Facility
The Florida Aquarium
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Position Summary
Provide advanced water chemistry support for all animal aquatic habitats at The Florida Aquarium and the Aquarium’s Center for Conservation. Provide the leadership necessary to develop and grow a water quality team that will provide 7 day/week coverage. Collaborate with the Engineering Department in bringing forth improvements to existing filtration/disinfection systems, and to assess new applied technologies for water filtration and treatment. Work closely with the life support, animal care and animal health teams to develop a cohesive water quality management culture and philosophy. Provide support for property wide projects that are designed to maximize quality of animal care, and improve efficiency in management of available water resources. Work to advance the management of the microbiome of aquatic habitats to enhance animal care and health.
Essential Position Duties
• Oversees water chemistry analyses for all marine and freshwater aquatic systems, manages and maintains water chemistry analytical equipment, and keeps appropriately stocked inventory of consumable supplies and reagents.
• Ensures fulfillment of all applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements of relevant agencies and organizations, for both marine and freshwater animal systems, as well as for guest dive programs.
• Provides interpretation and oversight of all water chemistry parameters pertinent to each aquatic system.
• Ensures best-in-class water quality and management, by reviewing current life support, disinfection, microbiome management, and water quality practices, and developing recommendations to improve water management efficiency and animal welfare.
• Develops and enforces Water Quality Lab safety protocols, making sure all staff members that
handle chemicals or perform lab procedures have and know how to use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), dispose of hazardous waste and store chemical reagents properly.
• Trains staff and volunteers, and manage schedules for provision of 7 day/week water quality lab coverage.
• Provides input and reviews plans relating to design and application of all water chemistry filtration, disinfection, and sensor/monitoring systems.
• Provides the necessary scientific knowledge (including, but not limited to marine, organic, inorganic, analytical and environmental chemistry), for troubleshooting and providing solutions to water quality issues while improving efficiency in management of available water resources.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Education, Requirements, and Technical Skills
• Minimum of a B.A degree in one of the following disciplines; chemistry, marine chemistry, environmental chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a related field and/or role, in marine or freshwater aquaria.
• Aquatic Facility Operator Certification preferred.
• Proficiency in working and setting mounted and remote water sensors for automated filtration systems and data gathering.
• In depth knowledge of life support system design and function, including capabilities of disinfection techniques.
• A strong foundation in fluid hydraulics and engineering.
• Strongly developed in investigation and problem solving skills.
• Ability to perform basic to advanced analytical chemistry calculations.
• Competent computer software skills in the MS operating system platform.
• Expert skills in use of spreadsheet software programs, such as Excel, with a focus on the manipulation of large databases, and water chemistry modeling.
• Budgeting and staff/volunteer management skills.
• Available on-call for emergencies or life support system failures that would impact water quality, animal health, guest experience, or staff/guest safety, or to provide assistance and consultation to Life Support and Animal Care teams.
Core Value Competencies
• Customer Focus – Demonstrates courtesy, cooperation and friendliness with staff, volunteers and customers. Actively listens, anticipates and evaluates the customer’s needs. Ensures that customer satisfaction is a priority in all areas of responsibility. Actively engages our customers while fulfilling job responsibilities.
• Business Focus – Strives to positively affect organizational success in completion of job requirements, manages resources effectively and takes positive actions to enhance the guest experience. Recognizes how their own performance and contributions impact departmental and organizational goals, strategies and results. Keeps FLAQ business and customer’s well-being at the forefront of day-to-day focus.
• Planning/Decision Making – Establishes a course of action with specific goals and objectives in mind. Allocates resources and sets priorities in the most efficient and effective way while respecting our collection and environment with high ethics and standards. Demonstrates the ability to make the best informed decisions considering alternatives and available information. Develops contingency plans anticipating needs and changes in the work environment while seeking win-win solutions.
• Reliability/Accountability – Demonstrates the ability to complete tasks punctually, meet deadlines and follow through on commitments. Provides consistent and timely work free of errors and omissions. Demonstrates good time management skills by using time effectively and efficiently. Arrives at work and meetings on time. Takes responsibility for actions and behavior and learns from experiences.
• Problem Solving/Judgment – Provides realistic solutions in a timely manner based on consideration of alternatives and consequences. Demonstrates ability to evaluate alternatives and make judgments based on facts and the best interest of the organization. Demonstrates the courage to innovate and change when appropriate.
• Interpersonal Skills/Teamwork – Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively within a team and across departments for organizational success. Demonstrates a positive attitude and initiative, seeks to understand before being understood. Fosters a positive, supportive and encouraging work environment. Demonstrates respect for other’s opinions, trusts in their abilities and recognizes their contributions.
• Initiative – Demonstrates the ability to proactively seek opportunities and solutions to challenges. Demonstrates self-motivation in completing job requirements and consistently strives to improve performance. Initiates new ideas by challenging the status quo to find new ways to do things better. Asks questions and seeks guidance when needed.
• Professionalism – Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times, and takes accountability for their actions. Maintains composure, objectivity and a professional manner at all times. Complies with FLAQ’s Policies and Procedures. Behaves consistently with the values of the organization and acts as a role model.
• Communication – Effectively expresses ideas and ensures spoken or written communications are complete, clear and understandable. Actively listens and openly communicates with others. Ensures information is conveyed in a timely and appropriate manner. Encourages others to express their views. Positively accepts feedback and offers constructive feedback to others.
• Leadership – Shows leadership by providing vision and strategies; sets clear expectations and goals for the team that support departmental and organizational goals. Guides staff toward individual accomplishments, departmental and organizational goals. Exhibits and demonstrates core value competencies. Creates a positive environment in which people are motivated to do their best; invites input from team and delegates responsibility appropriately; recognizes contributions and supports professional growth of staff.
Typical Physical Requirements:
• Sitting (4 hours per day)
• Standing (4 hours per day)
• Walking (4 hours per day)
• Bending/Stooping — Occasionally
• Squatting — Occasionally
• Climbing stairs —Frequently
• Reaching above shoulders — Occasionally
• Crouching — Occasionally
• Kneeling — Occasionally
• Pushing/Pulling — Occasionally
• Carrying (up to 25 lbs.) — Occasionally
• Lifting (up to 25 lbs.) — Occasionally
• Working near moving machinery — Occasionally
• Exposure to marked changes in temperature and humidity
• Exposure to dust, fumes and gases
• Typing on a computer keyboard
• Viewing a computer screen for extended periods
• Coping with demands (stresses that are associated with the job and/or the work environment so that acceptable levels of performance and overall contribution are maintained)
• Ability to travel (car) as needed — locally and/or nationally
• Flexibility in working weekends, evenings, and holidays
• Available for on-call emergencies
Education and Pre-requisites
Education, Requirements, and Technical Skills
• Minimum of a B.A degree in one of the following disciplines; chemistry, marine chemistry, environmental chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a related field and/or role, in marine or freshwater aquaria.
• Aquatic Facility Operator Certification preferred.
• Proficiency in working and setting mounted and remote water sensors for automated filtration systems and data gathering.
• In depth knowledge of life support system design and function, including capabilities of disinfection techniques.
• A strong foundation in fluid hydraulics and engineering.
• Strongly developed in investigation and problem solving skills.
• Ability to perform basic to advanced analytical chemistry calculations.
• Expert skills in use of spreadsheet software programs, such as Excel, with a focus on the manipulation of large databases, and water chemistry modeling.
• Budgeting and staff/volunteer management skills.
Compensation and benefits
Benefit Plan options; Retirement Plan options; Discounts, and more!
Application instructions
Interested candidates should visit our Career Center at https://www.flaquarium.org/careers to apply.