Professional Zoo Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Responsive recruiter
Benefits:

• Pet insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Plan
• Company parties
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Flexible schedule
• Free uniforms
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Wellness resources

Immediate Opening!
Lead the transformation of a place where animals thrive, guests connect, and innovation grows
Join our fun, educational, and professional Zoo team in our efforts to save the natural world and wildlife!
Position Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt, SalariedCompensation: $160,000 - $171,600
This is an "in person" position (not a hybrid option)
SUMMARY:
The Vice President of Facilities & Capital Projects (VP-FCP) is a senior executive leader responsible for the strategic planning, execution, and lifecycle management of all Zoo facilities, infrastructure, capital projects, safety, security, and physical assets-on campus and offsite locations.
This role directly supervises the Director of Safety & Security and the Director of Facilities & Horticulture, ensuring integrated oversight of facility operations, safety programs, and campus wide risk management.
Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, and working in close partnership with the President & CEO and the Executive Leadership Team, this role ensures that the Zoo's physical environment advances animal welfare, guest experience, staff effectiveness, sustainability goals, operational excellence, and long-term financial stewardship.
This leader leads current and future capital development, including major campus transformations, infrastructure modernization, preventative and predictive maintenance systems, and off-site initiatives and partnerships (including academic and research collaborations such as those with California State University Channel Islands) while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, inclusivity and continuous improvement. The VP-FCP provides executive direction and coaching to both the Director of Facilities & Horticulture and the Director of Safety & Security to ensure alignment with zoo-wide operational standards and strategic priorities.
This is a hands-on, strategic operator role-equal parts builder, steward, and systems leader-designed to support the Zoo's growth trajectory, master planning vision, and AZA-level excellence.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1 Capital Planning & Project Delivery
• Lead all phases of capital project development, including feasibility, design, budgeting, procurement, construction, commissioning, and post-occupancy evaluation.
• Serve as the executive owner for major capital initiatives, renovations, and infrastructure upgrades; establish governance, scope control, change management, and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Oversee and manage relationships with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and owners' representatives; negotiate contracts and manage performance.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with the Zoo's mission, AZA and USDA requirements, animal welfare standards, guest experience goals, and sustainability objectives.
• Develop and maintain multi-year capital improvement plans aligned with the Zoo's strategic and master plans.
2 Facilities Operations & Preventive Maintenance
• Provide executive oversight of all facilities, grounds, utilities, and infrastructure operations.
• Lead modernization of facility systems through smart building technologies where applicable, automation, digital dashboards and predictive analytics.
• Champion data-driven decision-making through CMMS optimization and asset tracking systems.
• Implement, manage, and continuously refine a comprehensive preventative and predictive maintenance program grounded in asset lifecycle management.
• Establish and monitor clear service levels, work order systems, and performance metrics for facilities operations.
• Ensure that facilities support animal care excellence, staff productivity, and world-class guest experiences.
• Optimize building systems performance to balance reliability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Champion operational standards that elevate animal care, guest experience, landscape, reliability, safety, cleanliness, and aesthetic quality. Oversee the stewardship of the Zoo's landscaped grounds.
• Provide direct supervision, support, strategic guidance, and performance evaluation for the Director of Facilities & Horticulture.
3 Safety, Security & Risk Management
• Provide executive oversight of CSUCI Zoo office, SB Zoo campus safety, emergency preparedness, security systems, and regulatory compliance as they relate to facilities and capital projects.
• Partner with Risk Management, Human Resources, Operations, and Animal Care to ensure staff, volunteer, contractor, and guest safety.
• Lead facilities- and capital-related risk assessments, construction safety protocols, and resilience planning for natural disasters and other emergencies.
• Ensure compliance with AZA accreditation standards, USDA, ADA, OSHA, environmental regulations, permitting, and building codes.
• Directly supervise and support the Director of Safety & Security, ensuring alignment between campus safety programs, emergency planning and zoo operational priorities.
4 Financial Stewardship & CFO Partnership
• Partner with the CFO on capital budgeting, cash flow planning, long-range financial modeling, and funding strategies.
• Develop and manage capital and operating budgets for facilities and capital projects; monitor performance against budget and adjust as needed.
• Support grant-funded and donor-funded capital initiatives with strong financial controls, reporting, and stewardship of restricted funds.
• Align facilities investments with long-term operating sustainability, cost containment, and total cost-of-ownership principles.
• Provide clear, data-driven reporting and presentations for the CFO, President & CEO, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders.
5 Sustainability & Environmental Leadership
• Advance the Zoo's sustainability and climate-resilience goals through energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and environmentally responsible construction practices.
