Job Details

Grounds And Housekeeping Manager

The Grounds And Housekeeping Manager is responsible for overseeing the cleanliness, safety, and appearance of Houston Zoo's 55-acre campus. This role leads both the housekeeping and grounds maintenance teams to ensure a consistently clean and welcoming environment for guests, staff, and animals. The manager oversees day-to-day operations, develops strategic plans for seasonal and routine upkeep, drives operational efficiency and ensures compliance with safety, health, and environmental standards. This role provides direct leadership to supervisors and serves as a key partner to departments across the organization.

Our Mission: The Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.

Our Vision: To be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

Operations & Campus Appearance

• Manages cleaning and inspection of grounds, buildings, and structures to meet Zoo standards for safety, cleanliness, and guest experience.
• Develops and manages schedules for regular cleaning, trash and recycling, restroom sanitation, power-washing, and exterior landscape upkeep.
• Conducts regular inspections of zoo buildings, grounds, and facilities; identifies and resolves issues proactively.
• Oversees the maintenance of walkways, public spaces, restrooms, staff areas, and event venues across the Zoo.
• Develops, implements, and continuously improves standard operating procedures (SOPs) for housekeeping and grounds care, including for special events and weather emergencies.

Leadership & Staff Management

• Supervises and leads groundskeeping and housekeeping staff, including supervisors and housekeepers with a focus on operational efficiency and mission-based values.
• Manages staffing needs including recruitment, selection, onboarding, scheduling, performance evaluations, ongoing training and development for department.
• Sets clear and measurable goals and expectations for the team; leads daily and weekly check-ins to align priorities.
• Provides coaching, recognition, and corrective feedback to support performance, engagement, and retention.

Safety, Compliance & Sustainability

• Ensures compliance with OSHA, EPA, local regulations, USDA and AZA standards, and Zoo safety and sustainability policies related to grounds and housekeeping activities.
• Ensures safe work practices and procedures are followed by all team members; maintains required safety documentation, inspection logs, and incident records.
• Participates in emergency response planning and response efforts (e.g., storm cleanup, biohazard incidents, special events), including supporting overnight ride-out operations for storms and other weather-related events.
• Collaborates with Pest Control, Animal Programs, Facilities, and Horticulture teams on an Integrated Pest Management program.
• Supports sustainability initiatives, including composting, recycling, waste reduction, and use of eco-friendly cleaning practices.

Collaboration & Guest Service

• Serves as the primary point of contact for grounds and housekeeping concerns; responds to and resolves requests and complaints in a timely and professional manner.
• Collaborates with other departments to support events, renovations, and campus projects, including scheduling and logistics.
• Maintains effective working relationships with third-party vendors and partners (e.g., food, beverage, and retail) to ensure clean, safe, and engaging guest environments, including waste and composting efforts.
• Communicates regularly with Facilities and Animal Care departments on priorities, conditions, risks, and upcoming needs.

Planning, Budgeting & Reporting

• Develops and manages departmental operating budgets, including labor, equipment, and supply costs; identifies opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Maintains accurate records of cleaning, maintenance, inspections, and work orders.
• Prepares reports for leadership on departmental performance, staffing, safety, and resource needs.
• Identifies areas for operational improvement and implements process enhancements to support efficiency, safety, and guest satisfaction.

Mission & Values

• Contributes to saving animals in the wild by supporting reduction of waste, water, and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife-protecting actions.
• Models Houston Zoo's core values in all interactions and decision-making.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED, or one to three months of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience, including at least three (3) years in a leadership or management role.
• Experience in managing and effectively organizing labor crews for the successful completion of medium to large scale events and projects.
• Knowledge of safety procedures and OSHA requirements.
• Strong leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple teams and priorities effectively.
• Proficient in budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination.
• Familiarity with cleaning and landscaping equipment and materials.
• Working knowledge of safety and environmental compliance standards.
• Ability to interpret and apply facility and grounds maintenance plans.

About The Houston Zoo

Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and yes, even education! There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild.