Director of Food / Beverage & Retail Operations - San Diego Zoo
Full-Time
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego, CA
Posted November 18, 2025
Join San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where you can support our conservation efforts worldwide as part of our organization’s foundational team, or work at one of our two “front doors”—the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Compensation: $173,982 to $195,730 per year
HOW YOU WILL IMPACT OUR MISSION
The Director of Food/Beverage and Retail Operations leads all aspects of the retail operations department including all food service operations, catering, retail/merchandise outlets and retail vendors. This position is responsible for developing a robust strategy to achieve targets, collaborating with key business partners to drive mission contribution and leading and inspiring the retail operations team. This position reports to the Senior Vice President & Executive Director of the San Diego Zoo.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Provides vision, long-term planning and strategic operational direction to multiple food and merchandising generating multi-million dollar revenues. Exercises fiscal accountability and responsibility for the retail operations department.
- Embrace a collaborative approach across the organization to ensure a holistic guest experience and retail program across both campuses.
- Actively collaborate and engage with the guest services and entertainment teams to create unique guest experiences that authentically engage our community.
- Elevate and support the guest and member journey through a dynamic and thoughtful approach to menu creation and offerings.
- Engage in recruiting, training and performance management with a heavy focus on team development and succession planning for the department.
- Ensures the organization complies with State and Federal mandates regarding health requirements.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
JOB EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of seven years management experience in multi-unit or zoo, museum or theme park retail and food service operations required.
- Experience working with represented labor preferred.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, preferred.
- Training and certification in safe food handling preferred.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
- Demonstrated ability to lead highly effective teams in a diverse environment required.
- Knowledge of health and safety regulations required.
- Knowledge of food and beverage operations required.
- Knowledge of gift shop/merchandise operations required.
- Able to develop and administer complex budgets and forecasting required.
- Able to operate moderately complex computer software programs required.
- Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing required.
SOME OF THE PERKS YOU WILL ENJOY AS A TEAM MEMBER
- Free admission to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Family Passes
- Complimentary Tickets
- Free Parking at the San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Local and In-House Discounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Wellness Program
IMPORTANT DETAILS
- Location:San Diego, CA
- Position Type:Salaried Exempt Position
- Salary Range:$173,982.40 - $195,730.20
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and creating a world where all life thrives. Empowering people from around the globe to support our mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships, we support cutting-edge conservation, and bring the stories of our work back to our two world-famous front doors — the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park — giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The deep and extensive knowledge gained from more than a century of experience in wildlife care, health, veterinary services, nutrition and conservation makes us invaluable in the global effort to save species. Our team members play a crucial role in driving our conservation efforts forward and bringing us closer to a world where all life thrives.
| Address | 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 |
|---|---|
| Property Type | Corporate Office |
| # Jobs | 2 |
