Director of Capital Projects

Cincinnati Zoo; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan with company match

Flexible spending accounts

Company-paid disability & life

Paid time off, park discounts & free”s

Job summary

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is seeking a Director of Capital Projects to oversee the successful delivery of all capital initiatives, from planning through turnover. The role includes serving as the senior owner representative for major projects and leading smaller CapEx efforts as the zoo acts as its own general contractor.

Qualifications include leading complex construction programs, strong financial acumen, and experience coordinating multiple stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, or related discipline (or equivalent significant experience).
• Experience delivering complex construction and capital projects, including management of Construction Managers and/or general contractors as an owner's representative.
• Hands-on construction knowledge: estimating, scheduling, procurement, contracts, change management, and closeout.
• Strong financial acumen: budgets, forecasts, bids, contingencies, and payments.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of the Zoo's capital portfolio from concept through turnover.
• Establish budgets, schedules, scopes, decision points, and accountability; identify risks early.
• Coordinate with CM, architects, engineers, and internal stakeholders; ensure safety and operations.
• Lead in-house CapEx projects as GC for smaller initiatives; handle scoping, estimating, bidding, procurement, scheduling, and closeout.
• Coach and develop junior staff; foster ownership, collaboration, safety, sustainability, and timely turnovers.

Job description

Thank you for your interest in Zoo employment and career opportunities, including AmeriCorps ! If you share these Core Values , we want to hear from you. By checking this site often, you can learn more about the Zoo and what we have to offer. Search jobs and careers at the Zoo below!

About Diversity and Inclusion at the Cincinnati Zoo

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden CELEBRATES the diversity of our plants & animals, staff, visitors, and community. We believe the Zoo should be a place where everyone can be themselves. We strive for the Zoo to be a place where differences are recognized, welcomed, and celebrated through our culture, processes, programs, and very presence in the community.

Join the Team

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is an equal opportunity employer and accepts employment applications and/or resumes for current open positions only.

Available Positions Food and Retail Available Positions

Position:Director of Capital Projects

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Job Id:1498

# of Openings:1

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Capital Projects is responsible for the successful delivery of all Zoo capital projects - from early planning and design through construction, commissioning, closeout, and turnover. The role has two distinct delivery responsibilities: (1) serving as the Zoo's senior owner representative for major projects delivered by an external Construction Manager (CM), generally projects over $1 million, and (2) directly leading smaller CapEx projects, generally $20,000 to $1 million, for which the Zoo acts as its own general contractor.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the full lifecycle of the Zoo's capital portfolio, ensuring projects move efficiently from concept through design, permitting, procurement, construction, commissioning, closeout, and final handoff to the operating team.
• Establish clear project budgets, schedules, scopes, decision points, and accountability; identify risks early and drive issues to resolution before they become surprises.
• Maintain a strong field presence and ensure construction activity is coordinated with an active Zoo environment, protecting animals, guests, staff, contractors, facilities, and daily operations.
• Provide leadership with concise, accurate reporting on project status, cost, schedule, risk, and emerging issues.
• Serve as the Zoo's primary owner representative for major capital projects, generally those exceeding $1 million, delivered by the Zoo's external Construction Manager.
• Hold the CM accountable for safety, quality, budget, schedule, sustainability, documentation, communication, and overall execution to the Zoo's standards.
• Review and challenge estimates, schedules, procurement plans, logistics, contingency use, change orders, payment applications, and other project controls; ensure issues are surfaced and resolved promptly.
• Act as the central point of coordination among the CM, architects, engineers, specialty consultants, contractors, vendors, and Zoo stakeholders.
• Create efficient communication and decision-making across internal groups including Animal Care, Horticulture, IT, Graphics, Facilities, Operations, Visitor Experience, Security, and other departments as required by each project.
• Translate internal operational and technical needs into clear direction for design and construction partners, while ensuring Zoo teams understand schedule impacts, decision deadlines, responsibilities, and upcoming milestones.

