Manager of Facilities

The Manager of Facilities contributes to the success of the Chicago Zoological Society by effectively managing the construction and maintenance of facilities, utilities, and supporting staff throughout the park to further the Society’s goal of providing extraordinary guest experiences and being financially sustainable.

Outstanding benefit package, PTO accrual starting day one, 401K contributions, and all work sites on Brookfield Zoo grounds!

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Hire, select, develop, and manage qualified department staff, including, but not limited to scheduling and work assignments, orientation, staff training and development, coaching and counseling, performance appraisal and management, recognition, and recommendation of appropriate employment
actions. Make appropriate recommendations with respect to department structure, staffing and manpower needs. Responsible for assuring adherence to Society policies and the union contract. Maintain contacts with peers at similar institutions to keep abreast of trends, current practices, and innovations.
• Working with Society staff, develop and maintain programs for short- and long-term special and routine repairs and programmed maintenance. Serves as project manager as assigned. Interact with internal clients, coordinate and update work schedules, and produce cost estimates. Maintain records of project costs, assets and documents. Assure
projects are fully communicated with all affected parties and proper signage is posted for staff and guests. Assist in the transfer of facilities from new construction to a regular and routine program of maintenance to protect both investment and operability. Identify and request budget dollars for necessary resources.
• Assist with construction program and act as project manager as assigned. Participate in capital
project planning teams as assigned. Schedule and coordinate construction activities, addressing applicable building codes and regulations. Coordinate planning, scheduling, specification development and cost estimates with clients. Assist in the evaluation of bids and selection of contractors. Assure construction projects are fully communicated to all affected parties. Monitor construction to assure compliance with specifications. Apply conservation criteria, as appropriate, to material selection and construction methodology. Administer contracts as required, including significant contracts for major repairs and renovations as assigned. Correct any deviations from scope. Recommend design
changes and field adjustments to assure performance requirements are met. Inspect and approve completed work and approve requests for payment. Monitor and review work schedules and produce update reports as required. Update facility surveys and documentation. Add new items to CMMS inventory, tasks and schedules. Assist in public communications as needed.
• Develop, administer, and control section operating budget. Approve and control all section
expenditures and purchasing accordingly. Develop supporting and background data for program development and evaluation. Produce facility work surveys, construction evaluations, schedule projections, technical evaluations, and job estimates of labor and materials. Control scheduling of available labor hours. Produce long-range planning schedule using functional programs for supporting data such as CMMS, Time and Attendance, financial and others.
• Develop and maintain section’s Standard Operating Procedure programs to include safety, inventory, purchasing, facility surveys, and utility locations. Coordinate activities of assigned Leads, compile information and translate into short and long-term capital needs and repair programs, identify budget resources, approve material purchases, assure digging permits are initiated and approved, establish departmental standards, assure all SOP programs are maintained and necessary resources are budgeted. Establish, implement and enforce quality control standards and conduct regular and necessary inspections. Develop technical specifications for material and applications standards. Develop and administer emergency response plans for life-threatening or other emergency-type situations to include response procedures and standards and documentation of available resources. Provide call-in schedule and procedures. Work with Safety Department to administer employee safety programs and maintain required information and records.
• Coordinate annual facilities program planning. Manage required physical maintenance, future capital plans, collection health and welfare physical/facility requirements, and facilities and communication goals to produce collaborative plans to systematically update and improve facilities.
• Coordinate and schedule services as necessary in support of special events with requesting clients and other Plant & Facilities sections. Utilize CMMS and other programs that identify available labor hours, requested services, scheduling concerns, and accurately reflect costs for all work and special events. Provide creative input and suggestions as appropriate. Develop and maintain functional system programs and project management program for each utility system throughout the Park. Define systems, develop goals, provide resources, communicate goals to section personnel and assure each utility system is appropriately maintained and functional. Assure all budgeted resources are utilized efficiently and that function programs support set goals and objectives.
• Develop and implement actions to improve workplace culture with an emphasis on driving results and fostering inclusion. Actively lead employee engagement, talent development, recruitment, and retention initiatives. Leverage organizational resources (training and development-CZS University, performance management systems, employee surveys, regular communications vehicles, staff meetings, etc.) to drive continuous improvement and positive outcomes.
• Other related duties as assigned to assure successful achievement of goals and objectives.

This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform.

The requirements for this position include the following:
High school diploma or (GED) equivalent required.
Associate’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering Technology or the equivalent of a relevant mechanical or electrical technical course of study with appropriate certification.
Seven years of experience in facility operation, maintenance and management and of small to medium-sized construction projects.
Five years of supervisory experience, including two years supervising union employees.
Ability to read blueprints and construction specifications.
Experience developing and maintaining budgets required.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
English fluency at a full professional proficiency.
Ability to write technical specifications and perform job accounting summaries.
Ability to organize work projects, meet critical deadlines, delegate responsibility, and hold staff accountable.
Must be highly flexible and able to respond and adapt quickly and easily to change.
Must be strategic in his/her orientation and a team player.
Computer proficiency in Microsoft Outlook or a comparable email software program; prior experience using Microsoft Word and Excel. Familiar with basic editing of documents in Microsoft
PowerPoint.
Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience and staff.
A valid driver’s license is required.

Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or Technology with a minor or experience in a relevant field.
Experience and knowledge of computerized scheduling and costing programs.
Experience in public or not-for-profit institutions and/or comparable-sized organizations a plus.
Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.
Additional Information: This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform. This position requires an experienced, self-motivated individual who is highly professional. Incumbent is required to gain a solid understanding of the organization, its mission, vision, values, history, and operating philosophies, and how construction projects impacts the Society, the zoo, the departments and outside organizations, contractors, vendors, etc. Must be persistent, results-oriented, and confident. Incumbent must have a commitment to excellence. Must be highly sensitive
to and considerate of the impact of construction, exhibit, and materials on animals, staff, and guests in the work performed. Must strive to retain as many native trees and other flora as possible and incorporate into design. Evenings, early mornings, and weekends may be required. Individual will be expected to be present and visible at designated events sponsored by the Society for employees, Board members, and/or other professional participants and audiences and represents the Society externally. Some local travel may be required. Thus, individual must be willing to make a significant commitment to the organization.

The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If interested in being considered for this opportunity, please visit the CZS Career Center to obtain more details about the position and to apply by submitting your profile. Please visit our website at www.czs.org/careers. Please look for requisition 2008BR.