Dive Safety Officer - Harborview Aquarium

Position Summary

This position is responsible for administering the day-to-day dive program for the Aquarium under the direction of the General Curator and in coordination with the Dive Control Board.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Support and supervise staff as it relates to the dive program of the Life Sciences Department to ensure the highest level of safety, courtesy, education, efficiency, and operational readiness.
• Administer the facility dive program under the direction of the General Curator and in coordination with the Dive Control Board.
• Conduct, document, and maintain AZA, OSHA, and facility-required dive trainings, in-water skill evaluations, diver checkouts, refresher trainings, and remediation plans as applicable.
• Evaluate diver proficiency in an in-water setting and provide recommendations to the General Curator and Dive Control Board regarding diver authorization, restrictions, remediation, or additional training needs.
• Write, maintain, and update dive-related SOPs, checklists, emergency procedures, and supporting documentation as approved by the General Curator and/or Dive Control Board.
• Assist in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility Dive Manual, including the diving safety section, diver qualification standards, equipment standards, emergency procedures, and dive operation procedures.
• Develop, maintain, and train divers on tank-specific dive emergency plans for each habitat or tank into which divers enter.
• Carefully coordinate, conduct, document, and evaluate at least one live-action emergency dive safety drill annually. Identify corrective actions and provide recommendations to the General Curator and Dive Control Board.
• Oversee and ensure the safety readiness of diving projects and operations through pre-dive planning, hazard identification, diver briefings, equipment checks, and post-dive documentation.
• Ensure a designated person-in-charge is identified for each dive operation in accordance with applicable OSHA requirements and facility policy.
• Maintain a complete understanding of applicable AAUS, OSHA, AZA, and industry-accepted dive practices as they relate to aquarium dive operations.
• Maintain positive representation to professional agencies, institutions, and various committees.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards in accordance with local municipality, state, federal, AZA, OSHA, and facility rules and regulations.
• Maintain animal care and habitat compliance with facility-specific policies and procedures related to diving.
• Manage the diving schedule of Life Sciences staff to ensure adequate staffing levels are maintained for all scheduled and non-scheduled dive operations.
• Maintain animal welfare and safety during dives alongside the animal care team.
• Maintain, inspect, coordinate service for, and document all life-support diving equipment, including but not limited to regulators, cylinders, buoyancy devices, masks, weights, exposure protection, safety equipment, communication equipment, and associated dive support gear.
• Maintain up-to-date electronic records on dive operations, diver certifications, training, checkouts, emergency drills, medical fitness documentation, dive logs, equipment inspections, service records, incident reports, and corrective actions.
• While diving, observe and report potential animal health, habitat, equipment, or water quality concerns to the appropriate Animal Care Manager, General Curator, veterinary staff, or LSS representative.
• Communicate observed animal health or habitat concerns to the Animal Care Managers and General Curator.
• Carefully coordinate with Management in emergency situations to minimize damage, loss, or injury to guests, team members, animals, or company property.
• Aid in the preparation of periodic dive reports for Life Sciences Department activities.
• Perform daily dive requirements.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.
• Competency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience managing large teams preferred.
• 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.

Abilities

• 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.