Dive Safety Officer (Senior Scientific Diving Program Manager)

About the role

The U.S. Geological Survey is seeking a Dive Safety Officer to lead its Scientific Diving Program. This senior‑level position provides direction, develops policies, and ensures safe underwater scientific research across USGS sites.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare and revise standards, policies, guidance, training, and procedures for USGS scientific diving missions.
• Develop and deliver training programs that meet the specific needs of scientific divers.
• Provide technical scientific diving expertise and support for underwater research projects.
• Collaborate with regional dive leads, dive groups, and external partners to maintain safe dive operations.
• Serve as the senior USGS Dive Safety Officer, authorized diver, and Chair of the Dive Safety Board.
• Conduct independent external safety audits of dive safety programs and document findings.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in scientific diving and dive safety management.
• Proven ability to develop policies, training curricula, and safety procedures.
• Strong leadership skills to coordinate with regional dive leads and external collaborators.
• Eligibility for federal employment (current USGS employee or qualified under a non‑competitive authority).
• Willingness to serve a one‑year probationary period as required by federal regulations.

Required skills

• Scientific diving expertise
• Safety program management
• Policy development
• Training development
• External safety audits

What we offer

• Salary based on the General Schedule (GS) pay table with locality adjustments.
• Federal employee benefits and retirement plans.
• Opportunity to lead a national scientific diving program.