Dive Safety Officer

Description

Greensboro Science Center

Dive Safety Officer

The Greensboro Science Center (GSC) is hiring a full-time Dive Safety Officer who will report directly to the Facility Safety Officer. GSC is a 68,000-square-foot AZA and AAM-accredited science museum and a 33,000-square-foot aquarium that includes our current 12-acre zoo and the new 10-acre expansion.  The Wiseman Aquarium features African black-footed penguins, Asian small-clawed otters, a 90,000-gallon reef exhibit, a 7,000-gallon ray touch tank, and a multi-taxon Amazon exhibit housing small primates, reptiles, and Amazonian fish. We also display several other animals including a giant Pacific octopus, jellies, corals, seahorses, Indo-Pacific fishes, and more. Under supervision of the Facility Safety Officer, the DSO will oversee all Greensboro Science Center diving operations (75%) and assist the Facility Safety Officer in managing the facility-wide safety program (25%). The DSO is responsible for developing and enforcing policies and procedures that ensures safe diving practices and coordinating staff and volunteer dive programs, including member selection, testing, training and scheduling. Ensure compliance with all standards related to GSC Diving Operations. 

In addition, GSC also offers staff the opportunity to support local and international conservation projects. The DSO oversees an annual trip to Florida to support coral conservation in the field along with a team of staff divers. GSC also offers a yearly conservation and research grant for staff to pursue projects of their choosing. Furthermore, GSC is in the process of building a Biodome slated to open late 2026/early 2027 and includes several aquatic exhibits.  It is a great opportunity to become part of a dynamic team!

Candidates should expect to work 40 hours a week, which may include weekends, holidays, rotating shifts and overnight emergency responses. This position is exempt and may be required to work inclement weather events regardless of aquarium/zoo operational status. Pay ranges from $46,000 - $52,000 per year plus a full benefits package dependent on experience.

Dive Safety Officer 

Essential Functions of DSO:

• Under the auspices of the Diving Control Board, the Dive Safety Officer is responsible for the operation of all diving programs. The operational authority for these programs, including all essential job functions, rests with the DSO for the Greensboro Science Center.
• The DSO is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the dive safety program and may delegate oversight to appropriately trained staff members.
• Responsible for keeping divers appraised of their certification status and ensuring compliance with diving safety standards as determined by the Diving Control Board (DCB), OSHA, and AZA
• Serve as GSC liaison to outside agencies involved in diving safety, facility safety and regulations, including OSHA, AZA, Association of Diving Program Administrators and Divers Alert Network, Fire Department, etc.
• Develop and oversee policies and procedures that ensure the safety of staff, volunteer and contract divers at all GSC-related diving activities to ensure compliance with the Aquarium’s Diving Safety Manual and OSHA regulations.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of current diving industry standards, physiology, equipment and techniques to ensure the GSC’s compliance with all relevant safety standards.  Have a comprehensive knowledge of diving theory and its application to safe diving practices, procedures and techniques related to occupational and scientific diving.
• Serves on the Diving Control Board
• Oversees GSC dive training and checkout dives for staff and volunteers.  Ensures that all diver medical examinations are current and maintains records. 
• Ability to oversee dive budget including the purchase and repairs of all GSC dive equipment.
• Maintain detailed up-to-date dive program records including but not limited to; equipment maintenance logs, and training and risk management logs.   Maintain certification records, liability release, incident reports and medical forms adhering to privacy and security mandates.  Ensures dive logs are maintained according to regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Oversees compressor and scuba cylinder maintenance, service, and HAZMAT training.  This includes coordinating quarterly air quality testing from an authorized facility and posting results, performing annual visual inspections of all compressed air cylinders, coordinating hydrostatic testing, and providing HAZMAT training to staff that work around compressed gas per state and federal regulations, as well as industry standards.
• Responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the Volunteer Dive Program operate within established GSC Diving Policies as outlined by the Volunteer Manual and Dive Safety Manual.
• Establish criteria for the recruitment, selection, training, performance, evaluation and daily operation of the volunteer divers.
• Accountable for delegating dive oversight to dive personnel to ensure full coverage for all diving events within the GSC.
• Oversees all aspects of diving related to public presentations. Work as a diver, Standby and DPIC. Trains other Standby divers and DPIC’s and troubleshoots technical problems for shows.
• Manages risk and ensuring the safety of staff, volunteer and contract divers at all GSC-related diving operations on-site.
• Monitors, maintains and ensures availability and readiness of emergency/first aid/AED equipment and supplies for all dive locations.
• Ensure that all active staff and volunteer divers participate in annual dive drills in accordance with standards.
• Meets regularly with Aquatics Curator and Terrestrial Department regarding maintenance operations performed by staff and volunteer divers.  Coordinate scheduling of staff and volunteer divers and ensures they are working within established GSC health and safety guidelines.
• Must be able to recognize, prevent and suspend any dive operations that are considered to be unsafe or unwise, and do not comply with the GSC diving standards
• Coordinate and/or perform routine inspections of scuba regulators, air cylinders, full-face masks, buoyancy control devices, wetsuits, dive-related safety equipment, communications, and all other dive related gear and equipment per manufacturer standards and regulations.  Coordinate preventative maintenance, repairs, and order equipment
• Ensure staff and volunteer divers follow all biosecurity and safe handling of animals protocols as outlined by Curatorial and Veterinarian staff.  Collaborate with Veterinarian, Curatorial and/or animal care staff to assist with in-water animal husbandry and medical procedures.
• Review and edit the Dive Safety Manual and Safe Practices Manual as needed.  Ensure the distribution of the dive operations manuals on an annual basis to all dive staff and volunteers.
• Provide professional development opportunities to staff and volunteer divers.
• Develop and maintain personal awareness and understanding of each diver’s current activity level, general physical condition, equipment readiness, and overall diving skill.
• Provide safety, gear-specific, and diver emergency training for volunteers and staff divers.
• Act as a liaison between the volunteer divers and other staff.

