Operations Manager

The Operations Manager oversees all company projects across multiple locations, ensuring that project teams deliver operational management services and design consulting in compliance with contractual obligations. This role involves strategic planning, project execution oversight, cross-functional coordination, and quality assurance across all projects, ensuring e iciency, profitability, and client satisfaction.

1. Steering growth and providing leadership:

• Develop and implement strategies to enhance project efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with partners to identify synergies and explore new project opportunities.
• Provide guidance to the Leadership and Executive Team on project development and execution.
• Ensure visibility, transparency, and accessibility in project management to align with the company’s culture and values.

2. Project Oversight & Execution:

• Supervise and guide multiple project teams across various zoo and aquarium locations, ensuring smooth execution.
• Ensure all projects adhere to contractual obligations, timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Develop and implement a project management framework to standardise delivery across locations.

3. Operational & Design Integration:

• Ensure that zoological design, operational strategies, and animal welfare standards are properly integrated into all projects.
• Work closely with design, operations, and facility management teams to guarantee seamless project execution.
• Oversee the handover process from design development to operational implementation.

4. Relationship Building and Cross-Departmental Collaboration:

• Build strong relationships with internal teams, key stakeholders, and significant institutions.
• Create cross-departmental teams to enhance collaboration and support project success.
• Champion innovative project ideas and plans with new partners.
• Efficiently track and manage multiple projects, tasks, action items, deliverables, and schedules.
• Ensure day-to-day project operations align with contractual obligations.
• Streamline initiatives with the administration and finance team to foster effective cross-functional collaboration.

5. Risk Management & Problem-Solving:

• Identify potential risks, such as project delays, budget overruns, or operational inefficiencies, and develop mitigation strategies.
• Implement quality control measures to ensure high standards in both zoological operations and visitor experiences.
• Handle crisis management scenarios involving project delays, operational issues, or unexpected challenges.

6. Financial & Contractual Compliance:

• Monitor project budgets, financial performance, and cost-efficiency.
• Ensure all projects comply with contractual, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Optimise resource allocation to ensure profitable and high-quality project delivery.
• Process Improvement & Strategic Planning.
• Drive continuous improvement by refining project workflows, SOPs, and operational best practices.
• Research and implement new technologies and methodologies to enhance project execution.
• Provide strategic insights to executive leadership regarding project performance, scalability, and expansion opportunities.

7. Stakeholder & Client Management:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, ensuring all project deliverables align with expectations.
• Address client concerns, contract negotiations, and change requests efficiently.

8. Team Leadership and Cross-Company Support:

• Manage and mentor project managers, site leads, and operational teams to drive project success.
• Facilitate collaboration between designers, zoologists, architects, engineers, and operational staff .
• Provide high-level oversight of project personnel recruitment, training, and performance management.
• Collaborate closely with the projects team to ensure timely and quality project delivery, adherence to contractual obligations, and overall project success.
• Monitor the well-being of on-ground teams, ensuring their satisfaction and addressing any welfare concerns.
• Ensure that projects are executed with a high level of professionalism, presenting a positive image for the company.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively under pressure and navigate challenges with resilience.
• Exhibit strong improvisational skills to address unforeseen obstacles and maintain operational efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with the finance and HR teams to facilitate seamless cross-functional cooperation and to align operations with broader organizational goals.
• Proactively anticipate operational needs and challenges, ensuring preparedness for future requirements.
• Implement strategies to streamline operational processes and enhance overall efficiency.

• Bachelor’s degree in project management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Zoology, Architecture, or related fields.
• 8+ years of experience in project operations, program management, or multi-site project leadership.
• Strong experience in zoo, aquarium, theme park, or large-scale facility management projects.
• Expertise in contract management, stakeholder engagement, and risk mitigation.
• Proficiency in project management tools. (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, Asana).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms, stand, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, feel, and operate objects, tools or controls, frequently required to lift and/or move up to.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near animals, moves around mechanical parts, works in all types of weather conditions and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.