The Living Planet Aquarium
Position:
Director of Operations
Reports To:
Senior Vice President of Operations
Direct Reports:
Facilities & Fabrication, Events
Vendor Relationship Lead for:
Café & Catering, Retail, Daycare, Landscape, Janitorial, Pest Control
Compensation:
$110,000
Position Summary:
The Director of Operations is a dynamic and strategic leader responsible for bringing Loveland Living Planet Aquarium’s mission to life through operational excellence, facility stewardship, and guest-focused execution. This position ensures that every physical, logistical, and experiential element of the Aquarium supports our mission to inspire people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems.
The Director leads and integrates key operational areas—including facilities maintenance, landscaping, pest control, janitorial services, events, capital projects, and exhibit construction—while managing strategic partnerships with the Aquarium’s café and catering provider, retail gift shop operator, and daycare partner. By aligning operational efficiency with world‑class guest experience, the Director of Operations ensures that LLPA remains a safe, innovative, and inspiring destination for our guests, employees, and community.
Institutional Summary Loveland Living Planet Aquarium provides learning opportunities for all levels, interests, and ages, with the mission to inspire people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems since 1997. Since opening its new facility in Draper in March 2014, the Aquarium has welcomed over ten million visitors and provided more than 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium showcases ecosystems from around the planet including kelp forests, coral reefs, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, Asian cloud forests, South American rain forests, and the waterways of our home state of Utah. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019. With our new Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center that is currently under construction, LLPA will soon be the largest aquarium in the Mountain West and the 5th largest aquarium overall in the continental United States.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in operations, facilities, or capital project management.
Experience managing budgets and complex vendor or partner relationships.
Experience in operational oversight within a nonprofit or public attraction environment strongly preferred.
Critical Skills/Competencies
Demonstrated success leading complex operational and facilities functions in a mission-driven or public attraction setting (aquarium, zoo, museum, or theme park preferred).
Proven ability to lead large teams with diverse responsibilities under constant deadline and guest service pressures.
Strong knowledge of capital project management, facility operations, and vendor relationship management.
Excellent financial management, strategic planning, and analytical skills.
Proven ability to navigate and manage partnerships with outside contractors and concessionaires.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills with the ability to influence and build consensus.
Demonstrated leadership that fosters collaboration, accountability, and empowerment.
Commitment to LLPA’s mission and values with a focus on guest experience, sustainability, and operational excellence.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operational Leadership
Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for LLPA’s operations, ensuring alignment with the Aquarium’s mission, strategic plan, and guest experience goals.
Oversee daily operations of facilities maintenance, and events, ensuring a safe, efficient, and world‑class environment for guests, staff, and animals.
Develop and implement systems, policies, and standard operating procedures to ensure accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and measure outcomes against organizational objectives.
Collaborate with other senior leaders to ensure cohesive cross‑departmental communication and execution of institutional priorities.
Capital Projects and Construction
Lead planning, budgeting, and execution of capital improvement, exhibit construction, and major renovation projects.
Partner with architects, engineers, designers, and contractors to ensure project quality, efficiency, and alignment with LLPA’s design and guest experience standards.
Manage project timelines, budgets, and reporting to ensure transparency and on‑time, on‑budget delivery.
Ensure all projects comply with building codes, AZA accreditation standards, and LLPA’s environmental and safety policies.
Contribute to the development of long‑term facility planning and campus master plan initiatives.
Facilities and Infrastructure
Provide leadership and direction to the Facilities and Maintenance teams to ensure reliability and optimization of all systems and infrastructure.
Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs and ensure rapid response to operational needs.
Manage service contracts for landscaping, janitorial, and pest control, maintaining high standards of quality and cost efficiency.
Collaborate with the Facilities Team on maintenance prioritization, capital renewal planning, and resource allocation.
Ensure LLPA’s infrastructure supports sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental stewardship goals.
Event and Partnership Management
Provide leadership and strategic direction to the Events team, ensuring delivery of exceptional private, corporate, and community events that align with LLPA’s brand and financial objectives.
Serve as the Aquarium’s primary liaison with its key guest‑facing partners, including Café and Catering Partner, Retail Gift Shop Partner, and Daycare Partner.
Oversee contract performance, service standards, and operational collaboration with each partner.
Cultivate relationships that foster innovation, revenue growth, and alignment with LLPA’s guest experience and mission goals.
Leadership and Administration
Build, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team across operational departments.
Establish departmental goals, budgets, and accountability systems.
Participate actively in strategic and master planning, capital prioritization, and institutional initiatives.
Ensure compliance with all safety, legal, and regulatory requirements.
Represent LLPA in a professional manner with contractors, vendors, community partners, and external stakeholders.
Physical Demands & Special Working Conditions This position requires regular movement between office, operational, and construction environments, with periods of walking, standing, and sitting. Occasional lifting of up to 40 pounds may be required. The role may include exposure to varying weather conditions and moderate noise levels. Periodic evening, weekend, or holiday work may be required to support Aquarium operations, events, or capital project timelines.
While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.
Equal Opportunity Employer The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodations@livingplanetaquarium.org.
Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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Director of Operations
Reports To:
Senior Vice President of Operations
Direct Reports:
Facilities & Fabrication, Events
Vendor Relationship Lead for:
Café & Catering, Retail, Daycare, Landscape, Janitorial, Pest Control
Compensation:
$110,000
Position Summary:
The Director of Operations is a dynamic and strategic leader responsible for bringing Loveland Living Planet Aquarium’s mission to life through operational excellence, facility stewardship, and guest-focused execution. This position ensures that every physical, logistical, and experiential element of the Aquarium supports our mission to inspire people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems.
The Director leads and integrates key operational areas—including facilities maintenance, landscaping, pest control, janitorial services, events, capital projects, and exhibit construction—while managing strategic partnerships with the Aquarium’s café and catering provider, retail gift shop operator, and daycare partner. By aligning operational efficiency with world‑class guest experience, the Director of Operations ensures that LLPA remains a safe, innovative, and inspiring destination for our guests, employees, and community.
Institutional Summary Loveland Living Planet Aquarium provides learning opportunities for all levels, interests, and ages, with the mission to inspire people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems since 1997. Since opening its new facility in Draper in March 2014, the Aquarium has welcomed over ten million visitors and provided more than 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium showcases ecosystems from around the planet including kelp forests, coral reefs, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, Asian cloud forests, South American rain forests, and the waterways of our home state of Utah. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019. With our new Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center that is currently under construction, LLPA will soon be the largest aquarium in the Mountain West and the 5th largest aquarium overall in the continental United States.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in operations, facilities, or capital project management.
Experience managing budgets and complex vendor or partner relationships.
Experience in operational oversight within a nonprofit or public attraction environment strongly preferred.
Critical Skills/Competencies
Demonstrated success leading complex operational and facilities functions in a mission-driven or public attraction setting (aquarium, zoo, museum, or theme park preferred).
Proven ability to lead large teams with diverse responsibilities under constant deadline and guest service pressures.
Strong knowledge of capital project management, facility operations, and vendor relationship management.
Excellent financial management, strategic planning, and analytical skills.
Proven ability to navigate and manage partnerships with outside contractors and concessionaires.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills with the ability to influence and build consensus.
Demonstrated leadership that fosters collaboration, accountability, and empowerment.
Commitment to LLPA’s mission and values with a focus on guest experience, sustainability, and operational excellence.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operational Leadership
Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for LLPA’s operations, ensuring alignment with the Aquarium’s mission, strategic plan, and guest experience goals.
Oversee daily operations of facilities maintenance, and events, ensuring a safe, efficient, and world‑class environment for guests, staff, and animals.
Develop and implement systems, policies, and standard operating procedures to ensure accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and measure outcomes against organizational objectives.
Collaborate with other senior leaders to ensure cohesive cross‑departmental communication and execution of institutional priorities.
Capital Projects and Construction
Lead planning, budgeting, and execution of capital improvement, exhibit construction, and major renovation projects.
Partner with architects, engineers, designers, and contractors to ensure project quality, efficiency, and alignment with LLPA’s design and guest experience standards.
Manage project timelines, budgets, and reporting to ensure transparency and on‑time, on‑budget delivery.
Ensure all projects comply with building codes, AZA accreditation standards, and LLPA’s environmental and safety policies.
Contribute to the development of long‑term facility planning and campus master plan initiatives.
Facilities and Infrastructure
Provide leadership and direction to the Facilities and Maintenance teams to ensure reliability and optimization of all systems and infrastructure.
Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs and ensure rapid response to operational needs.
Manage service contracts for landscaping, janitorial, and pest control, maintaining high standards of quality and cost efficiency.
Collaborate with the Facilities Team on maintenance prioritization, capital renewal planning, and resource allocation.
Ensure LLPA’s infrastructure supports sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental stewardship goals.
Event and Partnership Management
Provide leadership and strategic direction to the Events team, ensuring delivery of exceptional private, corporate, and community events that align with LLPA’s brand and financial objectives.
Serve as the Aquarium’s primary liaison with its key guest‑facing partners, including Café and Catering Partner, Retail Gift Shop Partner, and Daycare Partner.
Oversee contract performance, service standards, and operational collaboration with each partner.
Cultivate relationships that foster innovation, revenue growth, and alignment with LLPA’s guest experience and mission goals.
Leadership and Administration
Build, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team across operational departments.
Establish departmental goals, budgets, and accountability systems.
Participate actively in strategic and master planning, capital prioritization, and institutional initiatives.
Ensure compliance with all safety, legal, and regulatory requirements.
Represent LLPA in a professional manner with contractors, vendors, community partners, and external stakeholders.
Physical Demands & Special Working Conditions This position requires regular movement between office, operational, and construction environments, with periods of walking, standing, and sitting. Occasional lifting of up to 40 pounds may be required. The role may include exposure to varying weather conditions and moderate noise levels. Periodic evening, weekend, or holiday work may be required to support Aquarium operations, events, or capital project timelines.
While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.
Equal Opportunity Employer The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodations@livingplanetaquarium.org.
Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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