Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) is a leader in animal care, wildlife conservation, and education. We are passionate about our commitment to excellence in support of our mission of Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations.
DZCA honors our animals, staff, and guests by conducting ourselves at the highest level of integrity through our Core Actions -- Inspire Awe: Safety, Care, Connect, and by embracing our Core Values of: Welcoming, Curious, United, Courageous, and Transformative in all that we do.
The Director of Facilities Management advances the DZCA's mission and goals by overseeing facilities and infrastructure across the 80-acre campus. The role leads preventive maintenance, repairs, and daily operations across multiple functions, including train and fleet maintenance, electrical, painting, carpentry, welding, exhibit environments, HVAC, and building controls, ensuring a safe, well-maintained environment that supports an exceptional guest experience.
Our team is made up of passionate and diverse professionals dedicated to providing excellent care for our animals while creating meaningful experiences for our guests. If you're excited to contribute your skills in a collaborative and innovative environment, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is the place for you!
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Team Leadership
- In partnership with the Senior Director of Campus Management, provide strategic leadership for the Facilities Management team, ensuring departmental goals align with the DZCA’s mission, priorities, and strategic plan.
- Develop and implement short- and long-range goals for Facilities Management; ensure progress through stakeholder engagement, clear communication, and effective policy and program guidance.
- Lead, coach, and evaluate staff performance; support employee development and goal setting while advancing sustainable practices and technology solutions that improve operational efficiency.
- Foster a collaborative learning environment by championing programs that promote employee growth, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Optimize the use of staff, processes, and technology to deliver services effectively; recruit, develop, and lead supervisory, professional, technical, and trade personnel while supporting ongoing training and workforce development.
Facilities Management
- Develop and lead Facilities Management team strategies and standards to ensure safe, efficient, and effective facilities workflows, including repair, preventive, predictive, deferred, and emergency maintenance.
- Implement processes for continuous evaluation and improvement of strategies and standards, ensuring alignment with organizational commitments to workplace safety, animal well-being, guest experience, and sustainability.
- Manage and assess the organization’s long-range facilities strategy for addressing deferred maintenance.
- Help respond to emergency calls after hours or on weekends. Support coordination of emergency repairs that arise outside of normal working hours.
Budget Oversight
- Develop and manage annual submission for City and County Denver Capital Improvement Funding (CIP Funding), or other funding requests to City and County of Denver, work with zoo leadership to identify priorities and approaches for project implementation and on-site management.
- In collaboration with Procurement, manage the facilities management procurement and contract administration policies and guidelines to ensure compliance with zoo requirements.
- Develop and oversee the annual Facilities Management budget, monitoring financial activity to ensure expenses remain within approved limits and fiscal policies are followed. Provide budget reports to senior leadership to support evaluation of program effectiveness and alignment with organizational strategic goals and targets.
Collaboration
- Lead the development and implementation of communication strategies that improve customer service, increase awareness of campus facilities risks and opportunities, enhance information flow between departments and customers, and report on program effectiveness.
- Coordinate and collaborate with all organizational divisions and external stakeholders to support efficient and effective operations.
- Partner with the Philanthropy Department to identify grant and donor funding opportunities that support campus operations and maintenance projects.
- Represent the Facilities Management department professionally across the organization and deliver excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
- Serves as DZCA’s primary liaison for federal, state, and local agencies responsible for oversight of facilities management requirements. Specifically, serve as primary liaison with City and County of Denver’s General Services, Permit and Licensing and other facility related departments and programs.
Other Responsibilities and Duties
- Other assistance, as designated by the Senior Director of Campus Management, to support the overall goals of the department and organization. DZCA retains the right to add or change duties and/or responsibilities at any time.
- Acts as a good steward of the DZCA's resources.
- This position will interact with managers at all levels and staff members across the organization, in addition to members of external organizations.
- The nature of this position requires safeguarding against the release of confidential and proprietary information of DZCA.
Technical / Professional Requirements & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree with an emphasis in business, operations, facilities management, construction management, project management or in a related field or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
- Requires minimum of 5-years’ experience in facilities and infrastructure management at a multi-unit facility or campus environment including leadership and team supervision or any equivalent combination of experience, lived experience, and/or special skills.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proven computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and computerized maintenance management software are necessary.
- Requires exemplary collaboration, organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks.
- Requires adaptability to produce and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-task and changing environment, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Must have superior negotiation skills and the ability to handle sensitive information with diplomacy.
- Must be a recognized communicator and considered to be a developer, coach, and mentor who is comfortable working with a broad cross section of people in direct and matrixed relationships.
- Experience developing and executing strategic goals preferred.
- Experience with preventive maintenance strategies, tactics and supporting systems.
- Experience and knowledge of sustainable and green practices.
- Proven ability, knowledge and experience in complex project management and coordination.
- Knowledge and ability to create safe work practices and ensure safety programs are current with regulation and industry practices.
Position Conditions
- Ability to pass a physical examination, background check and pre-employment drug and alcohol screen.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
- To support our operations, candidates must be at least 21 years of age with a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.
- Schedule Availability: Monday-Friday
- Work Location: Onsite
Compensation
Range for this position is $8,829 to $11,257 (monthly).
A Truly Wild Workplace with Competitive Benefits
Join our team and enjoy a wide variety of great benefits, including:
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
- 403(b) Retirement Account with employer match
- Generous paid time off: vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays
- A Family DZCA Membership with discounted tickets to special events
- Concession and retail discounts, plus free parking
- And so much more!
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. If you're passionate about contributing to a dynamic, mission-driven organization, we want to hear from you!
Application Process and Timelines
Application Deadline: March 27, 2026 Review of applications will begin immediately. DZCA reserves the right to close the position before this date.
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected status or any other characteristic protected by law.
