Position Title: Life Support Systems and Water Quality Technician
Department: Facility Operations
Classification: Part-time, Non-exempt
Direct Report: Vice President of Facility Operations
Position Summary
The position reports to the Vice President of Facility Operations. The Part-time Life Support Systems Operator / Water Quality Technician is responsible for performing equipment maintenance tasks, cleaning, and general labor pertaining to animal life support systems and maintaining water quality. The ability to make accurate assessments of filter status and the cleaning schedule of filters is essential. Basic knowledge of water quality is essential.
Responsibilities:
- Assists facilities staff in the overall daily care of the freshwater and saltwater aquarium systems.
- Assists water quality technician with water quality analyses.
- Keeps support areas clean, organized, and safe .
- Builds knowledge of water chemistry and aquatic animal biology.
- Learns how abiotic factors affect the animals on exhibit.
- Ensures guest satisfaction by delivering exceptional guest experiences and service.
- Complies with all standard operating procedures (SOPs) pertaining to daily operations and safety.
- Promotes conservation, animal welfare, and good stewardship in daily tasks
- Undertakes special projects as assigned.
Qualifications
- 18 years of age or older.
- Enrolled in or recent graduate of a college program in biology, marine biology, or another related field.
- Ability to work at least three 8 hour shifts a week.
- Ability to perform physically demanding job duties daily.
- Daily interaction with fellow team members and the public.
- Excellent observation and communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ethics that sustain a positive and professional environment.
- A valid driver’s license and ability to travel to and from work.
- Ability to work weekends, holidays, and possible late hours.
- Ability to work with and around various fish and crustaceans.
- Previous animal care experience or LSS familiarity, such as volunteering at an animal shelter, or completing other animal care Internships, or working in college-level aquaculture labs.
- Applicants should consider themselves hardworking, dedicated, and reliable.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Team Requirements
- Safety & Security - All Team Members are required to adhere to all Mississippi Aquarium safety and security standards.
- Attendance & Appearance - To maximize the guest’s experience, all Team Members are required to adhere to Mississippi Aquarium standard operating procedures regarding attendance and dress code policies as it relates to individual job functionality. Tattoos and piercings must be appropriate and in keeping with a professional image. Depending on the work area, management reserves the right to determine that tattoos will need to be covered during your shift.
- Sales & Guest Services - Our forward-thinking business model requires listening and understanding the needs of our guests both internal and external. To that end, we must always be focused on the guest experience which is the key driver for return guest visitation.
- Team Partnership - All Team Members are focused on supporting each other to complete the guest experience. Therefore, supporting, facilitating, and participating in activities that promote team effectiveness is vital to our organization. Consistent and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) included but not limited to a fitted respirator, eye and ear protection, gloves, hard hat, harness, steel-toed footwear.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Note: Position will involve exposure to inclement weather, dust, potentially dangerous and unpredictable animal species, and potentially dangerous machinery, restraint devices and toxic chemicals and/or drugs. Occasional use of protective clothing or equipment is required e.g., goggles, mask, gloves, and gowns.
