Director of Facilities Management

Denver Zoo is a leader in animal care, wildlife conservation and education.  We are passionate about our commitment to excellence in support of our mission of Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations.

Denver Zoo honors our animals, staff and guests by conducting ourselves at the highest level of integrity through our Core Actions – Inspire Awe: Safety, Care, Connect and by embracing our Core Behaviors of: Passion, Respect, Innovation, Diversity and Excellence in all that we do.  Visit www.denverzoo.org to learn more.

The Director of Facilities Management will lead the Zoo in the management and oversight of campus wide facilities and infrastructure preventative maintenance and repair of our 80-acre campus, including maintenance and operations of Zoo train, fleet, electrical, painting, carpentry, welding, life support systems (LSS) for aquatic animals and exhibit environments; HVAC, building controls, grounds, trash, pathways, snow removal and supports Operations Division in delivery of exceptional guest experience. This position is supported by seven managers and 27 full-time support staff, and works collaboratively with the other Directors in the Operations Division and other zoo divisions to ensure resources are properly allocated to meet needs of the organization’s facilities and infrastructure.

Our staff is a dedicated and diverse group of individuals committed to providing quality care to our animals while creating moments of awe for guests.  If you are a like-minded individual and thrive in a dynamic, fast paced and innovative culture, Denver Zoo is the place for you!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• In partnership with Senior Director for Campus Management and Sustainability, provide strategic leadership for Facilities Management Team. Overseeing the alignment of department goals with the zoo’s vision, mission and strategic priorities.
• Prepares short-and long-range goals for the Facilities Management Team, including oversight to ensure goal achievement and appropriate stakeholder engagement and communication; develops appropriate guidelines to carry out policies, and explains the purpose behind policies and programs.
• Establishes relationships with and coaches employees on performance and development; provides performance evaluations and establishes annual goals for employees; recommends appropriate sustainable practices and technology solutions to further effective and efficient operations.
• Promotes a collaborative learning environment. Develops and champions programs that encourage employee growth and accountability.
• Optimizes the use of resources (staff, processes and technologies) to perform work; cultivates skills and talents in the workforce; provides ongoing training opportunities; recruits, leads and directs supervisory, professional, technical and trade positions.
• Coordinates and collaborates with other zoo divisions and external stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective operations. 

Facilities Management

• Develop and direct, with the Facilities Management Team strategies and standards to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of facilities management work flow (i.e. repair, preventative, predictive and emergency work). Incorporating processes to support continual evaluation of the strategies and standard, working to identifying improvements that ensure alignment to Denver Zoo’s commitments to workplace safety, animal well-being, guest experience and sustainability.
• Develop, manage and evaluate a long-range facilities strategic plan for zoo’s deferred maintenance (i.e Roadmap for Reliability). Plan should include development of strategies that effectively maintains an accurate deferred maintenance list; integrating data from facilities condition assessment, evaluate program for gaps, and develop action plan for obtaining additional infrastructure and facility data. Implementation of facilities strategic plan should effectively integrate evaluation of risk, life cycle costs, sustainability and resilience, and identify funding mechanisms for implementation.
• Develop and direct Grounds team through the Grounds Manager, the trash pick-up, compost, recycling, and trash removal programs; pathway, turf and general grounds maintenance; and effective management of snow removal response that is proactively managed, implemented and staffed appropriately.
• Develop and manage annual submission for City and County Denver Capital Improvement Funding (CIP Funding), or other funding requests to City and County of Denver, work with zoo leadership to identify priorities and approaches for project implementation and on-site management.
• Develop in collaboration with Director of Business and Procurement Services, the Facilities Management procurement and contract administration policies and guidelines to ensure compliance with zoo requirements.
• Responsible for development and oversight of the annual budget for Facilities Management. Monitors financial activity to ensure that expenses are within budget limits and fiscal practices are followed. Provides budget reports, as necessary to department senior leadership to evaluate program effectiveness in meeting that organization’s strategic goals and targets.
• Direct the development and implementation of communication strategies that: improve customer service, build awareness of campus facilities risk and opportunities, improve flow of information between departments and customers, and report effectiveness of programs. Communication should be developed for various zoo audiences, including top management, department leadership, staff and relevant external parties.
• Work collaboratively with Development Department to identify grant or donor funding that will support implementation of campus operations and maintenance related projects.
• Professionally represent the department throughout the zoo and provides excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
• Serves as Denver Zoo’s primary liaison for federal, state, and local agencies responsible for oversight of facilities management requirements. Specifically serve as primary liaison with City and County of Denver’s General Services, Permit and Licensing and other facility related departments and programs. 

