Diving Safety Officer

California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco seeks a Diving Safety Officer to coordinate in-building and field diving operations. You will serve on the Diving Control Board, ensure regulatory compliance, and lead training and budgeting for a safe dive program supporting education and research.

You will guide policy, supervise dive staff, and collaborate with scientists and educators to advance field and habitat work while upholding safety standards and inclusion initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years as an active SCUBA instructor with rescue/first aid endorsements.
• Minimum 5 years diving experience in zoo/aquarium and field settings.
• AAUS membership as active diver with related qualifications.
• Broad knowledge of diving theory, equipment, and safety practices.
• Ability to train staff and volunteers on safety procedures and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter expert on Diving Control Board for safe in-house and field diving operations.
• Ensure compliance with Cal/OSHA and AAUS standards through policy updates and manuals.
• Supervise dive officers and coordinate dive activities and budgets.
• Review divers' status, plan and approve dive activities and training.
• Foster collaborations with other institutions and participate in professional diving organizations.

Skills

SCUBA instruction

Diving safety

Staff training

Tools

Dive equipment

Job description

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer, the Diving Safety Officer (DSO) coordinates day-to-day in-building underwater diving operations and provides support for field diving. The DSO is a voting member of the Academy’s Diving Control Board, which has the institutional authority to govern diving safety policies and delegate the same to the DSO. Reporting to the DSO are Academy employees assigned to fulfill diving operations.

The DSO is a key member of the collaborative team implementing, developing and supporting a robust and safe diving program for educational programming, habitat maintenance at the museum, and field diving. The DSO ensures the safety of divers and the Steinhart Aquarium’s living collection, both within the facility and in the field, by implementing and enforcing safe diving practices, protocols and regulations.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. The specific onsite/hybrid schedule for this position is listed below.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As a voting member and active participant, the DSO serves as a subject matter expert on the Academy’s Diving Control Board (DCB) which is responsible for the safe operations of the Academy’s dive program, including both in-house and field diving.
• In consultation with the Academy’s legal counsel and working with the DCB, provides subject matter expertise to ensure that the Academy’s dive program is in compliance with legal requirements, particularly under Cal/OSHA.
• In consultation with the Academy’s legal counsel and working with the DCB, ensures dive program adherence to standards adopted from professional societies, currently the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) or others as appropriate.
• Prepares policy and procedural recommendations for consideration by the DCB, including updates to the Academy’s Dive Manual.
• Supervises assigned full-time and/or part-time dive officers in day-to-day dive operations, including scheduling, training, safety readiness, and adherence to established dive procedures. Coordinates dive-related volunteer activities in partnership with the volunteer program lead.
• Regularly reviews and advises all Academy scientific divers as to their diving status.
• Conducts or arranges for the training and certification courses for Academy staff and volunteers.
• Assists Academy divers with the preparation of dive plans, reviews those plans, and makes recommendations for their modification and approval.
• Assists in preparing the annual departmental budget and tracks expenses for Academy diving operations.
• For the benefit of the Academy, fosters working relationships with other institutions and organizations in regard to joint dive operations.
• For the benefit of the Academy’s dive program, participates in the activities of national professional organizations, such as AAUS and Aquarium Dive Program Administrators (ADPA).
• Effectively communicates and coordinates with Academy departments, in particular the Steinhart Aquarium Animal Care and Animal Health teams, Education, Institute for Biodiversity Science & Sustainability, and Building Operations/Engineering.
• Stays abreast of legal and policy changes in the professional dive industry.
• Follows all Academy safety regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 7 years experience as an active SCUBA instructor certified by an internationally recognized agency, with endorsements in rescue and first aid.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience applicable to zoo, aquarium and field scientific diving.
• Minimum 5 years as an active scientific diver and full member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS).
• Has a broad knowledge base in all aspects of diving and diving technology applicable to the Academy’s dive program, including diving for habitat maintenance, public programming and field research/specimen collection.
• Possesses professional knowledge of diving theory and its application to safe diving practices, as well as a range of technical and scientific expertise in diving and dive equipment and technology appropriate to the scope of the Academy’s dive program.
• A certified Oxygen Administration, First Aid and CPR instructor.
• Able to train staff and volunteers on safety procedures, equipment setup, maintenance and repair, compressor operations, boat operations, and emergency response procedures.
• Be self-assured and comfortable giving directives and acting authoritatively in an effective manner with a wide range of program participants, including Academy senior staff, external affiliates, partners, staff, students and volunteers.
• Ability to work as part of a team or collaborate well with team members, and external collaborators to accomplish mutual goals.
• Ability to work efficiently and communicate with staff, cross-functional teams and external customers from different identities and experiences.
• Ability to bring new ideas, create inventive solutions and find efficiencies to transform manually or detailed processes.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Ability to lift and transport 75 lbs.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions 50% of the time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to meet the job’s essential functions. Include any language that describes the position's regular work environment. The work environment will include hot, humid spaces, wet floors, ladders, steps and work-platforms. Significant travel will be required to fulfill the duties of this position, including international travel to remote locations for extended periods of time.

Physical Environment:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to meet the job’s essential functions. Include any language that describes the position's regular work environment. The work environment will include hot, humid spaces, wet floors ladders, steps and work-platforms. Significant travel will be required to fulfill the duties of this position, including international travel to remote locations for extended periods of time.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $82,000 - $92,000. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule

Full-Time 40 hours per week

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).