• Minimum two (2) years of paid or unpaid experience in a zoological facility or public aquarium, aquaculture or mariculture facility, aquatics research/environmental laboratory, water treatment facility, or similar industry is required. AZA accredited public aquarium facility is preferred.
• Care of zoological exhibits with a primary focus on fishes, aquatic invertebrates, and marine mammals but also familiarity with care of reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
• Basic plumbing, construction, and animal enclosure work.
• Installing, repairing, or replacing mechanical equipment such as pumps, filters, piping systems, motors, compressors, etc.
• WQ analysis and data interpretation.
• Effective communication skills (oral and written).
Education:
• High school diploma (or equivalent) and a degree in engineering, chemistry, or biological sciences from an accredited university is required.
• Specialized work experience, skills, and abilities related to essential duties listed above may be substituted for educational requirement.
Licensure/Certification:
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
• SCUBA certification is preferred.
• First Aid/ CPR is preferred.
• Aquatic Animal Life Support Operator (AALSO) Life Support and/or Laboratory certification is a plus.
• National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) Certified Pool Operator (CPO) is a plus.
• Forklift driving certification considered an asset.
Software Requirements:
• Proven competency in the application of Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, and Excel computer programs is required.
• Experience with Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) is preferred.
Machinery/Tools/Equipment Requirements:
• Basic laboratory instrumentation skills (pipetting, pH meter, DO meter, spectrophotometer, etc.) are required.
• Basic plumbing, mechanical, and carpentry skills are considered an asset.
• Have a general understanding of the use and safety requirements of basic power tools.
• Must have the ability to use mobile devices to facilitate effective communication
• Ability and willingness to operate power tools, lawn equipment, etc.
Physical Requirements:
• Performing strenuous, fast-paced work both indoors and outdoors.
• Sitting or standing, bending, and stooping per OSHA regulations.
• Heavy work involving lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to swim.
If SCUBA certified, then the LSS Technician will need to demonstrate the ability to:
• swim efficiently at the surface,
• swim efficiently underwater,
• tow another diver while in full SCUBA gear,
• tread water/float on the surface,
• assemble, ditch and don SCUBA gear,
• control of buoyancy using SCUBA,
• clear SCUBA mask and swim without a mask underwater,
• regulator skills – recover and clear, and breathe through free-flowing regulator, and
• demonstrate comfort underwater in all conditions, stressful or otherwise.
Environmental/Working Conditions:
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Audubon standards, as required by scheduling which may vary according to the needs of the organization.
• Willingness to work weekends, holidays, irregular hours and be available based on special needs/circumstances on a 24-hour basis.
• Willingness to work long hours between breaks or meals as required.
• Willingness to work outdoors, lift heavy objects, and risk periodic exposure to fairly predictable and controllable hazards associated with wild animals and zoonotic diseases.
• Maintain off-exhibit areas in a clean, organized and safe fashion.
• Willingness to work under and handle stress in an appropriate manner.
• May be exposed to high, medium, or low noise intensity.
• May be exposed to extreme fluctuations in temperatures.
• May be exposed to ozone.
• Willingness to work around and handle raw seafood, including shellfish.
• Oversee pest control efforts in section.
• Willingness to serve on the Aquarium’s Hurricane Team if necessary.