ZSL - The Zoological Society of London - is seeking to recruit a Head of Capital Projects to play a leading role in the delivery of its £300m estate transformation.
ZSL is an international conservation charity driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, helping people and wildlife live together and inspiring support for nature. We run two conservation zoos - London and Whipsnade, we are doing conservation in over sixty countries, and we are at the leading edge of conservation biology through our Institute of Zoology.
As we approach our 200th anniversary in 2026, we have developed a vision for how ZSL will lead that journey and make conservation more effective. A key part of that is our ambition for our estate. We want to create a biodiversity and nature campus, in partnership with universities and others; a new home for our own science and conservation work; a centre for native species recovery; and new accommodation offers on both sites. These plans represent a root-and branch rethink of what a 21st-century scientific Zoo should and could be and set a strategic direction of travel for ZSL that will enable us to use our considerable physical assets much more effectively to achieve our goals.
Reporting to the Director of Estates Transformation, the Head of Capital Projects is critical to the transformation of the zoo's estate cross both its sites. With expertise and innovative approach to project management, there is an opportunity to shape capital project delivery across zoo, commercial and strategic sectors in order for ZSL to meet its vision to ensure people and wildlife thrive.
The post-holder provides effective leadership and management of a diverse portfolio of multi-functional capital projects across the London and Whipsnade sites, working closely with internal and external teams to ensure realistic budgets, timelines and objectives are met, delivering projects in line with the plan. It is an exciting time to join and work on both masterplanning and project and programme delivery, with major projects planned at both sites as well as an important programme of minor and mid-sized projects that will transform the site environment.
We are seeking an individual with a proven track record in project and programme leadership roles across property and estates portfolios of significant complexity. You will have demonstrable technical and commercial skills in the construction industry, with experience gained on projects of significant technical intricacy such as refurbishment, conservation and decarbonisation schemes. Above all candidates must have a genuine motivation and enthusiasm for the work that ZSL has and an appreciate of the crucial part that the estate can play in enabling this.
Alongside a competitive salary and pension scheme, career development potential and flexible working approach we offer a range of employee benefits including a regularly allocation of complimentary tickets to both Zoos. To learn more, visit the candidate brochure at The Management Recruitment Group website.
To arrange a briefing discussion please contact our retained advisor Nick Coppard of MRG. Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter and can be sent to Nick.
Closing date for applications is 16th June 2024. Interviews are scheduled to take place in late June 2024.