Dive Safety Officer Position

Dive Safety Officer

Company: California Science Center

Details

With a visit to Ecosystems, guests discover amazing environments from the familiar to the fantastic, and find out how the physical and living worlds affect—and in some ways, define—each other. Ecosystems includes an 188,000 gallon kelp tank populated with live kelp, fish, and other marine life. Exhibits related to marine life require the support of many people including husbandry, life support and diving professionals. The Dive Safety Officer (DSO) is responsible for the development and implementation of all aspects of the Foundation’s Dive and Boat Safety program. The DSO oversees the Foundation’s dive team, including paid staff and volunteers. The DSO ensures compliance with Cal OSHA and AAUS regulations including maintenance of all scuba systems and related records. The DSO oversees the required training of staff/volunteers participating in any dive operations (e.g., first aid, CPR, O2, rescue, etc.). The DSO oversees and coordinates all dive-related in-house, on-water, and waterfront conservation and collection operations. The DSO maintains the Foundation’s vessel and ensures compliance. With the Director of Aquatic Husbandry, the DSO negotiates service, equipment, and maintenance contracts, and assists in developing and managing the operating budget for the department.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree and 5 years in a similar role with increasing levels of responsibility.
  • Experience in an AZA-accredited public aquarium or zoological facility preferred. Must have fieldwork experience supervising scientific/technical and recreational divers.
  • Experience in dive program development, outreach, and recruitment preferred.
  • Must be a qualified AAUS Scientific Diver and possess certifications and extensive experience training dive emergency response at the Recreational Instructor and DAN DFA Pro Instructor levels.
  • Emergency Medical Technician and Dive Medical Technician certifications preferred.
  • Must have PSI visual inspector and applicable gear repair certifications. Experience and certification with OTS underwater communication systems equipment is highly desirable.
  • Must have experience operating boats including vessel/trailer transport, vessel launching/handling, open water diving operations and boating training, safety and emergency procedures.
  • Must be able to dive regularly in tanks and open-ocean, as well as, transport dive equipment to and from remote access points over rugged terrain.
  • Must possess the physical abilities to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 75lbs on occasion.
  • Must be able and willing to work effectively in outdoor, wet, rainy, and cold weather conditions.
  • Must be able to maintain all certifications and requirements for the position, including swim tests and dive physicals (chest radiographs as needed). Ability to dive is an essential function of the position.
  • Must maintain a valid California driver’s license with a clean record and be insurable to drive a Foundation vehicle.
  • Ability to effectively communicate with, supervise, motivate, and train staff/volunteers and work cohesively in a team environment.
  • Must possess exceptional organizational skills.

Skills

  • Develop and implement safety protocols in adherence with the guidelines of AAUS and Cal/OSHA by writing SOPs and Dive Safety Manuals.
  • Manage and ensure that all staff and volunteer divers perform in accordance with safety protocols, ensuring appropriate training occurs in a timely manner, reviewing and approving dive and float plans, and supervising dive staff.
  • Manage and verify routine maintenance of all diving records for staff and volunteer divers, dive gear, and collecting equipment, in alignment with established industry standards.
  • Prepare clear and concise annual/monthly audits of dive program records in order to ensure compliance and quickly address issues.
  • Operate boat, coordinating and supervising boat training, waterfront and on-water dive operations in compliance with regulations.
  • Supervise dive team, made up of Assistant Dive Safety Officer(s) and Dive Technician(s).
  • Work respectfully with a diverse team of staff and volunteer divers to foster teamwork and ensure efforts are aligned with department goals and objectives.
  • Work collaboratively with other teams, departments, and groups within the California Science Center and externally to achieve and maintain safe, respectful, and productive operations.
  • Coordinate and chair Diving Control Board meetings.
  • Develop and implement outreach and volunteer recruitment programs.
  • Foster working relationships with other institutions and organizations.
  • Perform other duties as required.

Contact Information

Send Cover Letter, Resume and Salary Target to the HR Dept. via fax at 213-744-2673, email to: HR@cscmail.org or mail to the California Science Center Foundation, H. R. Dept., 700 Exposition Park Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90037. No phone calls please. EOE.

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