Facility
Wildlife Conservation Society: New York Aquarium
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
WCS’s goal is to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 14 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world’s biodiversity. The challenges are greater than ever, but with the focus, dedication, and passion of a committed staff—combined with a unique mixture of field, zoo, and aquarium expertise—WCS will continue to set the bar for science, conservation action, and education that has driven our success in protecting wildlife and wild places for over a century.
Position Objective:
The Dive Safety Officer (DSO) at the New York Aquarium organizes a safe and effective dive program to promote healthy and aesthetically pleasing environments for the animal collection. The DSO ensures that staff and volunteer divers complete required training courses in accordance with OSHA and AAUS scientific diver standards. DSO serves as a supervisor and maintains administrative oversight of non-diving Animal Department intern activities.
Principal Responsibilities: Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
Manage daily operation of the aquarium’s dive program including the supervision of staff and volunteer divers in accordance with the New York Aquarium Diving
Standards for Underwater Operations and the Staff and Volunteer Dive Team Handbooks.
Edit and maintain NYA Dive Safety Manual, diver handbooks, and all other written materials to ensure compliance with OSHA and AAUS standards, and accurately reflect safe diving practices at NYA.
Serve as Designated Person in Charge (DPIC) and Lead Diver during NYA dive operations and lead response to emergency situations in conjunction with the ADSO.
Organize regular meetings of the NYA Dive Control Board and volunteer Dive Team
Leader group, and maintain records and minutes of meetings.
Maintain NYA scuba equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations and AAUS requirements for annual service, and maintain records of annual service of all life support equipment used in NYA dive operations. Fill tanks and ensure availability of compressed air for NYA dive operations.
Schedule and log dives for staff and volunteer divers.
Maintain all required logs and records in accordance with NYA diving standards.
Organize and maintain physical spaces assigned to the NYA dive program.
Train staff and volunteer divers in all aspects of a safe scientific diving program, including
DAN DFA Pro CPR certification and AAUS-compliant scientific diving.
Recruit, orient, and train new volunteer divers.
Manage uniform program for NYA volunteer divers including ordering, distribution, and inventory.
Develop capacity for field diving with NYA staff and volunteer divers, including training in navigation, ocean rescue, and diving in low visibility and high current conditions.
Support communications with and among volunteer dive program participants through email and social media channels, and organize regular social events to build and maintain the volunteer community.
Maintain emergency plans for all locations that host NYA dive activity, and respond to safety concerns with updated procedures and equipment to maintain a safe working environment for all divers. Organize annual extraction drills for NYA divers and maintain records in accordance with A2A standards.
Maintain administrative oversight of non-diving Animal Department volunteers and interns, and assist animal staff in developing and maintaining their volunteer and intern programs.
Education and Pre-requisites
Minimum high school diploma or GED.
Bachelor’s degree in marine science or related field preferred.
Certification: Must maintain at minimum an Open Water SCUBA Instructor certification, or ability to earn this certification within one month of hire.
At least 2 years experience as staff or volunteer in a similar work environment.
Specific experience in dive instruction, scuba gear maintenance, CPR instruction,
AAUS dive training, lifeguarding is a strong plus.
Divers Alert Network (DAN) Diving First Aid for Professional Divers (DFA Pro) training required, with a preference for current instructors.
Experience and certification in gear maintenance (Oceanic, OTS, and Spare Air), cylinder inspection and valve maintenance, and compressor operations.
Experience with tethered diving, full face mask, and underwater communications systems strongly preferred.
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills are a critical requirement along with strong oral and written communication. Must demonstrate a proactive approach to achieving the objectives of the dive program.
Must be highly self-motivated and similarly able to take direction.
Must be able to work Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and variable shifts.
Must have a current, valid driver’s license.
Must successfully pass a background check.
Physical Requirements:
The position requires strenuous physical activity as a diver.
Must pass AAUS-compliant dive physical and swim test (400 yards in 12 minutes).
The positional requires outdoor work in all weather conditions as well as indoor exhibit facilities and office environments.
Tasks require manual dexterity for various tasks {e.g. computer keyboard, mobile radios, operation/ manipulation of diving gear, manual tools).
Some tasks require kneeling, bending, navigating uneven terrain, and moderate lifting up to 50 pounds.
Wildlife Conservation Society is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce.
We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.
EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
Compensation and benefits
Salary Requirements: $67,000 – $72,000
Health, Dental, Vision, 401K, 15 Vacation Days, 13 Holidays, 12 PTO, access to parks, zoos, and aquarium, plus much more…
Application instructions
Please apply here: https://bit.ly/3EIeE9X