General

• Support utilization of the Just Culture philosophy to conduct a review of events (performance, safety, behavior, etc.) to better understand the risk, behavioral choices and any system shaping factors. This program balances individual and system accountability in support of safety and zoo values.
• Set priorities in alignment with Inspire Awe:
  • Safety first, always
  • Care demonstrated through exceptional guest service
  • Connect with each guest utilizing ROADMAP’s guest engagement strategies and program development process
• Demonstrate a commitment to Denver Zoo’s Safety & Sustainability Policies by adhering to all environmental, safety, & health regulations, procedures, and goals.
• Promote and champions organizational values of welcoming, united, curious, courageous and transformative in all interactions with staff, guest, volunteers, and external parties.

Other Responsibilities and Duties

• Help respond to emergency calls after hours or on weekends. Supports coordination of emergency repairs that arise outside of normal working hours.
• Recommend appropriate new technology solutions to further operational improvements
• Participate in activities of related professional organizations to update knowledge of facilities maintenance, procurement and operations.
• Serve as member of AZFA.
• Skilled and knowledgeable in staff development, team building, supervision, performance evaluation and training for all employee levels.
• Ability to lead a division whose staff has a thorough knowledge of facility management practices, utility maintenance, grounds maintenance, capital project management, and skills used in facility maintenance.
• Ability and experience in strategic planning and prioritization, developing goals and objectives to successfully lead a major department or work unit(s).
• Experience with preventive maintenance strategies, tactics and supporting systems.
• Experience and knowledge of sustainable and green practices (e.g., energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable storm water management, less toxic procurement methods and habitat-friendly development practices)
• Knowledge of computerized maintenance management software to manage and support facilities work (or equivalent).
• Ability to develop, implement and monitor operating and capital budgets.
• Proven ability, knowledge and experience in complex project management and coordination.
• Knowledge and ability to create safe work practices and ensure safety programs are current with regulation and industry practices.
• Broad mindset and demonstrated effective listening and comprehensive, goal-oriented problem-solving skills to identify opportunities, break down complex issues, and offer solutions.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Strong computer aptitude.  Experience in Microsoft Office including Excel.
• Strong organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Must possess and demonstrate a high level of professionalism, and ability to collaborate with contractors, staff and other zoo stakeholders.
• Ability to support development of an accepting and inclusive work environment, supportive of variety of personalities, skills and attributes.

Technical / Professional Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in business, operations, facilities management, construction management, project management or related discipline of study.
• 5+ year of leadership experience in facilities and infrastructure management at a multi-unit facility or campus environment.

Position Conditions

• Ability to pass a physical examination, background check and pre-employment drug and alcohol screen.
• Clear driving record.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Compensation

Range for this position is $6,910 – $8,638 (monthly).

Benefits

This is a full-time position with excellent benefits including medical, dental and vision benefits; life insurance; short term and long-term disability; 403(b) retirement plan; and vacation and sick leave.

Application Process and Timelines

Open until filled.  Review of applications will begin immediately.  Denver Zoo reserves the right to close the position prior to this date.

Denver Zoo is following all CDC guidelines. CDC states that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is the best defense against the spread of, and severe illness due to, COVID-19.  Denver Zoo highly encourages our employees to be vaccinated.  We do ask for employees to upload their vaccination card into our HRIS for documentation.  This information is kept confidential.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and others who identify as nonwhite, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with lived experience with racism and/or misogynoir are encouraged to apply for this role.

 

Denver Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected status or any other characteristic protected by law.

www.denverzoo.org