Vice President, Operations

Pay Range: To maintain internal equity, we have identified the salary range for this position at the Oakland Zoo as $159,022 to $172,647 annually. An offer within this salary range will be determined by the experience and qualifications of a candidate and will be our best and final compensation offer.

Position Summary

The Vice President of Operations is a strategic leader responsible for ensuring the Oakland Zoo operates at the highest levels of safety, efficiency, sustainability, and guest satisfaction. This role provides executive-level oversight and direction to the Zoo’s Facilities Operations and Guest Operations teams—including Public Safety, Janitorial Services, Guest Services, Horticulture/Grounds, Maintenance, and Lift Maintenance. As a key member of the executive team, the Vice President collaborates cross-functionally to ensure operational readiness, champion continuous improvement, and steward major infrastructure and guest-service initiatives. This role leads critical decision-making related to facility investment, operational budgets, guest services innovation, and emergency preparedness.

Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Retirement plan, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and A Family Zoo Membership.

Essential Job Duties

Succinct List of broad categories of responsibility – not a complete list of every task they will accomplish.  Must include the following:

Strategic Leadership

• Set vision and goals for Facilities Operations and Guest Operations departments aligned with the Zoo’s strategic priorities and values.
• Supports long-term planning and capital improvement initiatives to ensure the Zoo’s infrastructure supports animal welfare, guest engagement, and sustainability goals.
• Lead cross-departmental collaboration efforts to align operational capacity with organizational growth and evolving guest needs.
• Support innovation in guest experience, environmental stewardship, and revenue-generating services.

Operations Oversight

• Oversee the efficient, safe, and compliant operation of guest-facing areas, rides/transportation, staff infrastructure, and landscaped environments.
• Ensure the effective management of daily guest services, including admissions, parking, rides, food and retail vendor coordination, and incident response.
• Provide oversight on preventative maintenance and emergency repairs of Zoo assets including animal enclosures, rides, gondola, pathways, utilities, and vehicles.
• Monitor and analyze performance indicators across all operational departments to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.

Risk Management & Safety

• Oversee the development and implementation of public safety, emergency response, and risk mitigation protocols across the facility.
• Ensure operations comply with relevant OSHA, ADA, and local/state/federal safety regulations and best practices.
• Oversee and serve as a key contact for insurance claims, legal incidents, and regulatory inspections affecting Zoo operations.

Financial & Resource Stewardship

• Oversee and support in the development of departmental budgets for Facilities Operations and Guest Operations, ensuring fiscal responsibility and operational effectiveness.
• Lead contract negotiations and vendor partnerships to maximize value, quality, and alignment with Zoo standards.
• Ensure resource allocation and staffing models meet seasonal needs and long-term goals.

Sustainability & Mission Alignment

• Integrate conservation-minded and sustainable practices throughout operations, including waste reduction through composting and recycling, water usage, and energy efficiency.
• Collaborate with other departments to reinforce mission-aligned experiences for guests and staff throughout the Zoo.

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Supervisory Responsibility

• Directly supervise, mentor, and support the Director of Guest Operations and Senior Manager of Facilities Operations as well as oversee the departments managed by those leaders.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, equity, teamwork, and continuous improvement across all departments.
• Promote professional development and cross-training initiatives that promote internal growth and organizational agility.

Oakland Zoo does not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here and will consider the combination of formal education, training, and practical experience of each applicant. We are committed to supporting the career development of our employees. A strong candidate who is interested in growing and learning in this role will possess at least 75% of the following qualifications. If this is you, then we strongly encourage you to apply.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree and/or certification in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, Business Administration, or related field
• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations or facilities management
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale infrastructure and capital projects, including contractor selection, vendor negotiations, budget management, and schedule oversight.
• Experience navigating permitting, compliance, and regulatory requirements
• Knowledge of green building practices and sustainable principles within construction and facilities management
• Strategic thinker with the ability to integrate construction planning with overall operational and guest experience goals
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
• Experience balancing short-term operational needs with long-term capital investment planning in a complex, public-facing organization

Bonus if you have...

• Advanced degree in any of the above areas of study
• A strong background in construction oversight and capital project delivery
• Experience integrating green building practices and sustainable principles into construction projects and facilities management, with a focus on reducing environmental impact and aligning with conservation goals

• Bachelor’s degree and/or certification in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, Business Administration, or related field

• Analytical and Conceptual Aptitude – engages in and facilitates broad organizational strategic thinking/planning with awareness of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and cultural relevance.
• Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility.
• Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.
• Leadership – mentors, advises, and develops people across identities with consideration for cultural relevance and responsiveness, self-awareness around implicit bias and understanding of the power dynamics that exist in organizations.
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times
• Project management – effectively prioritizes commitments, driving forward multiple high-profile and complex projects simultaneously with flexibility, resourcefulness, and agility to adapt to shifting organizational needs
• Self-reflection – demonstrates self-awareness, agility, and a willingness to learn from mistakes and acknowledge one's own biases
• Solution-oriented – utilizes an open-minded and strengths-based approach to finding solutions for complex challenges.
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department
• Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at the Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• This role combines office-based work with frequent presence in the field, including construction sites, outdoor areas throughout the Zoo, and guest-facing spaces.
• Work may involve exposure to varied weather conditions, uneven terrain, active construction areas, and noise typical of a large public facility.

Physical Considerations- The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to move through large indoor and outdoor areas for site inspections and project oversight, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to navigate uneven ground for extended periods during site visits.