Position Summary:
The Assistant Coordinator of Dive Volunteers supports the Coordinator of Dive Volunteers with daily oversite of the volunteer dive operation. This includes supporting and training volunteer divers, maintaining continuous communication with all volunteer divers, and conducting Florida Aquarium Diver Training.
The Assistant Coordinator of Dive Volunteers will work with the Coordinator of Dive Volunteers to ensure that volunteers' needs are met and will assist them with record keeping and standardization of volunteer training.
The Assistant Coordinator of Dive Volunteers will work with the Senior Manager of Maine Ops/Dive Safety Officer to ensure dive policies are followed. Works with Coordinator of Dive Volunteers to support and coordinate volunteer group travel programs.
Essential Position Functions
- Supervise dive maintenance shifts performed by Volunteers and work with other shift supervisors to standardize expectations and communications during maintenance activities.
- Safely execute and support exhibit and equipment maintenance, recreational SCUBA activities, Wild Dolphin Cruises, port and education tours, events and charters as required.
- With direction by the Coordinator of Dive Volunteers, assist with and help administrate the volunteer diver program, ensuring it complies and aligns with department and facility wide goals; appropriate risk management functions; fieldwork and special projects as needed.
- Assist with social events that integrate volunteer divers together and into the department, including holiday events and dive travel, pier clean-ups, shore clean-ups, and other off-site clean-up dive activities.
- Deliver extraordinary customer service to all aquarium guests by incorporating the Aquarium’s conservation efforts into all guest programs, connecting the guests to our mission.
Secondary Position Functions
- Act as daily Point of Contact (POC), or support the daily POC, ensuring consistency of programs across the department as needed
- Represent the Aquarium at community outreach and media events when needed
- Conduct guest dive and boat programs, acting as diver, safety, tender, boat crew, and program greeter as needed
- Act as Divemaster and/or captain and support for off-site guest dive experiences as needed
- Perform routine exhibit, equipment, and vessel maintenance as needed
- Support scientific diving for off-site research projects as needed
The Assistant Coordinator of Dive Volunteers is expected to:
- Assist with evening dive maintenance shifts multiple evenings per week. Work with Senior Manager of Maine Ops/Dive Safety Officer, Director of Marine Operations, and Coordinator of Dive Volunteers to standardize expectations and communications during morning maintenance shifts
- Support risk management functions such as training, equipment maintenance, fieldwork and special projects as needed; integrate volunteer divers as appropriate.
- Support gear maintenance as required
- As required, act as, or support the daily Point of Contact, ensuring consistency of programs across the department
- Work collaboratively in a team environment
- Be familiar with the Aquarium’s mission, vision, and values and ability to communicate them to our guests
- Represent the Aquarium at community outreach and media events when needed
- Complete daily Marine Operation tasks (closing tasks, filling tanks, laundry, vessel housekeeping duties, etc.) as required
- Assist with volunteer training, health physicals, First Aid provider status
- Assist the Volunteer Coordinator of Dive Volunteers with recruitment and onboarding of new volunteers
- At the direction of Coordinator of Dive Volunteers, assist the Dive Safety Officer in maintaining daily logs and other record keeping as directed
- Ensure all dive programs are conducted in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Florida Aquarium’s Dive Safety Manual, AAUS, AZA, OSHA and all other governing agencies and report any unsafe conditions
- Be able to troubleshoot basic mechanical problems or dive equipment issues and find an appropriate solution based on current circumstances
- Conduct daily public dive and boat programs, acting as diver, safety, tender, boat crew, and program greeter as needed
- Act as Divemaster and/or captain and support for off-site guest dive experiences as needed
- Deliver extraordinary customer service to all aquarium guests by incorporating the aquarium’s conservation efforts into all guest programs, connecting the guests to our mission
- Perform routine exhibit, equipment, and vessel maintenance as needed
- Support scientific diving for off-site research projects as needed
- Act as dive trainer or assistant for internal training programs and recreational SCUBA as needed
- Assist in maintaining accurate log systems, both electronically and on paper for the boating and dive programs
- Complete all assigned projects in a timely manner, with little to no supervision
- Other duties as assigned by Coordinator of Dive Volunteers.
Requirements and Technical Skills
- SCUBA Divemaster or above, Instructor Certification preferred
- Divers Alert Network DFA Pro CPR certification, Instructor certification preferred
- Two years’ experience in dive training in an aquarium / zoo, leading dives professionally, or in the commercial diving field, other similar dive experience
- Experience with OSHA standard and California OSHA a plus.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Supervisory experience preferred
- Experience working with volunteers preferred.
- Human resource management or volunteer supervision experience is a plus.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office software
Core 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.
- 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.
- Professional/Technical Knowledge and Competency — Remains current on developments in the field within and outside the organization; maintains proficiencies.
- Leadership (Supervisory) – 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.
- 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 interests of the organization. Demonstrates the courage to innovate and change when appropriate.
- Communication – effectively expressing ideas verbally and non-verbally. Actively listening to individuals and groups; expressing ideas clearly and concisely in written form, through reports, emails, and documents.
Typical Physical Requirements
- Sitting, standing, walking – at least 4 hours per day
- Bending/stooping, climbing ladders – frequently
- Kneeling/squatting, reaching above shoulders – occasionally
- Carrying/lifting to 50 lbs.
- 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.
- Should be able to climb and descend ladders quickly
- Daily contact with a living collection of plants and animals in a central Florida climate
- Ability to travel (car, boat, plane, truck) as needed — locally and/or nationally
- Exposure to blood borne pathogens
- Subject to bites, stings, scrapes and exposure to various plants, animals and birds
- Flexibility in working weekends, evenings and holidays
Special Working Conditions
- Will be enrolled in the mariner consortium upon hire, per Coast Guard regulations and as such are subject to random drug screenings
- This position could be asked to travel for overnight scientific diving projects
- Working conditions include working in outdoor weather conditions, a non-stable environment (i.e. pitching, heaving, and rolling decks), noisy environment, hot and confined spaces, exposure to toxic/caustic substances and fumes, as well as moving, lifting, and carrying heavy objects.
