Aquarium Life Support Technician I

Aquarium Life Support Technician I/II DOQ

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is hiring an Aquarium Life Support Technician. This position will be filled as an Aquarium Life Support Technician I (G.17 - $37,455.50 - $58,056.03) or an Aquarium Life Support Technician II (G.21 - $45,527.40 - $70,567.47) depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected applicant.

The Aquarium Life Support Technician will be part of a dynamic team that is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center's 800,000-gallon aquatic life support systems. This position will provide for the needs of all animal and aquarium life support systems. This position will be expected to communicate with staff across functional areas regarding maintenance for each system to maintain the highest animal care standards. Collaborate with water quality, veterinary, and animal care staff to ensure the highest standards of animal care and welfare for all animal exhibits and holding/quarantine systems.

Aquarium Life Support Technician I

• Conduct regular daily inspections, maintain water quality through monitoring and operation of individual life support systems, and perform preventative maintenance tasks on life support and related equipment under the direction of senior staff.

• Assist in troubleshooting and maintenance of pumps, filters, fractionators, compressors, ozone generators, valve and piping systems, electronic control systems, and laboratory equipment.

• Receive work assignments from senior staff and generate work orders, progress reports, and daily logs.

• Recommend and maintain the stock of required spare parts, tools, equipment and supplies.

• Interpret schematics, equipment drawings and automated control system display drawings and indicators.

• Assist with the installation of hardware connected to the automated controls system.

• Monitor and analyze trends; recognize issues and respond per established protocols. Assist with conducting and interpreting water quality tests and analyze data and assist with corrections as needed.

• Maintain exhibit quality standards through regular maintenance and cleaning activities.

• Assist with upgrading and/or installing life support systems in exhibits. May assist in exhibit design, construction, assembly, maintenance, and repair, including but not limited to, fiberglass and concrete décor; waterproofing materials and treatments; and acrylic.

• Research and suggest upgrades, visitor enhancements, and changes to exhibit and life support systems to senior staff.

Aquarium Life Support Technician II

• Responsible for the overall operation and proper function of assigned animal exhibit life support systems. Perform preventative maintenance tasks on life support and related equipment, as directed and in accordance with governing agencies' and regulatory/accrediting bodies' standards and guidelines.

• Perform advanced life support system operation responsibilities such as new system startups; emergency or time sensitive repairs and retrofit operations; assess system and equipment functionality, efficiency, and replacement needs; provide life support design, construction, operation and maintenance; and seawater process operation needs assessments with animal curatorial staff.

• Monitor and analyze trends; recognize issues and respond per established protocols. Assist with conducting and interpreting water quality tests, analyze data, and assist with corrections as needed.

• Troubleshoot and repair automated life support equipment control systems. Assist with installation, and maintenance to ensure proper operation and to prevent equipment failure.

• Conduct routine and emergency maintenance and repair of exhibit and life support components including but not limited to, fiberglass and concrete structures; waterproofing materials and treatments; piping systems; valves; filters; tanks.

• Assist the Senior Curator with developing and maintaining section operating budgets, procurement efforts, and purchasing, including preparing specifications, and evaluating products and vendors.

• Assist the Senior Curator with life support project development, including scoping and feasibility, resource and time allocation, budgeting, exhibit enhancement and/or construction design, and implementation.

• Investigate, initiate, and collaborate with Aquarium staff, volunteers, fellows, and other professional institutions on research projects.

• Create and interpret schematics and equipment drawings.

• Regularly review current protocols for improvements. Assist with developing, editing, and implementing standard operating procedures to ensure compliance to all applicable regulatory/accrediting bodies' standards.

• Assist in hiring and training life support staff, volunteers, and interns; assist with professional development of section staff, volunteers, and interns. Support the department's safety representative's efforts to ensure compliance of the Virginia Aquarium's maintenance program protocols and operations with all applicable OSHA regulations.

Work schedule: 40 hours/week with rotating weekends and holidays. Schedules vary between 8-10 hour shifts depending on operational needs. Shift s are scheduled between 6 AM to 6 PM.