Lead Construction & Maintenance Worker - Varies Trades - San Diego Zoo Safari Park

San Diego Zoo Safari Park•Escondido, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is seeking a hands-on trades professional to serve as a working supervisor at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The Lead Construction & Maintenance Worker assigns, schedules, inspects, supervises, and participates in the work of skilled, journey-level personnel engaged in constructing, maintaining, and repairing buildings, facilities, and grounds. The role requires substantial functional expertise in a recognized trade, strong leadership, and the ability to build positive relationships with internal and external customers. Areas of trade expertise may include electrical, plumbing, pump system management, carpentry, signage, HVAC, culinary equipment, welding, equipment operation, aquatic life support systems, or general construction. The position reports to a Supervisor or Manager. The Lead coordinates daily maintenance operations, prioritizes requests, deploys resources, and uses an electronic CMMS to manage preventive and reactive work orders. The role takes the lead on complex assignments, mentors team members, coordinates work with operational teams and stakeholders, and keeps departmental leadership informed about high-impact maintenance issues. Work must meet applicable quality standards, including state and local building codes and manufacturer guidelines. The position is based in Escondido, California, is hourly, full-time, and union-represented, with union fees and dues payable if selected. The hourly rate is $46.19.

Requirements

Advanced competence and at least 5 years of journeyman-equivalent experience in a recognized building or construction trade.
Valid California Driver’s License upon hire.
Ability to safely and properly handle tools and equipment used in the assigned building and construction trades.
Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with others in a diverse environment.
Ability to lead and inspire teams.
Ability to share skills and mentor or coach others.
Understanding of building codes and quality standards within assigned trades.
Knowledge of general water chemistry.
Ability to estimate time and materials.
Ability to understand, interpret, and work from blueprints and drawings.
Strong communication, judgment, organization, accountability, collaboration, prioritization, and troubleshooting skills.
Ability to coordinate daily maintenance and construction activities and maintain safety, quality, and customer-service standards.

Nice To Haves

Experience in or certification in plumbing or irrigation.
Level 1 AALSO certification for candidates with aquatic experience.
SCUBA certification is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Coordinate daily construction and maintenance operations, monitor assigned team members, prioritize requests, and deploy resources to address maintenance concerns.
Use an electronic CMMS system to respond to, allocate, record, and complete preventive and reactive maintenance work orders.
Collaborate with and assist team members in other trades as needed.
Lead complex assignments requiring greater skill, experience, or external vendor resources.
Mentor construction and maintenance workers, share functional expertise, and model effective work behaviors and skills.
Build relationships and coordinate work with operational teams and stakeholders to mitigate impacts of maintenance activities and provide customer service.
Keep departmental leadership and the team updated on high-impact maintenance issues, especially those requiring additional resources.
Complete maintenance work in accordance with applicable quality standards, including state and local building codes and manufacturer guidelines.
Research parts, building plans, GIS maps, manufacturer information, and warranties to identify root causes and develop permanent solutions.
Respond to and provide support for occasional after-hours emergencies.
Assign, inspect, supervise, and participate in crew work involving construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, facilities, and grounds.
Coordinate with vendors, schedule work, and inspect and supervise work.