• Integrate sustainability and green building standards into capital design guidelines, facility operations, and procurement decisions.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to position the Zoo as a regional leader in sustainable facilities management.
• Monitor and report on key environmental and sustainability metrics related to facilities and capital projects.
6 Off-Site & Partnership Facilities
• Provide oversight and strategic guidance for off-site facilities and collaborative projects, including academic, conservation, and research partnerships.
• Serve as the Zoo's facilities and capital projects lead in joint-use or shared-governance environments (e.g., university or public agency partnerships).
• Ensure consistent standards, risk management practices, and operational alignment for facilities and infrastructure beyond the main campus.
• Represent the Zoo with public agencies, community partners, and regulatory bodies in facilities-related matters.
7 Leadership & Team Development
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing facilities and capital projects team, including managers, supervisors, and technical staff.
• Oversee and support the professional development, goal setting, and performance management of the Director of Facilities & Horticulture and the Director of Safety & Security.
• Build systems, processes, and structures that support succession planning, professional development, and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, professionalism, safety, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.
• Model inclusive leadership and psychological safety.
• Champion the Zoo's mission and core values; model collaborative leadership across departments.
8 Organizational Citizenship & Collaboration
• Actively participate as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organization-wide planning, decision-making, and culture-building.
• Maintain administrative records related to facilities and capital projects, in alignment with Zoo policies and institutional history requirements.
• Ensure adherence to the Zoo's policies and procedures and represent the Zoo with professionalism in interactions with public officials, community partners, donors, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
9 Guest Experience & Community Presence
• Model the Zoo's guest relations standards and ensure that facilities and capital projects support a safe, clean, accessible, and welcoming environment for all guests.
• Ensure that presentation standards for cleanliness, maintenance, and safety are met throughout the campus by setting expectations, providing resources, and holding teams accountable.
• When appropriate, engage directly with guests, donors, and community members to share information and support a positive Zoo experience.
• Support major events and programs by ensuring facilities readiness, infrastructure support, and effective coordination with Marketing, Events, and Operations.
SECONDARY DUTIES:
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the operations, strategic priorities, and management of Zoo activities.
• Lead or support special projects as required by the President & CEO, CFO, or Board of Directors.
• Apply and exemplify "green" (sustainable) practices whenever possible in all aspects of facilities and capital project work.
• Stay informed about Zoo initiatives and activities through internal communications, meetings, and collaboration with other departments.
POSITION CRITERIA:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and environmental characteristics described below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and working and physical elements required for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Facilities Management, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in facilities management, capital planning, capital project delivery, infrastructure operations, and/or construction project management, including leadership of multi-million-dollar capital programs in public-facing environments.
• 5+ years of senior-level leadership experience supervising managers, multidisciplinary teams, and external consultants/contractors.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with finance, operations, animal care, and executive leadership.
• Experience in zoos, aquariums, museums, universities, healthcare systems, cultural institutions, campus environments, or similarly complex multi-facility operations (nonprofit or public-sector/public-private partnership environments preferred).
• Familiarity with AZA standards, animal habitat construction, and/or specialized life-support systems preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing public-sector or nonprofit capital projects, including familiarity with public procurement, permitting, and regulatory compliance processes preferred.
An equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience may be considered.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Professional licensure or certification preferred, such as:
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Architect (R.A.)
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facilities Management Professional (FMP), or equivalent
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project management certification preferred.
• LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) or demonstrated experience with sustainable design and green building standards strongly preferred.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record (required for travel between sites and off-site meetings).
These are preferred but not exhaustive, an equivalent certification or experience may be considered.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
Knowledge
• Expertise in facilities operations, capital planning, and asset lifecycle management.
• Strong understanding of building systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), life-safety, and structural systems.
• Knowledge of construction methods, design and engineering processes, and project delivery models (e.g., design-bid-build, construction manager at-risk, design-build).
• Working knowledge of applicable building codes, permitting process, safety regulations, ADA requirements, environmental regulations, and relevant AZA accreditation standards.
• Familiarity with sustainability principles, green building practices, and energy management strategies.
• Knowledge of budgeting, financial analysis, and long-range capital planning in a nonprofit or public-sector environment.
• Understanding of contract negotiation, vendor management, and procurement best practices.
• Knowledge of organizational change management, team development, and leadership best practices.
Skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex capital projects from concept through completion on time and within budget.
• Strong strategic planning and analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate facility conditions, prioritize investments, and develop multi-year capital plans.
• Proficiency with project management tools and productivity software, and with computerized maintenance management sys...