Position Summary
Responsible for managing all aspects of commissary operations for The Florida Aquarium’s (TFA) living collection including diet preparation, purchasing, inventory management and staff training. Works closely with the Animal Care and Health teams to support optimal animal health and welfare needs relating to diet preparation and quality control of food items. Ensures that commissary areas exceed accrediting body and regulatory standards. Establishes safe and ergonomically effective operational practices. Establishes, maintains and updates standard operating procedures. Candidates for consideration must truly enjoy working with people; flexibility and creativity in a dynamic environment are critical.
Essential Position Functions
- Works to ensure the acquisition of the highest quality food possible, develops an effective stock rotation program, oversees nutritional analysis, and maintains accurate records of animal food supplies
- Efficiently and effectively oversees commissary operations to provide the best possible food for the animals
- Ensures commissary compliance with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and American Humane Association (AHA) standards as well as complying with federal, state and local regulatory agencies
- Collaborates with the Animal Care & Health staff to ensure the highest standards for animal health and wellbeing related to animal food preparation and management
- Works with the Animal Care & Health staff to provide best practices for the storage and delivery of food containers once food they have left the commissary until it has been fed to the collection
- Manages daily commissary operations including diet preparation (frozen, fresh, and prepared) and breakout of produce, frozen (fish/meat) products and other dietary items as needed
- Manages dietary and nutritional data and ensures accurate record keeping utilizing TRACKS record keeping software
- Forecasts projected animal food consumption and works with vendors to purchase and maintain an adequate inventory
- Serves as primary point of contact with commissary vendors to ensure product quality and delivery timelines for a successful outcome
- Oversees product storage and rotation to help ensure a high level of quality control.
- Assists with commissary budget management
- Provides commissary training for all animal care staff
- Recruits, trains, and oversees a staff of volunteers that aid in commissary responsibilities
- Ensures the commissary and storage areas are maintained in a safe and sanitary manner and meet or exceed USDA and AZA standards
- Delivers extraordinary customer service to all aquarium guests and internal customers.
Education Requirements and Technical Skills
- Four years of experience in food handling, preparation and warehouse activities in the food service industry or at a zoo or aquarium.
- Two years of supervisory experience is desired
- Ability to operate and maintain tools and equipment necessary for the preparation of diets: grinders, knife sharpeners, blenders, scales, mixers, hand trucks, pallet jacks, knives
- Experience with inventory management and stock rotation
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software
- Valid Florida driver’s license or ability to get one within 3 months of hire
Core Competencies
Customer Service Orientation — Listening to and understanding the customer (both internal and external) and anticipating and evaluating the customer’s needs; making the customer’s satisfaction a high priority in all areas of responsibility
Communication (oral and written) – Effectively expressing ideas verbally and non-verbally and actively listening to individuals and groups; preparing and focusing presentations to the characteristics and needs of the audience; expressing ideas clearly and concisely in written form, through memoranda, letters, reports, and other documents
Professional/Technical Knowledge and Competency — Remains current on developments in the field within and outside the organization; maintains proficiencies
Interpersonal Skills/Teamwork — Supporting, facilitating, and participating in activities that promote team effectiveness; demonstrating sensitivity for the feelings and needs of team members and supporting team goals
Planning and Organizing – Establishing a course of action with specific long-range goals for the aquarium; setting priorities among competing requirements and allocating resources in the most efficient and effective way; developing contingency plans that anticipate changes in the work environment
Initiative – Taking actions to achieve goals; self-starting and proactive; asserting oneself to support others in the achievement of their goals; originating action rather than responding to only the actions of others; anticipating the needs of both internal and external constituencies
Typical Physical Requirements
- Sitting (4 hours per day)
- Standing (4 hours per day)
- Walking (4 hours per day)
- Climbing stairs —Frequently
- Reaching above shoulders — Occasionally
- Bending/Stooping/Squatting/Kneeling/Balancing — Frequently
- Crouching/Crawling — Occasionally
- Pushing/Pulling — Occasionally
- Carrying (up to 40 lbs.) — Occasionally
- Lifting (up to 50 lbs.) — Occasionally
- Working near moving machinery — Occasionally
- Exposure to marked changes in temperature and humidity
- Typing on a computer keyboard
- Viewing a computer screen for extended periods
- Using hands for repetitive movements — fine manipulating
- 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
