Director of Maintenance and Construction

Valleyfair LLC; Shakopee (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Valleyfair LLC seeks a Director of Maintenance and Construction to lead park-wide maintenance, safety, and facilities initiatives. You will translate corporate strategy into decisive local action, balancing reliability with cost performance while shaping culture across the maintenance division.

As a senior leader, you will drive continuous improvement, manage capital projects, and partner with engineering, architects, and contractors to enhance park assets and guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• 7+ years in progressive leadership within maintenance.
• Valid driver's license required.
• AIMS/NAARSO certifications preferred.
• Strong executive communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proven track record in project management within budget.
• Experience hiring and developing senior leaders.
• Customer-focused mindset supporting guests and associates.
• Data-driven with analytics, reporting and KPIs.
• Leadership presence with accountability and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Sets expectations and directs maintenance activities across park and attractions.
• Fosters Associate Experience and a culture of communication and ownership.
• Leads resolution of complex maintenance challenges with partners and vendors.
• Oversees operating budget and capital projects alignment with goals.
• Partners with corporate engineering and local architects on property enhancements.
• Implements continuous improvements, reports KPIs for asset performance.

Skills

Leadership experience

Maintenance operations

Project management

Data analytics

Budgeting

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Safety culture

Executive presence

Vendor/Contract management

Education

Bachelor's degree

AIMS/NAARSO certifications

Job description

Position Overview:

The Director of Maintenance and Construction provides enterprise-aligned leadership for all Valleyfair attractions, facilities, and grounds maintenance operations, ensuring uncompromising safety and best-in-class guest experience. This role drives the strategic translation of corporate initiatives into disciplined local execution, balancing operational excellence with financial performance. As a senior leader, the Director shapes the culture for both safety and associate experience, optimizes workforce and cost structures, and sets clear, results-oriented direction. In close partnership with park management, the Director ensures the safe, reliable, and compliant operation and construction of all park assets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership: Sets clear expectations and directs all maintenance activities across the park and attractions, including internal teams, cross-divisional partners, and contractors.


• People Leadership & Culture: Champions the Associate Experience within the Maintenance Division, fostering a culture of communication, accountability, ownership, and recognition.


• Problem Solving & Decision Making: Leads the resolution of complex maintenance challenges, collaborating with other parks and ride manufacturers to deliver timely, effective solutions.


• Financial Acumen: Oversees development and execution of the division's operating budget and capital projects, ensuring alignment with financial and operational goals.


• Project Management: Partner with corporate engineering, local architects, and engineers to enhance the property, including budgeting, prioritization, and monitoring spending inclusive of labor expense and leased services.


• Continuous Improvement: Identifies and implements process and procedural enhancements to drive efficiency, reliability, and performance. Extract, analyze, and report KPIs related to asset maintenance, reliability, and lifecycle performance.


• Policy & Compliance: Ensures consistent enforcement of company policies, regulatory requirements, and operational standards. Lead the implementation, governance, and ongoing optimization of a park-wide CMMS, ensuring consistent use across all assets of the property.


• Safety Leadership: Upholds and advances company safety standards, proactively driving improvements in safety culture and performance.


• Strategic Alignment & Accountability: Aligns divisional priorities with enterprise objectives while delivering measurable results.


• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Park President.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, technical certification, or equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in maintenance operations or a related field.


• Valid driver's license.


• AIMS and/or NAARSO certifications preferred.


• Demonstrated executive-level communication skills, both written and verbal.


• Proven track record in project management, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget.


• Strong talent assessment and selection capabilities, with experience hiring and developing senior leaders.


• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to effectively support and engage both guests and associates.


• Data-driven leader with experience leveraging analytics, reporting, and performance metrics to drive results.


• Demonstrated leadership presence with a strong sense of accountability, ownership, and integrity.


• Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams in a dynamic operating environment.


• Track record of fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

The Director of Maintenance and Construction demonstrates strategic leadership by aligning long-term planning with organizational objectives, ensuring disciplined execution of projects on time and within budget. This role fosters a high-performing, positive culture that strengthens teamwork and develops leadership capability across the maintenance organization. Leveraging data and analytics, the Director drives informed decision-making, enhances operational performance, and promotes clear, effective communication to enable collaboration and resolve complex challenges.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

The Director of Maintenance and Construction balances executive-level administrative responsibilities with active field leadership across the park. The role includes office-based planning, budgeting, and operational oversight, alongside routine on-site inspections requiring mobility across varied terrain. Responsibilities involve engagement with vendors, contractors, and internal teams in both indoor and outdoor environments, with exposure to a range of weather conditions. This position requires the ability to safely navigate the park environment while occasionally performing physical tasks, ensuring effective oversight of maintenance and construction operations and adherence to safety standards.