Lfe Support & Maintenance Manager
The Life Support & Maintenance Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of all life support systems, including pumps, filtration, and ozone generation, ensuring optimal conditions for the animal collection. This role is central to the commissioning and startup of the new facility, assisting with the installation, testing, and initial operation of all LSS prior to opening.
Once operational, this position will lead a team responsible for preventive maintenance and daily operational support of life support systems, while coordinating with Onondaga County Facilities Management, who provide support for skilled trades and building mechanical systems (HVAC, boilers, air handlers, etc.). This role will also oversee general in-house facility upkeep, such as touch-up painting, drywall patching, and other handyman tasks.
Functions & Responsibilities
Essential Functions
• Collaborate with the construction and operations teams during facility commissioning to ensure all life support performance standards and operational requirements.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance (PM) schedules, SOPs, and safety protocols for all LSS equipment.
• Assist in system testing, equipment startup, and documentation of O&M manuals.
• Establish spare parts inventory, maintenance tools, and vendor relationships.
• Recruit, train, and onboard LSS team prior to opening.
• Develop facility work order protocols and workflows.
• Establish SOPs for the monitoring of life support control systems and automation platforms including system sensors, alarms, and remote interfaces.
• Ensure system redundancies are in place to protect animal life and exhibit stability including backup pumps, redundant filtration components, backup power systems, and N+1 equipment configurations.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
• Ensure all life support equipment—including pumps, filtration, ozone, UV, control systems, and chemical dosing systems—operates within design specifications and established safety tolerances.
• Maintain water quality parameters in coordination with the Life Sciences team, ensuring all aquatic systems meet required parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen cycle stability, ORP, pH, and clarity) and that corrective actions are implemented promptly.
• Maintain alarm response procedures and ensure critical system alerts are actively monitored and addressed.
• Supervise maintenance staff and contractors in completing PM, repairs, and capital projects.
• Administer building and maintenance service contracts, including waste management, pest control, and specialized systems vendors.
• Conduct routine testing of backup systems and document emergency preparedness procedures.
• Monitor and manage biological filtration capacity relative to exhibit biomass to maintain stable water quality conditions.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Onondaga County Facilities Management, coordinating skilled trades support while retaining oversight responsibility for all aquarium-specific systems and ensuring facility needs unique to aquarium operations are accurately represented.
• Maintain accurate logs, work orders, and system performance data.
• Develop and lead emergency response protocols for facility and life support failures, including power outages, water quality incidents, structural leaks, environmental alarms, and critical life support equipment failures.
• Ensure all life support staff are trained in incident response, lockout/tagout, confined space safety, respiratory protection, and chemical handling.
• Serve as the primary contact for after-hours emergencies involving facility or life support systems, ensuring timely response and coordination with staff, contractors, and emergency services as needed.
• Coordinate facility support for special events, extended hours, and seasonal operations.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets for maintenance, utilities, custodial supplies, and service contracts.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA, EPA, NY State DEC, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), local Health Department codes, Fire Marshal requirements, and AZA facility operations standards.
• Collaborate with animal care, operations, and guest experience departments to maintain a safe, functional, and visually appealing environment for all guests and staff.
• Monitor and optimize utility consumption (electric, water, gas) and implement sustainability initiatives related to energy efficiency, heat recovery, and water conservation.
• Other duties as assigned.
Skills & Experience
Knowledge & Skills
• Proficient in operating, maintaining, designing and building life support systems for marine and freshwater systems required.
• Knowledge and ability to adhere to OSHA standards and proper use of personal protective equipment in an aquarium environment required.
• Skilled in general construction, troubleshooting mechanical systems and the safe use of tools.
• Experience with Ozone generation, safety, handling and its use in aquariums is essential.
• Exceptional leadership skills and proven experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience managing departmental budgets.
• Strong listening, presentation and decision-making skills.
• Creative problem solver who thrives when presented with a challenge.
• Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.
Education & Experience
• Degree or relevant work experience required.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in Life Support Systems management, ideally in a public attraction, aquarium, zoo, or hospitality environment.
Job Requirements
Physical Requirements
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to read, listen and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to access and accurately input information using a moderately complex computer system.
• Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations.
• Requires the ability to perform the physical, visual and hearing requirements in the working conditions below.
• Must be available for evenings, weekends, and holidays.
