Project Manager, Strategy and Planning

Oakland Zoo•Oakland, CA

just now•$71,700 - $85,450•Hybrid

About The Position

The Project Manager, Strategy & Planning strengthens organizational alignment, efficiency, and staff engagement by advancing the development and management of cross-departmental projects and initiatives across the Zoo. This role blends project management, meeting facilitation, systems development, strategic planning support, and documentation oversight to help teams deliver on shared priorities. Project Managers shape the Zoo's long-term approach to project management and strategic planning—building the systems, practices, and culture that guide organizational priorities in collaboration with impacted teams. They are generalists who can flex between focus areas—such as operational initiatives, staff engagement projects, internal events, regulatory compliance, or long-range planning—based on evolving organizational needs and priorities. Each Project Manager will have a portfolio of assignments that may shift from year to year to meet the needs of the Zoo.

Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience (a BA may be considered equivalent to 3 years of relevant experience; an AA may be considered equivalent to 2 years).
Minimum of 3 years of experience in project management.
Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional projects from initiation to completion.
Familiarity with project management software (e.g., Microsoft Planner, Asana, Basecamp, etc.).
Able to work on occasional weekends and holidays when needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations.
Project management certification (PMP, PMI, SCRUM, etc.).
Relevant education or training in areas such as organizational development, change management, business administration, business psychology, nonprofit management, or other related fields.

Responsibilities

Lead project management support for organizational planning, budget alignment, and performance measurement.
Design and manage cross-departmental projects from ideation through completion, ensuring outcomes are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with strategic goals.
Serve as a central point of contact for regulatory and compliance documentation, such as USDA inspections, AZA accreditation materials, or other licensure and certification audits.
Develop, maintain, and improve integrated organizational systems—including risk and safety tracking, centralized documentation, and tools for strategic initiative monitoring—to ensure institutional memory, alignment, transparency, and operational continuity across leadership transitions.
Facilitate meetings by preparing agendas, gathering background materials, leading discussions, capturing outcomes, and driving follow-up actions.
Collaborate with the People & Culture department to design and deliver training that equips staff to understand, adopt, and effectively use organizational systems and tools.
Help design, refine and implement the Zoo's project management and strategic planning framework with the support of the Vice President, Strategy & Planning; contributing to the development of shared systems, practices, and culture that support organizational priorities.
Support the Vice President, Strategy & Planning in the design, implementation, tracking, and communication of the organizational strategic plan and long-range planning initiatives.
Foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
Perform other related duties as required and assigned.