Director of Operations

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

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.

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 5th largest aquarium overall in the continental United States.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…