CAPEX / IN-HOUSE PROJECT DELIVERY

• Lead the Zoo's smaller capital projects, generally $10,000 to $1 million, where the Zoo functions as its own general contractor.
• Perform or oversee the core duties of a GC, including scoping, estimating, bidding, procurement, contracting, scheduling, trade coordination, site logistics, safety, quality control, change management, punch-list completion, and closeout.
• Coordinate contractors and trades in a highly active operating environment while minimizing disruption to guests, animals, staff, events, utilities, and Zoo operations.
• Maintain disciplined cost and schedule control while preserving the speed, practicality, and hands‑on problem solving required for smaller projects.

TEAM LEADERSHIP

• Lead, coach, and develop a junior capital projects staff member who will support day-to-day field coordination, documentation, follow-up, and boots-on-the-ground project execution.
• Build a culture of ownership, responsiveness, collaboration, safety, sustainability, and follow-through across the capital program.
• Serve as a visible advocate for the Zoo's leadership in sustainable design and construction. LEED Platinum-level performance is the standard for major projects, not an optional enhancement.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, or a related discipline; equivalent significant experience may be considered.
• Significant progressive experience delivering complex construction and capital projects from planning through turnover, including direct experience managing Construction Managers and/or general contractors as an owner's representative.
• Hands‑on construction knowledge and strong understanding of estimating, scheduling, procurement, contracts, change management, construction means and methods, commissioning, and closeout.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and coordinate architects, engineers, contractors, specialty consultants, and diverse internal stakeholders.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to scrutinize budgets, forecasts, bids, change requests, contingencies, and payment applications.
• Demonstrated experience and passion for sustainable design and construction. LEED experience and/or LEED professional accreditation is a strong plus.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, judgment, and leadership skills, with the ability to adapt and adjust as the situation dictates.

Success means the Zoo's capital projects are delivered safely, on time, on budget, and to a consistently high standard; the external CM is effectively managed and held accountable; in-house CapEx projects are executed efficiently; communication among all parties is clear and timely; completed projects are ready for operations at turnover; and the Zoo continues to advance its leadership in sustainable design and construction.

Key Position Details & Benefits

This position is full-time, salaried-exempt, and eligible for the Zoo's benefit programs for non-union employees at the first of the month following date of hire.

• affordable medical dental & vision coverage
• 401(k) plan with company match
• flexible spending accounts
• company-paid disability & life insurance
• generous paid time off (PTO), park discounts and free passes

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Intern Program provides participants with early career experience in a specific department. Interns gain valuable skills through hands‑on training with staff, attending lectures and continuing education courses presented by staff from various departments, and networking opportunities to develop professional contacts throughout the Zoo community.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal intern candidate will meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 or over and interested in pursuing a career in the zoological or botanical field;
• hard‑working, highly motivated, professional, and committed to following detailed instructions;
• positively approach team‑based, collaborative working environments and engaging with visitors;
• comfortable working with and/or handling many different species encompassing all taxa of animals; and
• full availability to work the entire intern session and days required.

Horticulture: Native Plant Program & Wetland

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Veterinary Experiences at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Veterinary Technician Internship

Need to be a registered veterinary technician or actively enrolled in an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program to be accepted for internship

Veterinary Shadow Days

This can be a several day experience that may or may not coincide with school requirements. – need to be an enrolled in an AVMA accredited veterinary program – (must be a student in 1st-3rd year of school)

Veterinary Externship

4–8-week externship experience. Must be enrolled in an AMVA accredited veterinary program. These are often scheduled 1-2 years in advance of the externship. Please feel free to inquire if you are in your 2nd or 3rd year of an AVMA accredited veterinary program.

High School Students

We unfortunately do not offer any opportunities currently for high school students. Please reach out once you meet one of the requirements above.

Limited housing is available and is located across the street which allows for access to the zoo easily