Director of Human Resources

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Director of Human Resources

Position:
Director of Human Resources

Reports To:

Chief Financial Officer

Compensation: DOE

Why Utah?

Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away.

Enjoy all four seasons without extremes-sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah's communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.

About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth's diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.

Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah's freshwater ecosystems.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.

Position Summary:

The Director of Human Resources serves as the strategic leader responsible for building and sustaining a high-performing, values-driven workforce aligned with the Aquarium's mission, vision, and strategic objectives. This position leads talent acquisition, organizational culture, leadership development, workforce planning, employee engagement, performance management, succession planning, compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

The Director ensures the Aquarium consistently places the Right People in the Right Seats by developing robust recruiting, selection, onboarding, performance management, and talent development systems. The role is responsible for fostering a culture of accountability, self-management, continuous learning, and operational excellence while ensuring organizational policies, procedures, and workforce practices support long-term growth and sustainability.

The Director oversees all Human Resources functions, volunteer services, leadership development programs, employee engagement initiatives, and organizational documentation systems including employee handbooks, operational manuals, and workforce-related standard operating procedures.

Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in HR, business, or related field preferred

* 8+ years of HR experience, including department management

* SHRM-CP or PHR certification preferred

* Experience in mission-driven, nonprofit, hospitality, attraction, cultural institution, or guest-service environments preferred

* High level of business acumen, including developing and managing HR Budgets

Critical Skills/

Competencies:

* Strategic Talent Acquisition - Ability to attract, assess, select, and develop high-performing employees aligned with organizational values and performance expectations

* Organizational Development & Change Leadership - Proven ability to improve organizational effectiveness through workforce planning, culture development, succession planning, and change management

* Leadership Coaching & Development - Ability to coach leaders, build leadership capability, and develop future organizational talent

* Culture &…