Maintenance & Infrastructure Manager

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA); Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40h/week schedule

28 days' holiday

Health Assured EAP

Staff discounts at zoos

Free zoo access

HZ Conservation Award

Job summary

Hertfordshire Zoo is seeking a practical, hands-on Maintenance & Infrastructure Manager to lead the maintenance team and oversee animal habitats, visitor facilities, buildings and critical site infrastructure. As the senior operational deputy to the Site Manager, you will plan workload, prioritise repairs, manage contractors and provide costed plans, ensuring safety and reliability across the site.

This is a senior, hands-on role offering broad responsibility for people, projects and

Qualifications

• Experience leading a maintenance, facilities, estates or infrastructure team.
• Strong practical maintenance, building or trade knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Act as Site Manager's senior operational deputy, leading daily maintenance operations.
• Lead and develop the maintenance team with clear performance expectations.
• Plan, allocate and monitor reactive, planned and preventative maintenance.
• Ensure urgent animal-enclosure defects and high-priority issues are addressed promptly.
• Maintain records of site assets, outstanding work and planned maintenance.
• Improve cost control through purchasing, stock management and contractor oversight.

Skills

Practical maintenance

Maintenance leadership

Facilities management

Trade knowledge

Job description

Hertfordshire Zoo

UK Closing date for applications is: 1st Nov 2026

Contact: Lisa Pressland ([e-mail])

Sector: Facilities Type: Paid Contract type: Full-time Salary: Dependent on skills and experience

Are you an experienced maintenance leader looking for a role that goes beyond buildings and repairs?

Hertfordshire Zoo is looking for a practical, organised and hands‑on Maintenance & Infrastructure Manager to lead the maintenance team and oversee our animal habitats, visitor facilities, buildings, equipment and critical site infrastructure.

The Role

As the Site Manager's senior operational deputy, you will take responsibility for the daily maintenance operation and provide senior cover when the Site Manager is unavailable. You will work alongside the Site Manager on Fridays, Mondays and Tuesdays, taking primary senior responsibility at weekends.

You will plan and prioritise the team’s workload, balancing urgent repairs with planned and preventative maintenance. This includes ensuring animal‑enclosure defects and other high‑priority issues are assessed and acted upon promptly.

You will also improve how maintenance work is planned, recorded and costed, with responsibility for tools, equipment, materials, stores and contractor management.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced maintenance leader looking for a broader operational role with genuine responsibility for people, projects and infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Site Manager's senior operational deputy, leading the daily maintenance operation and providing senior cover when required.
• Lead, support and develop the maintenance team, setting clear expectations for performance, productivity and professional standards.
• Plan, allocate and monitor reactive, planned and preventative maintenance across the Zoo.
• Ensure urgent animal‑enclosure defects and other high‑priority issues are assessed and acted upon promptly.
• Maintain accurate records of site assets, outstanding work and planned maintenance.
• Improve cost control through effective purchasing, stock management, job costing and contractor management.
• Ensure tools, machinery, equipment and maintenance facilities are secure, serviceable and used safely.
• Maintain contingency plans for failures involving power, water, sewage, drainage, heating, refrigeration and other essential services.
• Coordinate statutory inspections, servicing and safety actions across relevant plant, equipment and infrastructure.
• Work closely with the Health & Safety Coordinator to maintain appropriate risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Support building, infrastructure and habitat‑improvement projects through practical building knowledge and trade coordination.
• Provide regular progress and cost reports, highlighting overdue work, recurring faults, risks and budget pressures.
• Work professionally with colleagues, contractors and visitors, minimising disruption wherever reasonably possible.

About You

We are looking for a practical and organised leader who enjoys solving problems, taking ownership and supporting a team to deliver high standards. You will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong practical maintenance, building or trade knowledge.
• Experience leading a maintenance, facilities, estates or infrastructure team.
• The ability to plan and prioritise reactive, planned and preventative maintenance.
• Confidence allocating work, setting expectations and addressing performance issues.
• Experience managing tools, equipment, materials, purchasing and contractors.
• Good commercial awareness, including cost control and quotation comparison.
• A sound understanding of safe working practices, risk assessments and statutory maintenance requirements.
• Calm and practical decision‑making when responding to urgent faults or infrastructure failures.
• Strong organisational skills and confidence using online work‑management systems.
• A visible, hands‑on leadership style with a willingness to provide practical support when required.
• Flexibility to respond to operational incidents and urgent maintenance issues.

Experience within a zoo, visitor attraction, estate or another complex site would be beneficial.

Why Join Us?

• Take on a senior role within a conservation‑based visitor attraction.
• Work across animal habitats, visitor facilities, buildings and essential infrastructure.
• Lead and develop a maintenance team while remaining closely involved in the practical operation.
• Contribute to building, infrastructure and habitat‑improvement projects.
• Help shape how maintenance work, resources and contractors are managed.

What We Offer

• Hours: 40 hours per week, generally Friday to Tuesday, 08.00-17.00.
• 28 days' holiday plus Christmas Day, increasing with length of service.
• Access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff discounts and benefits, including free access to participating UK and European zoos.
• HZ Conservation Award, offering opportunities to visit global conservation partners.

Closing date: Sunday 1st November 2026.

However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early depending on the number of applications received, so early applications are encouraged.