Aquatic Life Support Technician

Education and Experience: High School Diploma, GED, or higher and three (3) years of experience working with institutional water treatment and filtration, or experience with aquaculture, marine mammal, or institutional aquarium life support systems.

Licenses and Certificates: Texas Class “C” Driver’s License or equivalent from another state. Level 1 Life Support Operator Certification from the American Associate of Life Support Operators within eighteen (18) months of appointment.

General Purpose

Under general supervision, install, operate, monitor, and maintain aquatic life support systems and moat treatment systems for zoo exhibits.

Typical Duties

Operate and maintain all aquatic life support and moat circulation systems to meet required water quality standards. Involves: Perform testing and monitoring of water quality parameters such as water chemistry, disinfection, clarity, and temperature. Administer aquatic systems chemical treatments as needed, ensuring proper dosing and monitoring for animal and environmental safety. Coordinate chemical treatments and maintenance with all stakeholders for that system. Perform maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of life support system components including, but not limited to sand filters, UV filters, ozonation water treatment equipment, protein skimmers, chlorinators, chillers, heat exchangers, pumps, motors, valves, and plumbing. Maintain water chemistry, treatment, and maintenance records using computerized records system. Generate water quality and maintenance reports as needed. Report daily status of water systems using the most efficient communication available including shared electronic records systems, e-mail, department radio, cell phone, and/or direct verbal communication.

Develop, enforce, and maintain standard staff, animal, and equipment safety operating procedures. Involves: Assist and train additional personnel who work with the systems. Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to water quality for animals. Follow all city and departmental safety policies and procedures. In consultation with supervisor and other stakeholders, develop and implement standard operating procedures for monitoring, operating, and maintaining each aquatic system. Maintain open communication regarding aquatic systems operational feasibility with section supervisors including veterinarians.

Advance the quality of aquatic systems at the zoo. Involves: Network with other Life Support Systems professionals and attend continuing education to maintain current best practices and system improvements. Contribute to the planning and design of new facilities with aquatic life support components. Oversee and participate in the installation of new systems as assigned. Conduct educational presentations in both formal and informal settings.

Supervise assigned staff and/or volunteers as needed. Involves: Schedule, assign, instruct, guide and check work. Appraise employee performance. Enforce personnel rules and regulations, and work behavior standards firmly and impartially. Counsel, motivate and maintain harmony. Interview applicants. Recommend hiring, termination, transfers, discipline, merit pay or other employee status changes.

General Information

For complete job specification, click here.

Test Information: An evaluation of education and experience will be conducted on qualified candidates.

Note: Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. This position will close when a preset number of qualified applications have been received.

A résumé and/or other documents will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Comments such as “See résumé” are not acceptable and will result in the application being considered incomplete.

To qualify for this position, the required education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be clearly stated on your application’s employment history. We do not use any information on your resume to review if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

Failure to fully detail all experience and job duties in the application, or copying/pasting directly from the job specification, or responses referring to your résumé will eliminate you from consideration for the position.