Life Support Operator (Full-Time)
Do you have hands-on experience maintaining and repairing water systems for aquatic life? Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens seeks a Full-Time Life Support Operator to maintain, optimize, and troubleshoot the aquaculture systems that support our aquatic and semi-aquatic species.
The Zoo’s REZOOVENATION: The Campaign to Inspire. The campaign that expands animal care, wellness facilities, and enhances guest experiences. This position will directly support these initiatives while maintaining all aquatic systems throughout the Zoo, ensuring optimal water quality and animal well-being.
As a subject matter expert, you will operate, repair, and maintain both manual and automated life support systems, including recirculating aquaculture systems, ozone generators, backwash systems, pumps, filtration systems, valves, UV sterilizers, HVAC systems, and integrated water quality monitoring systems. You will work in freshwater and saltwater habitats, including the 330,000-gallon Manatee River aquarium within the Manatee Critical Care Center expansion.
You may perform aquatic husbandry duties to ensure optimal water quality, including monitoring parameters, managing fecal matter, and minimizing interactions with species to maintain a healthy environment. Each day involves collaboration across teams, precise water testing, technical problem-solving, and adjustments to optimize living conditions for aquatic life.
Help us achieve our mission of “Connecting communities with wildlife and wild places.”
Functions & Responsibilities
Essential Functions
- Operate, monitor, and maintain recirculating aquaculture systems, backwash systems, ozone generators, UV sterilizers, HVAC systems, pumps, valves, and filtration systems.
- Conduct water quality testing, data logging, and make adjustments to maintain optimal aquatic environments.
- Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain complex life support and water quality systems in both freshwater and saltwater habitats.
- Perform aquatic husbandry tasks as needed to maintain water quality, while minimizing species interactions.
- Ensure compliance with all safety, AZA, USDA, USFWS, and AALSO standards.
- Collaborate with Animal Care, Facilities, and Conservation teams to support species wellness and operational efficiency.
- Participate in dive operations for cleaning, inspection, and maintenance of exhibit infrastructure as required.
- Maintain accurate records of system performance, maintenance activities, and water quality monitoring.
Skills & Experience
Knowledge & Skills
- Mechanical aptitude and demonstrated ability to operate, inspect, and maintain manual and automated life support systems, filtration processes, and water quality equipment.
- Knowledge of water chemistry, treatment processes, and aquatic system health, including chlorine dosing, ozone/UV systems, and nitrogen cycle management.
- Ability to safely perform underwater tasks in accordance with established diving safety protocols and communicate effectively with surface support staff.
- Understanding of safety protocols, standard operating procedures, and regulatory compliance in aquatic facilities, including animal safety and personal protective equipment use.
- Ability to collect and record water quality data, interpret results, and make adjustments to maintain optimal aquatic environments.
- Strong teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, including coordination with staff across multiple departments.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts, as needed.
Education & Experience
- High School diploma or equivalent.
- Two (2) years of experience in a similar role with water systems or a related field, including operating recirculating aquaculture systems, backwash systems, integrated electronic water quality monitoring systems, large-scale aquariums, HVAC systems, and general equipment maintenance.
- Six (6) months of experience as an individual contributor in water systems or related fields, performing operational, maintenance, or underwater tasks.
- Familiarity with housing marine mammals, including life support system requirements and testing/monitoring parameters to comply with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
Job Requirements
Physical Requirements
- Ability to remain standing for extended periods.
- Ability to safely perform dive operations in varying water depths and temperatures while wearing standard scuba or surface-supplied equipment.
- Ability to work in both indoor and outdoor aquatic environments that may include wet, humid, or confined spaces.
- Visual acuity and hand-eye coordination sufficient to perform underwater inspection and maintenance tasks; includes fine motor skills for grasping, turning, and manipulating objects of varying size and weight.
- Ability to communicate effectively with team members during dive operations and respond appropriately to emergency situations as trained.
- Ability to lift, carry, and move objects up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.
- Ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing, reaching, digging trenches to lay conduit, or moving and lifting heavy objects.
- Visual acuity required for reading, writing, and observing surroundings; auditory acuity required for clear communication and situational awareness.
- Ability to operate motorized carts, trucks, and power tools safely and efficiently.
- Ability to quickly move hands and arms to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects as required by system maintenance and equipment repair tasks.
- Ability to work from ladders, scaffolds, or elevated platforms to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Ability to perform precise hand and finger movements to grasp, manipulate, or assemble small parts and components.
Working Conditions
- Exposure to various weather conditions, including extreme heat, sunlight, cold, rain, snow, and wind.
- Regular exposure to wet, slippery, and uneven surfaces in aquatic and maintenance areas.
- Exposure to water treatment chemicals (chlorine, ozone, acids, bases) and mechanical hazards associated with pumps, filters, and pressurized systems.
- Potential exposure to allergens (dust, animal dander, pollen, etc.), bloodborne pathogens, zoonotic diseases and injuries from animals.
- Irregular work hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays are sometimes.
- Exposure to hazards such wildlife, waste, equipment, loud noises, chemicals, and heights.
- May require working in confined spaces, elevated areas, or at heights using ladders, scaffolds, or platforms.
- Potential exposure to wildlife, waste materials, cleaning agents, and biohazardous substances.
- Requires use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, respirators, safety glasses, hearing protection, and dive gear, as appropriate to the task.
- Work may involve proximity to water, electrical systems, and other hazards requiring strict adherence to established safety procedures.
