Park Opening Setup Specialist

Position Summary

The Park Opening Setup Specialist is the person on the ground who makes each new Lava Island park guest-ready. The role deploys 2-4 weeks before opening, works alongside MCS as construction wraps, and completes the physical setup work that turns a finished construction handoff into a park ready for the NPO team and the grand opening.

This role sits between MCS construction completion and the arrival of the NPO team on site. The Setup Specialist does not manage subcontractors, does not own the construction timeline, and does not own the punch list. What they do is the hands-on setup: kitchen equipment placement, service hall setup, furniture assembly, TV mounting, signage installation, unboxing and placing all park supplies, organizing the storage areas, and setting up the treasure room.

The Setup Specialist also serves as a second set of eyes on the park during the final weeks of construction. As they work through the park, they proactively flag incomplete or off-standard items to the superintendent so the right items get on the punch list or otherwise tracked. Whether items get completed is within the superintendent's scope; the Setup Specialist's job is to make sure nothing is missed.

Reporting Relationships

Internal partners: Rocco Minella, MCS field leadership including the on-site Superintendent, the NPO GM and team when they arrive on site for the opening, HQ IT for coordination on the office computer and provisioning timing, and Lava Island suppliers coordinating shipments to the park.

External partners: Limited. Occasional coordination with local suppliers, delivery services, and health inspectors during the opening window.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Park Setup

• Complete kitchen equipment layout and placement.


• Set up the service hall behind the party rooms and the storage areas that support party operations.


• Build and assemble cubbies, benches, dining room tables and chairs, and office and storage cabinets.


• Mount and install all TVs across the park.


• Install signage required for the health inspection and all wayfinding signage throughout the park.


• Coordinate with the Superintendent on animal and plant decoration installation.


• Set up the treasure room, including mops, soap, Minuteman, buckets, and all park cleaning supplies.

Supply Receipt and Placement

• Receive all orders shipped from Lava Island suppliers during the setup window.


• Verify each shipment. Flag missing items, damaged goods, or shipments that have not arrived to Rocco Minella quickly.


• Unbox and place all park supplies in their intended locations.


• Organize and store extras of flooring, padding, paint, and other construction materials in the park maintenance storage areas.

MCS Field Support

• Support the Superintendent with quality wrap-up and final walkthroughs.


• Proactively point out any incomplete or off-standard items observed while working in the park, so the Superintendent can get them on the punch list or otherwise tracked.


• Complete punch list items that fall within setup scope when asked; the Superintendent owns the punch list and the handoff to Operations.


• Coordinate the health inspection readiness with the Superintendent so the park is ready when the inspector arrives.

Working Conditions and Travel

Work environment and travel: Active construction site environment during deployments. Fully traveling, 2-4 weeks per park opening. Rental car, lodging, and per diem per company field policy. Standard construction site safety protocols and PPE apply throughout the deployment. Long hours are expected when needed to meet the opening deadline. Recovery time between deployments is built into the cadence.

Physical requirements: Active construction environment. Standing, walking, lifting up to 50 lbs, working at heights, and comfort on ladders and lifts. Comfortable using hand tools and power tools.

Qualifications

• General construction background. Comfortable using hand tools and power tools; comfortable working at heights on ladders and lifts.


• Willingness to travel continuously, with no home park base, in 2-4 week deployment cycles. Comfortable working in unfamiliar environments and against hard deadlines.


• Willingness to work as many hours as needed to meet the park opening deadline.


• Proactive communicator. Points out incomplete or off-standard items early so nothing gets missed.


• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to work independently on the ground with minimal supervision.


• 21 or older (for travel and rental car requirements).


• Technology: comfort with email, digital documentation, and basic reporting tools. Lava Island operates in a Microsoft 365 and Outlook environment.

Preferred

• Prior experience at Lava Island as a park team member. Understanding how a park runs makes setup work sharper and more informed.


• Bilingual Spanish and English.