Company Summary
About Shelby Farms Park
At 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tennessee is one of the largest urban parks in the country. The Park features miles of paved and unpaved trails, dozens of lakes and ponds, the internationally recognized and sustainably designed Woodland Discovery Playground, a buffalo herd, the FedEx Event Center, a water play sprayground, an outdoor event stage overlooking an 80-acre lake, a treetop adventure course and more.
About Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (SFPC) is the nonprofit that manages and cares for Shelby Farms Park and Shelby Farms Greenline in Memphis, TN. SFPC is responsible for daily management, fundraising to meet operational budget needs, setting the vision for the Parks future, and stewarding its natural resources. SFPC team members are committed to our vision of creating a celebrated 21st-century park that defines and shapes a great city and that provides inclusive, equitable, and free access for each and every resident of the Memphis area.
Position Summary
The Heart of the Park (HOP) Manager is a critical leader within Park Operations, responsible for overseeing the HOP Team and ensuring that high-traffic zones and rental facilities are clean, functional, safe, and visitor-ready. This role demands strong field leadership, project execution skills, and a keen eye for detail—particularly in the areas of facilities cleanliness and upkeep, landscape management, and visitor experience standards.
The HOP Manager must be an effective people leader, able to motivate and develop team members, set high expectations, and create a culture of accountability and pride in the park’s appearance and functionality. They must also understand that the park is a dynamic, interconnected environment where operational decisions often impact multiple departments, tenants, donors, and the visitor experience. As such, clear communication and thoughtful coordination across internal teams and external stakeholders is essential.
As an exempt-level manager, the HOP Manager is expected to adjust their schedule based on operational demands, including events, emergencies, and staff absences. They are required to work one weekend day per week, serving as Manager on Duty (MOD) and acting as the senior-most staff member on-site responsible for protecting visitor safety, park assets, and staff coordination.
This role is hands-on and highly visible, requiring strong judgment, the ability to assign and track work orders, and the discipline to manage projects within timelines and budgets. The HOP Manager works closely with the COO, Sales + Events, Maintenance, and other Rangers to ensure seamless visitor experiences and operational excellence across the park’s busiest zones.
Core Responsibilities
Leadership + Team Management
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Supervise, train, and develop the HOP Maintenance Technician and HOP Rangers, building a cohesive team responsible for facilities, systems, and grounds care.
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Establish and uphold high standards for cleanliness, safety, asset management, and visitor experience.
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Schedule staff for seven-day coverage and lead weekly HOP meetings,
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Coach team members on work-order management, vendor coordination, and project execution using MaintainX and other operational tools.
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Serve as Manager on Duty (MOD) in rotation with the Park Ops Manager, providing on-site leadership during events, emergencies, and weekends.
Facilities, Infrastructure + Hardscape Management
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Oversee all mechanical, electrical, plumbing/sewage systems, as well as restrooms, pavilions, and other structures within the Heart of the Park.
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Lead preventative maintenance and repairs, performed either by the HOP Maintenance Technician or third party contractors.
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Manage inspections, tracking logs, and asset readiness data to support planning and budgeting.
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Ensure compliance with aesthetic, safety and regulatory standards across all facilities and infrastructure.
Event + Venue Operations Support
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Partner with the Sales + Events (S+E) team to ensure all rentable facilities and event spaces are functional, clean, and client-ready.
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Coordinate operational support for outdoor and indoor events, including setup, vendor logistics, asset protection, cleanup, and restoration.
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Serve as the primary operations contact for S+E regarding event add-on services such as:
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Waste and recycling management
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Portable restroom placement and service
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Traffic and parking management
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Landscape and turf protection measures
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Equipment and utility access (power, water, etc.)
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Anticipate operational impacts based on the event calendar and develop proactive staffing and readiness plans.
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Support the planning and execution of park-produced events (e.g., Starry Nights, Park After Dark, Canoes and Cocktails, etc.)
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Oversee performance of key vendors and contractors, including custodial, pest control, HVAC, plumbing, and general repair providers.
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Ensure services are delivered according to budget timing; inspect work quality; document or escalate issues via MX or to Park Ops leadership.
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Manage contractor communication and logistics in coordination with the HOP Maintenance Technician, Lead HOP Rangers and other internal teams (e.g., Development, Sales + Events)
Cross-Department Collaboration
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Coordinate with Sales + Events, and Development to align operational standards and respond to donor, client, and partner needs.
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Communicate early when issues may affect rentals, sponsorship spaces, or client experiences.
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Contribute to park-wide readiness efforts and cross-zone projects as assigned.
Project + Budget Management
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Scope, plan, and execute small to mid-scale capital or maintenance projects within the Heart of the Park.
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Develop project timelines, assign tasks, source materials, and manage expenses in collaboration with the COO.
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Track data and costs to inform resource allocation, preventative maintenance plans, and annual budgets.
Operational Systems + Reporting
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Use MaintainX to assign, track, and close work orders; document inspection results; and report trends.
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Master internal software systems that connect other teams and departments (e.g., Google suite, Tripleseat, Tipalti, Fairharbor, Trello).
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Maintain accurate records of vendor contracts, project progress, and asset status.
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Provide regular updates and recommendations to the Associate Director and COO on team performance, facility condition, and operational priorities.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
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3+ years of hands-on experience in park operations, facilities management, landscape oversight, venue operations, or a closely related field
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2+ years of supervisory experience leading frontline staff in a dynamic, customer-facing environment
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Proven ability to lead operations in real time, especially during events, emergencies, or fast-changing conditions
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Experience coordinating vendor services and holding contractors accountable to agreed-upon scopes and standards
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Proficient with technology tools such as Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Calendar), Trello (or other project management tools), and digital work order systems (e.g., MaintainX)
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Demonstrated ability to assign and track work orders, perform quality checks, and follow through to completion
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Strong communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across departments, provide clear direction to teams, and represent the Conservancy with external partners
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Ability to plan, prioritize, and execute projects within defined timelines and budgets
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Physically able to work outdoors in all weather conditions, lift up to 30 pounds, and walk long distances across varied terrain
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Valid driver’s license and ability to operate park vehicles
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience working in a Conservancy, park system, campus environment, or public/private outdoor venue
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Working knowledge of plumbing, electrical, geo-thermal and forced main sewage systems
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General knowledge of hardscapes, lake/wetland conservation and erosion control methods
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Familiarity with event operations, including setup, logistics coordination, and working with internal event teams or external producers
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Bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation, facilities management, hospitality, business administration, or a related field (not required if field experience is strong)
Personal Qualities
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Demonstrates values of collaboration, accountability, humility, authenticity, trust and learning
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Commitment to the consistent production of high quality, detailed work
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Organizes, plans, and schedules in an efficient, productive manner
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Spirit of inquisitiveness/curiosity
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Team player attitude; willingness to complete the most important task at hand
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Manages stress in a fast-paced, changing organization
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Collaborates with people of different races, backgrounds and experiences
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Elicits confidence and builds rapport
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Enthusiastic, dependable, self-motivated, and self-aware
