The Assistant Director of Life Support Systems (LSS) will oversee the management, maintenance, and continuous improvement of aquatic life support infrastructure to ensure optimal environmental conditions for aquatic life. This role is accountable for maintaining high standards in operational safety, water quality, animal care support, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. The position will also provide strategic oversight and team leadership across all LSS functions.
Key Responsibilities • Oversee the planning, daily operation, and preventative maintenance of complex aquatic life support systems including filtration, temperature regulation, disinfection (ozone and UV), water chemistry balance, and automation systems • Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of technicians and engineers handling scheduling, performance reviews, training, and professional development • Collaborate with animal health and husbandry teams to support water quality programs that meet the highest standards of aquatic welfare • Design and implement preventive maintenance plans and emergency response procedures • Direct capital projects related to new installations, system upgrades, and infrastructure modernization • Ensure full compliance with relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations • Manage departmental budgets, procurement processes, and inventory of parts, chemicals, and equipment • Drive sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing energy, water, and chemical usage across systems
Qualifications
Education & Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, or a closely related discipline • 8 to 10 years of experience in managing life support systems with a minimum of 3 to 5 years in a supervisory or leadership capacity • Experience in aquatic animal facilities such as aquariums, marine parks, or comparable institutions is strongly preferred
Technical Competencies • In-depth knowledge of aquatic life support systems including but not limited to sand and protein filtration, UV and ozone disinfection, water treatment chemistry, and SCADA or PLC-controlled systems • Proficient in reading technical schematics, blueprints, and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) • Experience using maintenance management software such as Maximo or equivalent
Leadership & Communication • Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing technical teams • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills • Effective communicator across operational, technical, and cross-functional teams • Skilled in vendor management and coordination
Working Conditions • May involve work in physically demanding environments including confined spaces, elevated platforms, and varying temperature or humidity conditions • Will be part of the on-call rotation for operational emergencies • Flexibility to work during weekends, holidays, or off-hours when required by operational needs
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
At NexusHire Solutions, we understand that successful recruitment is about finding the right hire, not just the perfect one. Our approach goes beyond matching the skills and experience, we believe that a successful hire requires a nexus of elements, such as a fit to culture, the ability to build chemistry, the agility to adapt to changes, and the commitment to work towards realizing the organization's vision and goals.
Our processes and methodology help you define your recruitment processes as we believe in building a long-lasting and collaborative partnership with our clients. We invest in learning and understanding your organization's culture and values, your products and/or services, your unique selling points, your challenges and your business goals. Our consultants come from the industry and process a combine of over 50 years of executive recruitment experience supporting clients within the Asia Pacific region. It is our aim to help you identify talent who will help develop, grow and transform your organization.
At NexusHire, our philosophy is that great businesses are run by people. We are passionate about building nexus between people, culture and knowledge. We believe that by matching these elements, we can achieve a positive outcome for our clients and help their organizations thrive.