Job Title: Dive Safety Officer

Department: Biological Programs Division (BPD)

Reports To: Vice President of Biological Programs

SUMMARY: The Dive Safety Officer, under the direction of the Vice President of Biological Programs, is responsible for maintaining the Biological Programs Division’s Diving Standards, ensuring the safety of staff and visiting divers, and chairing the Diving Control Board.

That oversight will include:
• Appropriate training and certifications
• Documentation and daily supervision of diving activities
• Overseeing all BPD dive equipment for the Museum and ensure routine maintenance is performed.
• Improvement and refinement of the program’s Diving Standards where necessary.
• Being an active part of the diving staff for the maintenance of the aquatic exhibits and fieldwork conducted by BPD.

The ideal candidate will have intimate knowledge of OSHA diving standards and scientific diving.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership Role

• Serves as Dive Safety Officer for the Museum.
• Serves as chairperson for the Dive Control Board (DCB).
• Organizes and leads biannual DCB Meetings.
• Leads the refinement of the Museum’s Dive Safety Manual.
• Evaluates and monitors all diving activities to ensure compliance with the institution’s Dive Safety Manual and OSHA regulations.

Expertise

• Maintains a strong knowledge base of diving industry standards, diving physiology, equipment, and appropriate techniques to ensure the institution's compliance.
• Responsible for providing strong technical insight into all aspects of the dive program activities and supporting institutional and departmental missions.

Safety

• Manages risk and ensures the safety of staff and contract divers within all Museum-related diving operations, both on-site and in the field.
• Oversees implementation of policies and procedures that ensure the safety of staff, volunteer, guest/VIP and contract divers at all Museum-related diving operations, both on-site and in the field. safety standards.
• Participates in Museum Safety Committee.

External Affairs

• Serves as Museum liaison to outside agencies involved in diving safety and regulations such as OSHA, American Academy of Underwater Sciences, and Diver Alert Network.
• Serves as spokesperson on behalf of the Museum, as assigned.

Training

• Coordinates dive training both internally & externally.
• Conducts check-out dives for institutional staffers to assess competence/readiness for diving-related assignments.
• Oversees CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration training.

Budgetary

• Provides necessary input to develop accurate diving program-related budget line items.
• Coordinates the purchasing of diving-related equipment including SCUBA gear, maintenance tools, diving safety kit, and other essential paraphernalia needed for successful program operations.
• Completes purchasing activities as assigned by BPD management team.

WorkFlow

• Delegates DSO responsibilities to appropriate diving program support staff e.g. ADSO(s) as necessary to ensure 7-day/week coverage.
• Works with the BPD leadership team to coordinate staff-diver scheduling for key Division operations, fieldwork and potential presentation dives e.g. evening events, additional exhibit cleaning dives, saltwater intake system maintenance, special events, and field diving opportunities where needed.
• Completes all assigned work in an efficient and timely manner.
• Responsible for meeting commitments negotiated with other departments, external partner organizations and institutions, as directed.

Equipment

• Responsible for maintenance of equipment, maintaining appropriate supplies, coordinating repairs.
• Under the direction of BPD management team, strives to advance certifications related to assessment and repairs of institutional diving-related equipment inventory.
• Responsible for conducting both announced & unannounced gear checks.
• Responsible for the organization, upkeep, and aesthetic of program-associated workspaces and support areas.

Administrative & Other

• Coordinates diving program medical examinations.
• Maintains diving-staffer records in a confidential and organized manner
• Helps to identify, develop, and maintain all program-related SOPs.
• Responsible for formulating program-related communication procedures, including an anonymous mechanism for field program-related safety procedure questions and concerns.
• Identifies delegable diving program-related assignments for the professional development of fellow BPD staffers.
• Adheres to all organizational and division-related policies and procedures.
• Work in other areas, tasks, or other collaborative teams as needed, and as assigned
• Identifies and recruits DCB board members, as directed.
• Participates in BPD supported and approved specimen collecting trips.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Marine Biology, Biological Sciences or a related field.
• 5 years of relevant experience and a proven record of managing similar programs.
• Nationally recognized certification as an Open Water Scuba Instructor
• Must be proficient in Diving Program procedures with emphasis on diving safety.
• Must have solid knowledge of marine science and be able to apply to a public Aquarium setting.
• Experience leading field diving operations.
• Scuba equipment repair technician preferred.
• Possessing knowledge of research projects program needs preferred.
• Must have keen observation skills to assess signs of poor weather, unsafe diving conditions, equipment in disrepair, or injury.
• High level of organizational skills, self-motivation and self-direction.
• Solid leadership abilities with demonstrable supervisory skills including effective delegation and assuring accountability.
• Must possess coordinating, managing, mentoring and training skills to effectively lead staffers and volunteers in group activities within the institution’s diving safety program.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with creativity, curiosity, integrity and determination.
• Ability to work under pressure, multitask, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively with managers and other staffers.
• Must possess significant analytical, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
• Must have capacity to decide when to act independently and when to seek consultation from BPD senior leadership.
• Familiarity with computers is necessary; must be able to log and record data.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively share information across and between multiple disciplines and reach audiences with varied technical and organizational knowledge.
• Should be a proficient public speaker and interpersonal communicator.
• Valid Florida Drivers’ License or the ability to acquire one.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical requirements stated represent those necessary for an individual to fulfill the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be made for qualified individuals with disabilities, ensuring equal employment opportunities. Please let us know if you require accommodation to participate in the application or interview process.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle, or feel; and talk and hear. The employee is required to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time, along with climbing and reaching with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move from to 50 to 70 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Must be able to work in high and low/ places.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those as employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work is performed both indoors and in outdoor settings. Outdoor work subject to temperatures up to 100 degrees, rain, humidity and sun. Work will also be conducted on a boat with the same outdoor conditions already listed.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Background clearance
• Drug screening as part of the Drug Free Workplace Program.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. Frost Science values a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.