Director of Park Operations Downtown Faciliti

Audubon Institute • New Orleans, LA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

As a member of Audubon’s Downtown leadership team, the Director of Park Operations is crucial in making sure that the Downtown parks contribute to the mission of Audubon Nature Institute while ensuring that day-to-day functions run effectively and efficiently. Success in this position requires a combination of leadership skills, collaboration, and alignment with ANI’s broader goals to help drive growth and community engagement in the Downtown parks.

Requirements

• 3+ years in operations management
• Supervisory experience
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience)
• Louisiana drivers license
• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (within the first year of employment)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Ability to use mobile devices, computer, scanner, phone and copy machine.
• Ability to use handheld gardening tools (e.g. shovels, pruners, rakes etc.)
• Ability to operate gas powered hedgers, weed eaters, power blowers, and mowers
• Ability to drive golf carts, UTVs, and pickup trucks

Nice To Haves

• Preferred experience with heavy equipment and machinery such as forklifts, skyjacks, dingo, etc
• Affinity for animals preferred
• Pesticide applicators license and advanced horticulture knowledge preferred
• Irrigation license/certification and landscape design experience preferred
• Landscape design experience preferred
• Advanced horticulture knowledge preferred
• Experience in horticulture, public gardens, public parks, public park management, playground management and/or a combination of these experiences preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the overall management of the Downtown facilities’ grounds and parks, ensuring that the team delivers high-quality experience for all guests.
• Manage the Downtown Horticulture team to maintain cleanliness and plantings, ensuring park areas remain aesthetically pleasing and well-kept.
• Work closely with the Horticulture Manager, Events & Festivals, and Learning & Engagement, and Security to ensure the effective execution of park events, maintenance standards, rule enforcement, and educational programming.
• Collaborate with the Director of Facilities to establish clear maintenance standards and ensure high levels of care for all park assets. Work with all governmental agencies to ensure all park work is compliant with applicable regulations and laws.
• Identify, prioritize, and lead capital maintenance projects to continuously improve park assets and infrastructure.
• Develop and implement business plans and strategies to grow and enhance the Downtown parks as a valuable community resource with an emphasis on revenue generation and operational efficiency.
• Work across all divisions of Audubon Nature Institute to ensure that operations are seamless.
• Ability to solve and anticipate problems in a practical, cost-effective manner that adheres to environmental and conservation principles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager