- Key people leadership role, capital delivery and asset renewal
- Shape presentation and customer experience
- Enhance animal welfare and conservation
About the organisation
Zoos Victoria is a world-leading conservation organisation and Victorian Government statutory authority operating Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park. Welcoming more than three million visitors annually, a paid membership base of over 390,000 and caring for over 5,500 animals, the organisation combines a powerful conservation mission with significant commercial scale and community impact. With ambitious plans for growth and a commitment to creating a future rich in wildlife, Zoos Victoria is enhancing its conservation outcomes, visitor experiences and long-term sustainability.
About the role
Reporting to the CEO as a member of the senior executive team, you will lead a central portfolio of more than 130 staff spanning asset presentation, capital projects, and facilities management across four properties. This role brings together long-term asset strategy, master planning, and precinct development to ensure the built and natural environments across all sites are safe, functional, and aligned with each location's character. You will also act as property champion for one zoo, overseeing its operations while advising the Executive and Board on asset risk, condition, and capital investment priorities. Ultimately, your leadership will ensure that physical assets effectively support daily visitor engagement, animal welfare, and core conservation outcomes.
About you
You are tertiary qualified in engineering, asset management, construction, or a related field, and bring an established executive track record leading complex infrastructure, facilities, or property portfolios. You have successfully managed both maintenance operations and large capital works across multi-site environments and have a proven hand in implementing asset management frameworks, systems, and lifecycle planning. Strong commercial acumen, a tight grip on infrastructure risk, and the ability to steer substantial budgets and contractor networks are essential. Beyond technical depth, you lead with a coaching mindset and a clear, strategic vision. You bring the communication skills and political nous needed to advocate credibly at Board, Government, and industry levels, as well as the capability to steer large-scale change. Backgrounds in the public sector, non-profits, or high-visitation public destinations will be well regarded, alongside a genuine appreciation for balancing commercial realities with a conservation-led mission.
How to apply
Please review the Candidate brief then Click ‘Apply’ to submit your CV. For more information prior to application, please contact Evan Willen at SHK via email at evan.willen@shk.com.au, quoting reference 3678455. (Do not apply or submit your resume to this email address) Direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to SHK.
