Assistant Dive Safety Officer

Who We Are

Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Metro Parks’ mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.

Why You’ll Love it Here

Come work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Metro Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Metro Parks are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. You’ll receive a competitive wage, along with an attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, retirement, vacation, holidays, and much more. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Position Information

Under the direction of the Aquarium Curator and Dive Safety Officer(s), assist in planning and coordination of the daily operations of the Aquarium Dive Program, Eye to Eye Shark Dive Program and related activities. Perform a variety of semi-skilled duties for the South Pacific and Pacific Seas Aquariums involved in the care, observation, maintenance, propagation and management of assigned aquarium animal species and the presentation of such species to the general public in an educational and attractive manner. 

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.
• Implement routine daily aspects of Eye to Eye Shark Dive program.
• Work with the Dive Safety Officers to enact any new SOPS, maintain current SOPS, and deal with any safety issues.
• Coordinate regular training and drills for ETE staff in the areas of safety, animal behavior, visitor enjoyment and educational programming.
• Maintenance of PDZA dive equipment.
• Perform maintenance of dive compressor, train ETE staff on proper filling operations in compliance with OSHA standards.
• Maintain records and reports regarding equipment, air quality, visitor and staff injury.
• Provide messaging on shark biology and conservation issues to dive program participants.
• Communicate with the public, answer questions and perform narrated dive events.
• Instruct participants on the technical and safety aspects of the dive programs.
• Guide participants safely through dive program experiences.
• Personalize public dive experiences with humor and educational information.
• Clean wetsuits, drysuits, bathing suits, dive gear and dive facility after dive programs.
• Provide upkeep of dive building and dive-equipment storage areas
• Assist participants with sizing and if need be fitting into drysuits and other equipment.
• Film, edit and duplicate videos of the dive.
• Participate in exhibit dives to fulfill the husbandry needs of individual exhibits and holding spaces, and the overall goals of the aquarium. 
• Observe animal species during dives and otherwise to determine physical and behavioral health and well-being; report observations as appropriate.
• Assist with routine aquatic animal husbandry tasks to include cleaning, feeding and enrichment for exhibits and holding areas. Move and remove animal species to different areas or exhibits as determined by proper care, feeding and safety methods.
• Assist with performing routine maintenance and minor repair of animal exhibits and related systems, ensuring a healthy environment and presentation of animals in an attractive manner.
• Participate in field dives and collecting trips to meet the collection and fieldwork needs of the aquarium.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Must possess leadership level dive experience, such as Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Assistant Instructor or Instructor certification, Lead diver classification at an Scientific Dive organization, SNUBA guiding experience, Public Safety Diver training, CMAS 2 * diver, etc Must have logged a minimum of 50 dives in Washington or a similar cold water environment.
• Pass diving requirements of PDZA.
• Must have  regulator repair experience in overhauling piston first stage regulators and unbalanced second stages.  

Preferred:

• Oceanic and OTS Guardian full face mask technician.
• Experience diving in and giving presentations using full face masks.
• Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology or related field, or related experience.
• Any combination equivalent to: One year experience involving the care and husbandry of animals in a zoo, aquarium, theme park or related environment, preferably in an AZA accredited facility.
• Boating experience.

LICENSE & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must have valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Must have the ability to obtain a valid First Aid and CPR Card within the probationary period.
• Must be willing to work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
• Must have the ability to obtain WA state Boaters Card with the probationary period  
• Ability to use basic functions in Microsoft Word, Power Point , Outlook and Excel.
• This position is a represented position with the International Union of Operating Engineers.   

HOURS:

• 40 hours per week

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Lifting heavy objects, up to 50 pounds.
• Pushing, climbing, walking, kneeling and crouching to work.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate specialized equipment and tools.
• Must be able to lift and carry dive gear as necessary for completion of dives. 
• Must be able to assist visitors with dive gear.
• Must be able to fill and move scuba cylinders.
• Repetitive SCUBA dives on a daily basis

ENVIRONMENT/HAZARDS

• Indoor, cold, wet underwater environment; Chemicals, fumes, odors, poor ventilation and noise.
• Contact with dissatisfied visitors.
• Work environment with potentially dangerous and sick animals.
• Exposure to animal fecal matter.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Leadership level principles of dive physics, physiology, equipment and safe diving practices
• Special needs and limitations of diving and SCUBA program users
• Proper routine care of dive equipment Usage of small tools
• Working with the general public in a positive manner for excellent visitor experiences
• Learn to interpret, apply and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures
• Train and provide feedback to others

ABILITY TO:

• Communicate clearly verbally and in writing
• Perform emergency first aid and CPR as needed and according to established guidelines
• Lead any dive accident or participant emergency response
• Organize groups, make schedules, and give presentations
•  Provide positive feedback and opportunities for growth for dive team members following simulated emergencies or observed public programs or dives
• Assess and evaluate situations effectively
• Exert optimal effort and follow through in successfully completing tasks
• Take initiative with minimal supervision
• Extract and record data and carry out calculations accurately
• Set up and operate equipment that can require selection from options or different settings
• Manage time efficiently and effectively through scheduling and prioritizing
• Work within and contribute to the effectiveness of a team, respecting difference
• Report for work regularly and on time.
  

METRO PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

• All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.
• MPT employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• MPT is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource at hr@tacomaparks.com.
• Employment is subject to a national background check.  

BENEFIT OVERVIEW

• Life Insurance:   Provided at no cost to the employee through Unum, amount is equal to annual salary up to $275,000. Benefits will reduce at age 70.
• Retirement Plan: All employees are covered under the Public Employees' Retirement System through the Washington State Department of Retirement Services (DRS).
• Medical Coverage and Dental Coverage:   Metro Parks Tacoma pays 90% of the total cost of medical/dental coverage for employees and their dependents. Coverage begins the first of the month following the date of employment. Medical coverage is offered through Kaiser. Dental options include Delta Dental Service and Willamette Dental.
• Health Care and Day Care Reimbursement Accounts: A benefit plan that allows you to pay for health care or dependent care expenses with "before tax" dollars.
• Deferred Compensation (457 plan): Optional employee paid retirement savings plans are available through Empower, ICMA,WA State Deferred Comp Program and Mass Mutual.
• Paid Holidays for career employees: New Years Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Two Floating Holidays are granted after successful completion of the 9 month probationary period
• Vacation:  8 hours earned monthly.
• Sick Leave: 8 hours earned monthly.

Note: THIS BENEFIT OVERVIEW IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY BE MODIFIED AND/OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.

Experience Required

• Must possess leadership level dive experience, such as Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Assistant Instructor or Instructor certification, Lead diver classification at an Scientific Dive organization, SNUBA guiding experience, Public Safety Diver training, CMAS 2 * diver, etc
• Must have logged a minimum of 50 dives in Washington or a similar cold water environment.
• Pass diving requirements of PDZA. Must have regulator repair experience in overhauling piston first stage regulators and unbalanced second stages.

Preferred:

• Oceanic and OTS Guardian full face mask technician.
• Experience diving in and giving presentations using full face masks.
• Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology or related field, or related experience.
• Any combination equivalent to: One year experience involving the care and husbandry of animals in a zoo, aquarium, theme park or related environment, preferably in an AZA accredited facility. Boating experience.

LICENSE & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must have valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Must have the ability to obtain a valid First Aid and CPR Card within the probationary period.
• Must be willing to work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
• Must have the ability to obtain WA state Boaters Card with the probationary period Ability to use basic functions in Microsoft Word, Power Point , Outlook and Excel