Park Experience & Special Events Manager

Toledo Zoo•Toledo, OH

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is seeking a full-time Park Experience & Special Events Manager to oversee part-time park operations staff, ensuring excellent guest experiences. This role assists the Vice President of Park Operations in managing special events, park operations exhibit interpreter staff, gate admissions, parking, amusement rides, and the Visitors Services front desk. The position supports the annual operating budget and plays a key role in planning and implementing special events like concerts, Zoo to Do, and Lights Before Christmas. A significant focus will be on establishing operating procedures, labor standards, visitor engagement, and analyzing guest data within the Park Experience division.

Requirements

One to two years of supervisor experience in Park Operations or related field in Special Events, cash handling, and general maintenance.
Must be 21+ years of age.
Must possess a valid driver's license and be insurable by the fleet insurance carrier.
The Toledo Zoo is a drug-free workplace, including marijuana.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Management or other related study preferred.
Vocational/technical school training required in a related field.

Responsibilities

Assists with the hiring, firing, and promoting of part-time and seasonal staff members for the Park Operations Department (20-120 staff).
Manages and supervises on grounds credit card activities for Gate Admissions, exhibit interpretive areas, events, Parking, Amusement Rides, Aerial Adventure, Zipline, and other areas.
Develops and writes standard operating procedures for Gate Admissions, Exhibit Interpreters, Special Events, Parking Admissions, Visitors Services front desk, Amusement Rides, and others.
Oversees the Exhibit Interpreter and evening event staff, including weekly scheduling to ensure proper staffing levels for daytime and nighttime events.
Oversees the creation of the weekly part-time schedule in coordination with the Park Operations Manager, verifying shift dates and times against employee availability and ensuring proper coverage.
Works with the Vice President of Park Operations and IT to ensure the Odoo ticketing system is updated and user-friendly, and uses Odoo data for customer analytics.
Coordinates and monitors inventory of equipment and tools, ensuring they are in proper working condition and coordinating with other departments for facility and equipment maintenance.
Serves as a senior leader for the Park Operations team in the absence of the Vice President of Park Operations, instructing, assigning, reviewing work, planning, maintaining standards, coordinating activities, training, allocating personnel, addressing employee problems, selecting new employees, and recommending personnel actions.
Researches and analyzes current trends in the attractions and Zoological industries to ensure competitiveness in pricing and offerings.
Reviews and develops guest flow through animal exhibits, new attractions, and special event offerings.
Assists the Vice President of Park Operations in the development and implementation of the Park Operations annual operating budget.
Directly works with Catering, Communications, and Development Departments to coordinate Park Operations staff needs for after-hour events, including overseeing setup needs.
Works with the Vice President of Park Operations to establish guidelines, monitor, and control departmental expenditures while meeting guest expectations.
Works with Animal Management staff and Curators regarding Park Operations interpreter job duties within exhibits, emphasizing safe and informative guest experiences.
Works with the Vice President of Park Operations in all concert operations, including pre-event preparation (rentals, cleaning, prepping venue) and day-of activities (parking, seating, staffing, box office assistance, overseeing operations through load out).
Plans, implements, supervises set up and break downs for various Zoo functions & events (e.g., Vineyard Adventures, Dart Frog Dash, Zoo-To-Do, MUS concerts, Wild about Art, ProMedica Days, Whirlpool Day, Little Boo & Pumpkin Path, Lights Before Christmas).
Prepares, processes, and/or maintains a variety of reports and records (journals, correspondence, maintenance reports, training guides, annual reports, purchase orders, evaluations, work orders, memos, accident reports, reprimands, transfer logs, payroll forms, employee status forms, pre-inspections, state logs and records for ride safety and maintenance).
Handles visitor complaints and/or questions and concerns dealing with park operations and other areas of the Zoo.
Operates, utilizes, and maintains an assortment of equipment and machines (computer cash registers, train, carousels, repair equipment, sound equipment, Trams, carts, calculators, computer, Cushman’s, radios, hand tools, parts and materials, viewers, lockers, picnic tables, tables and chairs, Forklift, lighting programs).
Interacts and communicates with subordinates, co-workers, immediate supervisors, supervisors in other departments, maintenance personnel, visitors, vendors, inspectors, etc.