Jonathan Zapata

Senior Director-level Regional Project & Operations Leader with 14+ years of experience directing multi-country capital portfolios, facilities management, and Smart Building / digital transformation programs across Latin America (Panama, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru). Proven track record leading distributed teams of 20+ professionals, managing annual capital budgets exceeding USD $20M, and delivering PMO governance, BMS (Building Management Systems), IoT/LoRaWAN, and CMMS (Corrigo, SAP PM) initiatives that reduce cost, improve reliability, and increase operational efficiency across diverse regulatory environments.

Senior Director – Regional Project Lead LATAM at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) (2025-09 – Present)

• Lead and develop a regional organization of 21 professionals (9 Project Managers, 12 Construction Managers) across Latin America, providing mentorship, performance management, and career development.
• Own regional capital governance and multi-country delivery strategy, overseeing an annual capital portfolio exceeding USD $20M across multiple LATAM markets.
• Transformed fragmented regional budgeting practices into a centralized capital governance model, ensuring affordability validation prior to project approval.
• Achieved 1% capital forecast variance accuracy at the portfolio level through structured financial controls and stage-gate oversight.
• Standardized capital intake and prioritization frameworks across multiple countries, increasing executive visibility of investment exposure.
• Implemented a pre-execution design and planning governance model, improving delivery predictability and reducing schedule volatility.
• Oversaw infrastructure modernization and Smart Building initiatives, including BMS and digital asset integration.
• Defined and implemented project management strategies, governance frameworks, and delivery methodologies to improve efficiency, consistency, and outcomes.
• Served as senior escalation point for delivery risks, resourcing challenges, and client issues across the region.

Digital Transformation Regional Project Leader, LA at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) (2023-06 – 2025-05)

• Led the IFM Innovation Program across Latin America, delivering cost reduction, enhanced user experience, sustainability, and productivity improvements through Smart Building and digital operations initiatives.
• Led regional digital transformation and change management initiatives across LATAM, driving technology adoption aligned with global digital strategy.
• Defined and executed region-specific technology enablement and change management roadmaps, ensuring alignment with global standards and governance.
• Partnered with global Digital Operations teams to plan and execute multi-country technology deployments, ensuring smooth rollout and user adoption.
• Acted as primary regional liaison between global digital programs and local teams, tracking KPIs for digital adoption and performance.
• Key projects: People Counting Technology implementation, LA Smart Building System Project, Security Centralized Monitoring, BMS System Implementation across LA.
• Innovation pilots: workstation utilization studies, Energy Management dashboards, LoRaWAN testing for IoT standardization.

Integrated Project Manager LA & Innovation Project Manager at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) (2022-05 – 2023-06)

• Managed the annual project and optimization portfolio for Chile, Colombia, Panama, and Mexico, and developed the 3-Year Capital Plan for these countries.
• Led the regional innovation project to achieve the Smart Building Program, supervising a small team of country-level project managers.
• Ran pilot programs to test Smart Building technologies and validate the final value of implementations; reported progress bi-weekly to Regional Client Leads.
• Delivered key projects including: Mexico Office Optimization ($1.8MM), Chile Office Optimization ($1.6MM), Panama Smart Building System Project ($700k), and BMS System Implementation across Chile, Peru, and Bogota ($400k).
• Conducted weekly project calls with clients, vendors, contractors, and consultants; maintained schedules and budgets in PDS technology tools.

Panama Project Manager at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) (2020-11 – 2022-05)

• Managed full project lifecycle — feasibility, conceptual and detail design, tender, construction, and completion — ensuring safety, time, quality, and cost targets were met.
• Led project teams through design, procurement, and construction phases, managing Master Schedules, Risk Registers, and HSE compliance.
• Delivered key projects including HVAC Replacement for IT Rooms ($300k), Space Optimization ($1.1M), and Smart Building System Project ($700k).

Workplace Operations Coordinator & Panama Site HSE Contact at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) (2019-11 – 2020-11)

P&G Account

• Managed the preventive and corrective maintenance program for the Panama Business Center, executing a $2MM annual maintenance budget within ±2% precision.
• Served as the direct contact for the Safety, Occupational Health, and Environment (HSE) Program; managed CMMS (Corrigo) for corrective and preventive work orders.
• Developed operational and energy-saving strategies and led HSE training and compliance programs for contractors and site users.

Engineering Services Manager at Copa Airlines (2018-08 – 2019-11)

• Managed preventive and predictive maintenance scheduling across all Copa Airlines Panama facilities, controlling a $1.5MM maintenance budget.
• Developed energy and operational efficiency strategies and KPIs; led CMMS implementation for the Operations department, including maintenance routines and asset management strategy.

Project Manager at Copa Airlines (2015-12 – 2018-08)

• Planned, budgeted, and managed infrastructure projects for commercial and operational facilities, overseeing bidding, contracting, and construction supervision.
• Delivered key projects including a Photovoltaic Generation System ($415k), Hangar Electrical Capacity Increase ($500k), and Warehouse Design & Construction ($750k).

Maintenance Team Lead at Metro de Panamá, S.A. (2015-08 – 2015-12)

• Led 25 multidisciplinary technicians responsible for corrective and preventive maintenance of Line 1 of the Panama Metro, ensuring 24/7 operational coverage.
• Implemented new inspection and supervision processes and managed maintenance work orders through SAP.

Project Engineer at Elektra Noreste, S.A. (ENSA) (2014-11 – 2015-07)

• Managed new electrical supply projects greater than 500 KVA, including design review and approval of medium/low voltage plans for shopping centers, offices, and urbanizations.
• Delivered key projects including Green Valley Development ($1.7MM) and Alta Plaza Mall infrastructure ($500k).

Electrical Network Expansion Planning Engineer at Elektra Noreste, S.A. (ENSA) (2013-08 – 2014-11)

• Planned and evaluated medium-voltage projects for electrical network expansion, including recloser automation and reliability studies.

Maintenance Engineer at Elektra Noreste, S.A. (ENSA) (2011-04 – 2013-08)

• Supervised preventive and corrective maintenance for medium- and low-voltage electrical infrastructure, managing 3 medium-voltage work crews.

Maintenance Planner at Elektra Noreste, S.A. (ENSA) (2010-07 – 2011-04)

• Scheduled and coordinated preventive maintenance for the distribution network with contractor teams to reduce corrective actions and service interruptions.

Master's Degree in Project Management, specialization in Evaluation of Investment Projects – Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (2014)

Bachelor's Degree in Electromechanical Engineering – Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (2010)