Demonstrate excellent representation of the aquarium at all times through a positive, can-do attitude and teamwork focused work ethic.
- The Water Quality Manager is responsible for the general oversight of the water quality laboratory operations and maintaining open communications with other departments.
Minimum Job Requirements:
- Must be willing to consistently provide guest service above and beyond expectation.
- Bachelor’s degree in related discipline and/or certification in water chemistry or laboratory technology.
- Minimum 5 years of experience using standard laboratory methods and procedures.
- Minimum 1 year of experience working with discharge or other environmental permits.
- Aquatic Animal Life Support Operator (AALSO) Level I Water Quality Certification preferred.
- Strong interpersonal skills, and strong written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Strong attention to detail is required, must be able to observe and follow up on trends.
- Proficiency in MS Office applications.
- Must be willing and flexible to work weekends and holidays.
- Multilingual; Spanish speaking preferred.
Responsibilities & Essential Functions:
- Support the organization’s mission and core values.
- Maintain compliance with State and Federal water quality and discharge testing and reporting requirements.
- Maintain Non-Potable Water Testing Lab certification with the State of Connecticut including maintaining proficiency testing for self and approved/trained laboratory staff.
- Edit and review discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) before submission.
- Maintain the Water Quality Laboratory’s Quality Assurance (QA) plan. If necessary, update the plan with changes in testing methods, or any other changes necessary.
- Work closely with the animal husbandry departments, along with the life support systems, veterinary, and research personnel for the best management of the systems maintained.
- Maintain an open line of communication between departments with any observed trends or out-of-range values that require investigation.
- Provides interpretation and recommendations of all water chemistry parameters pertinent to each aquatic system to ensure that all systems are always meeting or exceeding AZA, USDA, and Mystic Aquarium standards.
- Assist in the development of operational procedures to ensure human safety in the laboratory and proper methods of analyses for all parameters tested.
- Provide technical support for research projects when needed, including reagent preparation, obtaining equipment and supplies, and processing samples.
- Coordinate modifications to the water quality testing schedule in addition to routine testing.
- Maintain, monitor, and update Water Quality Lab staff schedule to ensure proper coverage and backup in the event of an absence.
- Mentor, develop, and directly supervise team members, including lab staff, interns, and volunteers.
- Prepare and participate in personnel evaluations.
- Network with industry peers to troubleshoot and problem solve.
- Submit purchase orders as needed to maintain an acceptable inventory of reagents and supplies.
- Provide budget summaries to immediate supervisor as necessary.
- Manage the ordering of life support chemicals (i.e., chlorine); ensure bulk compounds in original containers are properly rotated and expired compounds taken out of circulation for any use in systems housing animals.
- Maintain laboratory supplies and equipment necessary to perform water analyses. Research new equipment as it becomes necessary.
- Ensure the highest level of hygiene in the laboratory by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all benchtops and laboratory equipment immediately after use, along with storing items in their appropriate locations.
- Collect water samples and analyze using current and proven laboratory techniques and record the results.
- Monitor levels of various parameters, including but not limited to pH, salinity, conductivity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, chlorine, phosphate, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and magnesium.
- Perform microbiological examination of exhibits, testing enterococcus, total and fecal coliforms for compliance purposes.
- Maintain laboratory environment and its data, computer, and hard copy files.
- Be available to work overtime if required.
- Other duties as assigned.
Safety/Security
- All employees are responsible for always working in a safe manner.
- Every employee must properly use, and keep in good order, all personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied to them as protection from recognized hazards.
- Every employee must report any unsafe condition.
- Every employee must have a working knowledge of all Facility wide, and Department specific, safety procedures that relate to their position, including, but not limited to: Emergency Evacuation, Lockdown Procedure, and Fire Extinguisher Use.
- Sea Research Foundation, Inc. (dba Mystic Aquarium) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
- It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
- Women and underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.