Vice President of Construction & Exhibitry
Overview: Audubon Nature Institute is seeking a dynamic, experienced leader to join our team as the Vice President for Construction & Exhibitry. The Audubon family of facilities includes Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Butterfly Garden & Insectarium and Audubon Louisiana Nature Center as well as multiple public parks and recreation facilities. The position leads and coordinates capital projects across all facilities. Currently, projects budgeted at more than $30 million are underway, including renovations to the zoo’s tropical bird facility and a complete re-imagining of the institute’s downtown campus, movement of the butterfly garden and insectarium into the aquarium facility footprint and dramatic new experiences within the aquarium itself. The Vice President of Construction & Exhibitry also works with world-class design partners to help Audubon create amazing concepts and master plans for future experiences promoting the institute’s conservation purpose and mission.
Summary of Responsibilities: Reporting to the Executive Vice President & COO, the Vice President for Construction & Exhibitry provides leadership and oversight for capital construction projects at all Audubon Nature Institute facilities. These responsibilities include management of design activities of external professionals (architects, engineers, contractors and other consultants) and serving as the executive responsible for day-to-day interaction between all parties involved in capital projects (internal stakeholders, designers, construction contractors). Further responsibilities include serving as Audubon’s liaison for capital projects funded by the State of Louisiana and other governmental agencies while adhering to strict procurement guidelines and reporting for publicly funded projects.
To deliver on the Audubon purpose and mission, the Vice President of Construction will:
Provide a guest experience of outstanding quality
• Lead the planning, execution and oversight of all major capital projects, ensuring that all activities adhere to Audubon’s mission and standards as well as all mandated procedures and codes.
• Lead and direct major repairs and improvements of existing facilities, ensuring consistent “Audubon quality” enhancements to existing Audubon assets.
• Oversee and direct onsite construction firms, ensuring that proper construction protocols are effectively maintained.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure that animal welfare remains the utmost priority in the planning and execution of projects.
• Conduct regular construction meetings during the construction phase with contractors and appropriate stakeholders.
Weave quality entertainment through the guest experience
• Ensure that a professional work environment is maintained during all construction projects, while minimizing negative impact to guests.
• Assist Guest Services, Animal Husbandry and Education teams in ensuring that guest experience goals are successfully and strategically included in final exhibit/building construction.
• Actively participate in the development, refinement and implementation of Audubon Nature Institute’s Interpretive Master Plan into all appropriate capital projects.
Operate a financially self-sufficient collection of museums and parks.
• Ensure that all capital projects are budgeted effectively and include adequate margins to cover anticipated overages or change orders.
• Effectively monitor actual expenditures to budget, providing management with timely expenditure variances.
• Ensure timely state reimbursement requests, ensuring accurate details and all necessary backup documentation.
The above listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned.
Supervision: Manages department employees, including Director of Uptown Facility (Zoo & Audubon Park) Projects and Director of Downtown Facility (Aquarium & Woldenberg Park) Projects.
Experience:
• Ten years of experience in architecture, facility management or the construction industry, preferably with experience in a zoo, aquarium or museum setting
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Construction Management or Technology; or degree in a related discipline
• Five or more years in a leadership role, with demonstrated commitment to building and continued professional development of high performing teams
• Demonstrated experience using an inclusive approach to involve a variety of internal stakeholders in all aspects of planning and execution of capital projects, from smaller projects (budget up to $250,000) to larger, multi-million dollar projects
• Demonstrated ability to deliver formal and informal presentations on capital project concepts and execution to a variety of audiences, from Board members to staff to volunteers to guests of all ages
• Appropriate licensure to the incumbent’s background that will subsequently be maintained with support from Audubon Nature Institute
• Working knowledge of basic computer software programs, i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook or Outlook Express, and Adobe, as well as specialized software common to the architecture/design/construction professions.
Please visit www.audubonnatureinstitute.org/careers for full information and instructions for applicants.
