Director of Park Operations Downtown Faciliti

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Director of Park Operations

Department: Operations

Reports To: Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Downtown Facilities

Location: Audubon’s Downtown Facilities

FLSA Status: Exempt

Date Revised: April 2025

Position Type: Permanent, Full-time

Who We Are 

Audubon Nature Institute (ANI) comprises Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and Audubon Wilderness Park

 

At Audubon Nature Institute, we are more than a collection of parks, museums, and conservation centers—we are a dedicated team with a shared mission to celebrate, protect, and connect people to the wonders of nature. Our work is guided by our culture code, which is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in Activating Impact by integrating tangible, real-world outcomes into all our initiatives, fostering a culture where every action contributes to a positive environmental impact. We are committed to Empowering Optimism, using positivity to inspire others to act and believe in their capacity to create meaningful change. We strive to Create Connection by engaging with people from all walks of life, knowing that the collective strength of a diverse community can address the most pressing challenges facing our natural world. At Audubon, we embody the spirit of Le Bon Temps, infusing the joy and vibrant culture of Louisiana into our everyday work, celebrating our unique heritage while advancing our mission. As Leaders of the Pack, we constantly seek smarter, innovative solutions, challenging conventions to drive the change we want to see in the world.

What You’ll Do (Summary of role)

As a member of Audubon’s Downtown leadership team, the Director of Park Operations is crucial in making sure that the Downtown parks contribute to the mission of Audubon Nature Institute while ensuring that day-to-day functions run effectively and efficiently. Success in this position requires a combination of leadership skills, collaboration, and alignment with ANI’s broader goals to help drive growth and community engagement in the Downtown parks.

Day to Day Responsibilities (Limit to most important/top 10 duties if possible)

• Management: Oversee the overall management of the Downtown facilities’ grounds and parks, ensuring that the team delivers high-quality experience for all guests.

• Team Leadership: Manage the Downtown Horticulture team to maintain cleanliness and plantings, ensuring park areas remain aesthetically pleasing and well-kept.

• Operational Excellence: Work closely with the Horticulture Manager, Events & Festivals, and Learning & Engagement, and Security to ensure the effective execution of park events, maintenance standards, rule enforcement, and educational programming.

• Collaboration: Collaborate with the Director of Facilities to establish clear maintenance standards and ensure high levels of care for all park assets. Work with all governmental agencies to ensure all park work is compliant with applicable regulations and laws. 

• Maintenance and Capital Projects: Identify, prioritize, and lead capital maintenance projects to continuously improve park assets and infrastructure.

• Strategic Development: Develop and implement business plans and strategies to grow and enhance the Downtown parks as a valuable community resource with an emphasis on revenue generation and operational efficiency.

• Support Across Divisions: Work across all divisions of Audubon Nature Institute to ensure that operations are seamless. 

• Problem Solving: Ability to solve and anticipate problems in a practical, cost-effective manner that adheres to environmental and conservation principles. 

Additional/Overall Skills:

• Maintain a positive attitude and strong sense of accountability, fostering a collaborative team environment where everyone feels empowered.

• Thrive in a team environment, using effective organizational and technical skills to ensure the smooth execution of creative projects that resonate with our audience.

• Celebrate team successes and create an enthusiastic work environment, reflecting the joyful culture that is at the heart of Audubon’s mission.

• Stay adaptable and open to learning new skills, embracing change and innovation as opportunities to lead and grow.

• The above listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned.

• Should have experience in horticulture, public gardens, public parks, public park management, playground management and/or a combination of these experiences preferred. 

What We’re Looking For

Must Haves: (required for the role)

• 3+ years in operations management 

• Supervisory experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) 

• Louisiana drivers license

• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (within the first year of employment) 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 

• Ability to use mobile devices, computer, scanner, phone and copy machine.

• Ability to use handheld gardening tools (e.g. shovels, pruners, rakes etc.)

• Ability to operate gas powered hedgers, weed eaters, power blowers, and mowers 

• Ability to drive golf carts, UTVs, and pickup trucks

Nice-to-Haves: (preferred for the role)

• Preferred experience with heavy equipment and machinery such as forklifts, skyjacks, dingo, etc

• Affinity for animals preferred

• Pesticide applicators license and advanced horticulture knowledge preferred

• Irrigation license/certification and landscape design experience preferred

• Landscape design experience preferred

• Advanced horticulture knowledge preferred

Physical Requirements: (Add per list provided based on role type)

• Position is physically demanding, requiring working outside; constant adequate range of motion and mobility required

• Sitting or standing, bending, stooping, and the ability to carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Ability to collect and analyze numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions required.

• Ability to express and exchange ideas verbally expected.

• Regular hearing and the ability to perceive the nature of sounds.

• Ability to read, record, or type data quickly and accurately required

• The ability to work outdoors in hot, humid, and cold weather

• Working long hours between breaks or meals required.

• Ability to work under and handle stress in an appropriate manner required.

• May be exposed to high, medium, or low noise intensity.

• Constant contact with co-workers required.

• Exposure to fluctuations in temperatures to be expected.