Other assigned duties:

• Serve as liaison to Facility Safety Officer and participate in the Safety Committee.
• Will support the Facility Safety Officer in managing GSC-wide safety procedures and protocols.
• They may assist in developing and implementing safety policies, training programs, and emergency response plans for the GSC facility
• Assist with working with local law enforcement, emergency medical services, and fire department for facility drills
• Assist in incident investigations and contribute to continuous improvement efforts in safety practices.
• Assist with purchasing of safety supplies and/or equipment
• Oversees first aid, CPR, and AED training for GSC staff.  Maintain certification records and coordinate refresher staff training per regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Contribute to the strategic goals of the Greensboro Science Center by promoting, supporting, and engaging in a positive, fun, encouraging, and compassionate work environment.

Qualifications:

• Candidates must be willing to work weekends and holidays
• Ability to pass GSC Dive Program swim test
• Ability to pass Dive Program physical exam per age requirement schedule
• Possession of certification as a Divemaster,  Assistant Instructor or Dive Instructor.
• Ability to possess an instructor-level certification from a professionally recognized organization within one (1) year from date of hire into the position. 
• Must be current CPR, First Aid, AED, and Emergency Oxygen Provider instructor from a nationally recognized certification agency
• Applicants must be able to work in hot and humid environments
• Applicants must be able to lift at least 60 lbs
• Applicants must also hold a valid driver’s license
• Applicants must be able to work as part of a team
• Applicant must be willing to work with others to solve problems
• Experience managing scuba equipment and compressor maintenance tasks
• Experience tending dives, training and evaluating dive skills
• Certification, or willing to become a certified visual cylinder inspector
• Ability to perform rescues on other divers

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Science (B.S.) from an accredited college or university; and
• Three (3) years of professional-level experience working in dive operations within a public aquarium, dive shop, dive tourist destination or dive-related industry; 

-and-

• To include one (1) year direct supervisory or technical lead experience.
• Experience working in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility preferred.

Qualifications

Salary : $46,000 - $52,000