks to check status and identify and report potential problems.
Prepares food and feeds assigned fish and invertebrate collection as well as cross coverage for sea turtles in accordance with dietary needs.
Cleans and provides daily maintenance to food preparation areas, food preparation equipment and utensils.
Prepares and plans diets and diet supplements according to established protocols to ensure nutrition and vitamin content are maintained to keep specimens at peak health.
Follows established feeding schedules and feeds appropriate amounts to maintain specimens at a healthy weight.
Utilizes various feeding techniques and develops new strategies to overcome the challenges of getting the correct diet to all specimens in exhibits and reserve tanks housing multiple specimens and species.
Observes and recognizes medical conditions that may require attention and reports observations.
Discusses best course of therapy with veterinary and supervisory staff.
Administers medications and implements routine quarantine procedures as needed.
Maintains detailed, daily husbandry records and reviews records regularly.
Maintains current knowledge of all specimens under their care and their natural history (biology and environmental needs) and husbandry requirements through hands-on experience, upkeep with current literature, keeper exchange programs, and symposium participation (as approved).
Assists with animal physicals of specimens as needed.
Supports Hospital team by acting as a Turtle Aquarist on a rotational basis and working closely with the Hospital staff and Volunteer staff to complete tasks including prepping diets, feeding turtles, cleaning turtle tanks, backwashing, maintain records in LSS room, recognizing and reporting problems in LSS, and providing guidance to volunteers to assist with the daily tasks
Maintains cleanliness and artistic quality of the displays through cleaning acrylic and decor, scrubbing algae and removing debris including cleaning done by SCUBA diving to meet established LMC standards.
Participates in and supports diving at the Juno Beach Pier as part of the Responsible Pier Initiative.
Performs hydro-cleaning, water changes, backwashing, and other procedures.
Maintains water quality standards and adjusts parameters as needed, determines appropriate schedules for maintenance.
Plans, implement and administer campuswide or consortium diving safety program and maintain a general surveillance over all campus-or consortium -sponsored diving activity both on and off campus.
Serve as a technical consultant to the Dive Control Board.
Responsible for the conduct of the dive safety program on or off campus, including the conduct of training in safe diving practices, review and approval of all diving plans, and maintenance of all diving records.
Manages dive locker storage organization and inventory of gear.
Screen, interview, hire, and train volunteer divers for the volunteer diver program.
Coordinate and schedule with volunteers their hours.
Acts as primary trainer and supervisor for all dive activities for staff and volunteer divers including but not limited to Diving First Aid relevant continuing education scuba courses.
Performs water quality tests on a rotational basis as needed.
Cleans back-up areas including scrubbing, mopping, vacuuming water and pest control.
Participates in and presents at workshops, seminars, lectures, member programs and tours.
Responds to divers, life-support, and animal related emergencies, at times after hours.
Coordinates daily activities through effective communication with staff and volunteers.
Provides back-up support to other departments as needed.
Adheres to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
Ensures that goals for an excellent visitor experience are met and maintained.
Other duties as assigned or required.