Senior Life Support Technician - Harborview Aquarium

ZOOCEANARIUM GROUP LLC•Syracuse, NY

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Life Support Technician serves as the senior working technician responsible for the day-to-day operation, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of all life support systems at the aquarium, as well as general maintenance and repair of the Aquarium. This role provides direct supervision and technical guidance to the LSS Technician team, acting as the first point of escalation for operational issues and serving as the LSS & Maintenance Manager's primary delegate during off-hours and scheduled absences. This role is critical during the facility commissioning phase and requires a hands-on, solutions-driven individual with deep technical expertise and strong leadership skills.

Requirements

Two years + in an assisted animal husbandry position required.
One year + in a similar management role required.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) or equivalent required.
Instructor level First Aid, Emergency O2 and AED certification required.
Strong technical skills related to dive equipment required.
Competency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Exceptional leadership skills and proven experience.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong listening, presentation and decision-making skills.
Creative problem solver who thrives when presented with a challenge.
Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.
Requires walking/ standing for long periods of time, bending and crouching, climbing, working in small/tight spaces, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
Ability to read, listen and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to access and accurately input information using a moderately complex computer system.
Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations.
Requires the ability to perform the physical, visual and hearing requirements in the working conditions above.

Nice To Haves

Working proficiency with basic hand and power tools is preferred.
Dive program leadership in an aquarium preferred.
Experience in the care of flora and fauna in a public aquarium setting preferred.
Experience working with relevant authorities and accrediting associations preferred.
Experience managing large teams preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist the LSS Manager in commissioning all life support systems, including system startup, performance testing, and documentation of baseline operating parameters.
Help develop and validate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), preventive maintenance (PM) schedules, and safety protocols.
Participate in the assembly, start-up, and operations of standalone aquatic life support systems, including smaller independent systems serving specialized habitats and holding areas.
Support the setup of spare parts inventory, maintenance tools, and vendor relationships.
Participate in onboarding and training of incoming LSS Technicians.
Assist in establishing work order workflows and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) protocols.
Oversee and participate in daily inspection and operation of all LSS equipment including pumps, filtration systems, ozone generators, UV systems, chemical dosing, and control/automation platforms.
Monitor water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ORP, pH, nitrogen cycle stability, and clarity) and coordinate corrective actions with all responsible parties as needed.
Maintain the preventative maintenance program of all LSS equipment through the manufacturers’ scheduled maintenance for all equipment.
Perform general building repair and maintenance in both guest-facing areas and back-of-house.
Assist in making seawater for marine systems.
Serve as lead responder for system alarms and critical equipment failures; implement corrective actions and escalate to the LSS Manager as appropriate.
Directly supervise the LSS Technician team on assigned shifts.
Assign and prioritize daily work orders and PM tasks.
Conduct informal coaching, safety briefings, and on-the-job training to LSS Technicians.
Review completed work for accuracy and compliance with SOPs.
Perform advanced troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; coordinate with contractors and vendors for specialized repairs.
In the absence of the LSS Manager, act as a point of contact for Onondaga County Facilities personnel.
Maintain accurate system logs, work orders, and performance data in the CMMS.
Conduct routine testing of backup systems and support emergency preparedness drills.
Assist in coordinating facility support for special events, extended hours, and seasonal operations.
Ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA, EPA, NY State DEC, USFWS, FWC, local Health Department, Fire Marshal, and AZA standards.
Promote a safety-first culture; enforce lockout/tagout, confined space, respiratory protection, and chemical handling protocols at all times.
Other duties as assigned.