Associate Director of Construction and Maintenance - San Diego Zoo Safari Park

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance•Escondido, CA

12d•$130,421 - $146,724•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director of Construction and Maintenance leads upkeep, maintenance, installation, remodeling, and repair across San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance facilities in San Diego and the Pacific. Sites include the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Beckman Center for Conservation Science, Paul Harter Veterinary Hospital, Rancho Bernardo Warehouse, and remote Conservation Hubs, including locations in Hawaii and San Clemente Island. The position is based at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and leads in-house trade specialists and external vendors to deliver high-quality facilities that support the organization’s teams, guests, mission, and wildlife. The role reports to the Director of Facilities. The position manages and directs facility work involving buildings, wildlife and plant habitats, roads, electrical and lighting systems, plumbing, mechanical systems, drainage, elevators, environmental systems, water treatment, and specialized life support systems. It leads and develops assigned and remote supervisory, administrative, construction trade, and facilities staff; builds relationships with collaborators, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies; develops preventative maintenance strategies; and identifies creative solutions that support wildlife and plant welfare, guest experience, team engagement, mission contribution, maintainability, and value. The Associate Director oversees consultant and contractor scheduling, permits, requests for proposals, contract negotiations, and coordination of work to minimize disruption. The role contributes to the wider Facilities department’s leadership and strategic direction, strengthens safety and regulatory compliance, and develops and manages the annual facility maintenance operating budget, including resource advocacy, variance tracking, and monthly forecast updates.

Requirements

At least three years of demonstrated experience leading, managing, and mentoring teams.
Five or more years of experience in the construction or hospitality industry.
High school diploma.
Current valid California driver's license.
Ability to lead and motivate diverse teams both on site and remotely.
Knowledge of current building design techniques, trades, tools, equipment, and materials.
Ability to translate complex technical information into easily understandable outcomes.
Ability to evaluate and use moderately complex computer software programs, maintenance systems, and work order systems.
Ability to collaborate proactively and build strong stakeholder relationships.
Demonstrated ability to perform construction and maintenance tasks in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Ability to plan, estimate, lead, prepare bids for, and remotely coordinate moderately complex construction projects.
Ability to influence others through a proactive, creative, solution-focused approach.

Nice To Haves

Professional consulting experience in civil, structural, electrical, architectural, mechanical, or construction project delivery fields.
Experience in construction or campus management, such as site management, welding, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or another related field.
Experience working with represented labor.
Experience creating, developing, or building branded spaces or environments, such as zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, city parks, amusement parks, or restaurants.
Experience creating, developing, or building wildlife or plant habitats.
Advanced degree(s) or professional certificates.
Ability to understand union contracts regarding labor-use restrictions.
Knowledge of inventory control practices.

Responsibilities

Lead, inspire, coordinate, mentor, manage, train, recruit, and advise assigned and remote supervisory, administrative, construction trade, and facilities staff.
Build relationships with internal and external collaborators, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies across assigned sites, advocating for their needs and influencing decisions that support strong facility outcomes.
Develop and implement strategies for preventative maintenance, repair before failure, first-time-right repairs, and a five-service approach, while improving team capacity, facility quality, and measurable outcomes.
Research and evaluate creative solutions to facility needs, documenting options that support wildlife and plant welfare, guest experience, team engagement, mission contribution, maintainability, and value.
Oversee consultant and contractor work scheduling, procurement of permits, preparation of requests for proposals, contract negotiations, and coordination to minimize operational disruption.
Contribute to leadership and strategic direction across the wider Facilities department and support team engagement and consistency.
Reinforce and improve team safety practices and ensure completed work complies with current regulatory requirements.
Develop and manage the annual facility maintenance operating budget, advocate for resources, track variances, and update monthly forecasts.
Direct remodeling, repair, maintenance, and installation work across facilities, including buildings, habitats, roads, electrical, lighting, plumbing, mechanical, drainage, elevators, environmental, water treatment, and specialized life support systems.