Zoo Facilities and Grounds District Manager

BREC Recreation And Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge•Baton Rouge, LA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Zoo Facilities and Grounds District Manager provides management, planning, supervision, and operational oversight for maintenance and grounds functions at the Baton Rouge Zoo. The position manages Zoo maintenance technicians responsible for facility repairs, carpentry, preventive maintenance, equipment upkeep, mowing, trimming, vegetation management, tree work, storm response, and general grounds maintenance. The Zoo Facilities and Grounds District Manager coordinates maintenance priorities with Zoo leadership and other departments to support animal welfare, staff and visitor safety, regulatory readiness, reliable facility operations, asset stewardship, and a positive guest experience. The position also serves as the Zoo’s primary liaison for contracted landscape, ornamental planting, irrigation/watering, and related grounds services.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent
Valid LA driver's license in good standing. Must be able to obtain a LA driver's license within 60 days of hire.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in facilities maintenance, building trades, grounds maintenance, parks operations, institutional maintenance, construction, or a related field.
Two years of supervisory, lead-worker, or crew-lead experience involving work assignment, staff training, performance monitoring, scheduling, or operational coordination.
Demonstrated knowledge of general building maintenance and repair practices, including carpentry and routine repair of buildings, fixtures, fencing, gates, equipment, and grounds infrastructure.
Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining common maintenance and grounds equipment, such as mowers, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, trailers, lifts, tractors, skid steers, or similar equipment, as applicable.
Ability to plan and prioritize work, manage multiple assignments, maintain accurate records, and communicate effectively with employees, management, contractors, and other stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree, technical certification, trade-school training, or equivalent additional experience in facilities maintenance, construction technology, building trades, parks management, landscaping, horticulture, or a related field.
Training or certification in OSHA safety, chainsaw safety, aerial-lift operation, equipment operation, first aid/CPR, chemical safety, or related areas.
Experience supervising maintenance or grounds crews in a zoo, park, campus, municipal facility, public attraction, institutional setting, or similarly complex environment.
Experience with work-order systems, preventive-maintenance programs, vendor coordination, contractor oversight, project coordination, and budget or purchasing support.
Experience working in environments where maintenance activity must be coordinated around animals, wildlife, environmental resources, public visitors, or regulated operations.
Knowledge of animal-safe landscape practices, native vegetation, and the risks associated with toxic ornamental plants and chemical use around animal habitats.

Responsibilities

Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, trains, coaches, and evaluates the work of Zoo maintenance technicians and assigned maintenance or grounds personnel.
Establishes daily, weekly, seasonal, and long-range priorities for repairs, preventive maintenance, grounds work, equipment maintenance, deferred-maintenance needs, and facility-improvement projects.
Directs and monitors maintenance work involving carpentry, fencing, gates, doors, fixtures, painting, minor building repairs, basic plumbing and electrical repairs within employee training and authorization, exhibit-support infrastructure, public areas, service areas, and related Zoo assets.
Oversees operational grounds-maintenance activities, including mowing, edging, weed eating, blowing, vegetation management, chainsaw work, debris removal, tree and limb cleanup, storm preparation and recovery, and upkeep of paths, service areas, and public-facing outdoor spaces.
Develops, implements, and maintains preventive-maintenance schedules and documentation for assigned buildings, grounds equipment, tools, vehicles, and facility assets.
Conducts routine inspections of facilities, grounds, equipment, work areas, fences, gates, walkways, public spaces, and support areas to identify needed repairs, safety hazards, operational deficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
Prioritizes and coordinates response to urgent repairs, safety issues, storm-related damage, equipment failures, special-event needs, and other operational emergencies.
Coordinates maintenance and grounds work with Animal Operations, Veterinary Services, Commissary, Guest Services, Business Operations, Education, Security, and other Zoo departments to minimize disruption to animal care, public operations, programs, and events.
Plans work near animal areas in coordination with appropriate animal-care staff and ensures maintenance activities consider animal welfare, biosecurity, noise, access control, species-specific needs, and public safety.
Serves as the Zoo’s primary liaison and day-to-day contract administrator for contracted landscape, ornamental planting, irrigation/watering, and related grounds-maintenance services.
Coordinates contractor communication, site meetings, schedules, work priorities, access, escorts, Zoo operational requirements, and service adjustments with the awarded landscape contractor.
Monitors contractor performance; inspects work for safety, quality, completeness, appearance, and compliance with contract specifications; documents deficiencies; communicates corrective needs; and verifies completion for invoice review and approval recommendations.
Coordinates review of contractor-proposed plant material, mulch, soil, fertilizers, and related landscape products with Zoo leadership, Animal Operations, and Veterinary Services as appropriate.
Ensures that herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, and other chemical applications proposed by the contractor receive required Zoo Veterinary approval before use.
Ensures contractor work in or adjacent to animal areas is coordinated with appropriate Zoo staff and that contractors comply with Zoo access, safety, animal-area, vehicle/equipment, bridge/boardwalk, and operational requirements.
Maintains work orders, preventive-maintenance records, equipment-service records, inspections, contractor documentation, photographs, schedules, material records, project updates, and other required operational documentation.
Assists with preparation and administration of operating and capital budget requests related to maintenance, equipment, tools, supplies, contracted services, deferred maintenance, and facility or grounds improvements.
Assists with quotes, scopes of work, purchasing requests, materials tracking, vendor coordination, and procurement documentation in accordance with BREC policies and procedures.
Recommends priorities for repairs, equipment replacement, grounds improvements, asset renewal, contracted work, and capital projects based on safety, animal welfare, operational need, cost, urgency, and impact on visitors and staff.
Maintains inventory, condition, security, and appropriate maintenance of assigned tools, materials, vehicles, and equipment.
Ensures compliance with applicable safety procedures, including personal protective equipment requirements, vehicle safety, safe operation of power tools and grounds equipment, chainsaw safety, ladder and aerial-lift safety, chemical safety, lockout/tagout requirements where applicable, and incident-reporting procedures.
Supports Zoo readiness for inspections, audits, accreditation reviews, special events, public operations, severe-weather response, and emergency preparedness activities.
Provides professional, respectful, and responsive service to Zoo employees, contractors, vendors, volunteers, partners, and guests.
Performs other related duties as assigned.