operations manager

Position Summary

Leadership and Project Delivery

• Develop strategies to improve project efficiency and effectiveness, identify opportunities with partners, and advise leadership on project development and execution.
• Supervise teams across zoo and aquarium locations and ensure projects meet contractual obligations, schedules, budgets, and quality standards.
• Develop a standardized project management framework and track tasks, action items, deliverables, and schedules.
• Integrate zoological design, operational strategies, and animal welfare standards into projects.
• Coordinate design, operations, and facility teams and oversee handover from design development to operational implementation.

Stakeholders, Risk, and Finance

• Build relationships with internal teams, stakeholders, and institutions; create cross-departmental teams and champion project ideas with partners.
• Identify project delays, budget overruns, and operational risks; develop mitigations and handle crises and unexpected challenges.
• Monitor budgets, financial performance, and cost efficiency; ensure contractual, regulatory, and industry compliance.
• Optimize resources and improve workflows, procedures, and operational practices; research technologies and methods to enhance execution.
• Serve as primary client contact, address concerns, and handle contract negotiations and change requests.

Team Leadership

• Manage and mentor project managers, site leads, and operational teams; oversee project personnel recruitment, training, and performance management.
• Coordinate designers, zoologists, architects, engineers, and operational staff; collaborate with finance and HR teams.
• Monitor on-ground team well-being and support professional, timely, high-quality project delivery.

Role Capabilities

• The role requires project leadership, cross-functional coordination, risk management, financial oversight, client management, and the ability to navigate challenges under pressure.