The Aquaculture Technician (AT) performs a variety of routine tasks and maintains coral aquaculture systems that support the implementation of coral restoration and conservation projects and research at TNC’s Coral Innovation Hub coral propagation facility in St. Croix, USVI.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The AT is responsible for routine coral husbandry, day-to-day maintenance, and data collection required of the coral aquaculture facility. They provide research and aquarist assistance to restoration tasks, and/or general assistance to program staff, partners, and facility users. Under the guidance of the Coral Aquaculture Supervisor (CAS), the AT will support maximal coral health and growth through daily cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring of the facility’s life support systems and related equipment to ensure optimal, uninterrupted performance. The AT is responsible for keeping comprehensive and accurate logs of system parameters and performance, as well as daily coral husbandry and health evaluations. This position will also assist in the fabrication and operationalization of new wet lab aquaria systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Operate, monitor, and maintain proper functioning of all equipment vital to coral aquaculture facility, reporting to the Coral Aquaculture Supervisor. 
• Assist the Coral Aquaculture Supervisor in routine maintenance, preventive maintenance, repairs and/or emergency maintenance of the systems to ensure optimal  performance and coral health.
• Complete regular and routine cleaning, preventive maintenance, calibration, routine upkeep, troubleshooting and repair to instrumentation and mechanical equipment.
• Conduct daily rounds of all raceways and filtration rooms to inspect animals, filters, control systems, pumps, RO units, lights, Ozone units, chillers, heat exchangers and all other equipment related to and/or associated with the coral aquaculture facility’s life support systems. 
• Complete daily husbandry care of corals and other invertebrates, notify supervisor of any changes or evidence of problems.
• Perform and document scheduled tests of the life support systems and pertinent components. 
• Prepare and maintain comprehensive logs of collections, husbandry, raceway cleaning, water quality, equipment tests, maintenance and service, etc. 
• Prepare and maintain a sufficient inventory of equipment and supplies for standard operations; as assigned, procure and prepare supplies needed for seasonal coral propagation activities (e.g., asexual fragmentation and sexual propagation). Assist in budget development for coral aquaculture operations.
• Assist in training and oversight of interns and volunteers working at the coral aquaculture facility. 
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment. 
• Work in variable weather conditions, outdoors and for long periods of time in isolated settings, under physically and/or mentally demanding circumstances requiring considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain. 
• As assigned, continuously monitor the facility’s life support alarm system via mobile app and be on call and responsive to system alarms and emergencies.
• Work in coral aquaculture facility on weekends and flexible hours, with limited supervision, as required.
• Interact with visitors and donors; provide aquarist assistance to interns, graduate students, and visiting researchers to ensure smooth operation of wet lab/seawater facilities for experimental applications.