Seattle Aquarium – COO

About the Seattle Aquarium

Our lives depend on the ocean, the life support system for our
blue planet. Industrial pollution, destructive overfishing, oil
spills, noise, nearshore habitat loss, and warming and acidifying
waters caused by climate change are choking the ocean and
endangering all life on Earth—including ours. The ocean’s future is
in our hands. At the Seattle Aquarium, our mission is
Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine
Environment. At this defining moment for our ocean
and our planet, this mission matters more than ever. The Seattle
Aquarium has a vision to make ocean conservation and restoration a
global imperative, a community value, and a deeply personal
priority for all—starting here on Seattle’s waterfront.

The Seattle Aquarium is a leading marine conservation
organization with a global reputation and is the ninth-largest
aquarium, by attendance, in the United States. We work among global
leaders to advance animal well-being, marine and ecosystem science,
public policy, field conservation and restoration, and education
that benefits our one ocean. We are windows to the life of the
ocean, intentionally inspiring awe, empathy, and conservation
action. We present extraordinary habitats, marine life, and
educational programs that engage and delight all members of our
local and global communities. Our work is integral to a healthy
future for marine life, people, and the planet. Annual attendance
currently averages around 800,000 guests per year, and with the
Aquarium’s $160 million expansion at the center of Seattle’s
revitalized waterfront, attendance should grow by as much as 50%
when the expanded Aquarium opens in the summer of 2024. The
Aquarium employs more than 250 full- and part-time employees and
supports over 700 volunteers.

The Aquarium is driven by the SALISH Values:

Sustainable

Adopting and promoting, internally and externally, practices
that improve ocean health

Awe-inspiring

Creating captivating experiences for all audiences

Learning & Improving

Fostering, evaluating, and applying knowledge and
discovery

Inclusive Community

Recognizing that diversity is critical to achieve our
mission

Scientific Integrity

Ensuring our credibility with evidence-based
practices

Honoring Place

Using our location and history as a lens for larger
understanding

As a part of our values, the Aquarium is committed to creating a
diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that reflects our
community. We recently adopted a new DEI strategic
plan and Regenerative
Plan to guide these efforts.

The COO Position

Working alongside the President & CEO and CCO (Chief
Conservation Officer), the COO will oversee all operational aspects
of the Aquarium, including facilities, finance, marketing, and
technology, in addition to participating in overall strategy
setting for the organization.

This work is in service of our mission and with a strong
foundation in our SALISH values and a commitment to the inclusive
operation of the Seattle Aquarium. The COO will mentor a team of
four, including the Vice President of Finance, the Vice President
of Marketing and Communications, the Vice President of Facilities,
and the Senior Director of Technology. The COO works closely with
the Board of Directors and executive team to help achieve the
Seattle Aquarium’s strategic initiatives and further our urgent
mission.

The Seattle Aquarium is well positioned to develop and expand
successful restorative conservation programs with a variety of
partners locally and across the nation. We are evolving the
conservation role of a modern aquarium as we host and interact with
more than one million people every year around ocean conservation
and have a dedicated team of engagement professionals. The
strategic vision and leadership of the COO will be required to
bring this model of an integrated conservation organization to
fruition, and while no two days will look alike, we anticipate the
COO will devote their time and attention to the following key
priorities:

Strategic Planning

• Develop and implement strategic plans in collaboration with the
  executive team while modeling and advancing cross-functional
  integration and collaborative ways of working.
• Provide leadership and input to implement strategic plans,
  utilizing a system for tracking and reporting on the progress of
  the plan aligned with the diverse needs of the aquarium staff and
  programs.
• Lead ongoing business review and communication of initiatives,
  report status on implementation progress, and reduce barriers for
  operational success and accountability.
• Model through daily work how to strategize and lead in the
  advancement and integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and
  regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H.
  Values.

Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the aquarium with the COO
  Team, ensuring a world-class guest experience and staff
  wellbeing.
• Implement and advance sustainable/regenerative and equity
  centered practices within the Aquarium and advocate for
  regenerative and equity centered marine conservation practices
  beyond our walls.
• Prioritize and integrate collaborative relationships and
  initiatives with Tribes, Indigenous peoples, and marginalized
  communities with Aquarium operations and programs.

Financial Management

• Develop, help grow, and manage the overall budget as well as
  the budgets of the departments the COO oversees. Helps ensure the
  Seattle Aquarium values are represented in the various budgets such
  as the regenerative plan and DEI strategic plan.
• Identify revenue-generating opportunities and manage expenses
  in close collaboration with the VP of Finance to ensure the
  Aquarium meets or exceeds its financial objectives.

Team Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of
  collaboration and communication, staff wellbeing, and accountable
  management in the team environment.
• Must be an emotionally intelligent leader and manager with
  proven successful experience supervising and mentoring senior staff
  with an investment in their professional development.
• Represent the organization at local, regional, Tribal, and
  international conferences and events, with the press and media, and
  serve on various boards, coalitions, and committees.
• Foster opportunities for learning mindsets and community
  engagements.
• Foster openness to new, creative, intercultural, and
  collaborative ideas.
• Ensure direct reports, operations, and budgets reflect our
  commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and are based on the
  Aquarium’s SALISH values.
• Build connections among staff and actively seek to understand
  the varied lived experiences of members of the Seattle Aquarium
  community.

What you bring

The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse,
equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in
building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds,
identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life
experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned
communities of color, trans, and gender non-conforming people,
immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized
candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t
feel that they meet all the qualifications listed even if they are
qualified. If you meet some of the key requirements below, and you
are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to
apply and look forward to learning more about you soon.

Candidates will be evaluated on the full range of their lived
and learned experience and core competencies, including:

• Passion for the Aquarium’s mission.
• Proven experience in a leadership role within a similar
  organization, ideally in a nonprofit, aquarium, or zoo, with a
  successful track record of strategic planning and implementation
  centered in generational and multicultural perspectives.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced
  environment, have excellent judgement and decision-making skills,
  and produce desired results.
• Strong internal and external communication and interpersonal
  skills, including with C-level teams and board members.
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting and
  revenue generation.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and capitalize on business
  opportunities.
• Exceptional leadership, team building, and motivation skills
  with an ability to build and maintain strong, positive, respectful
  relationships across a diverse and interdisciplinary team.
• Excellent verbal, writing, and editing skills. Preference for
  Multilingual or English speakers with comfort and practice
  communicating across cultural and language barriers.
• Proven ability to think creatively and implement innovative
  solutions.
• A passion for finding new ways to engage guests and promote
  conservation awareness.
• Understanding of marine conservation issues, sustainability,
  and regenerative practices and experience working with conservation
  organizations or initiatives a plus.

How to apply:

This role will remain open until filled. Candidate materials are
reviewed on an on-going basis and initial interviews will begin by
early February. The salary range is set at $175,000 –
$205,000 per year plus a comprehensive benefits package,
including medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health
reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending
accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement
fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a
Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership, and generous paid time
off. To be considered, please submit a resume and cover letter
addressed to Robert Davidson, President & CEO, as soon as
possible at: https://valtasgroup.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0v1a9/.
You may direct questions or make referrals to Chris Cannon at the Valtas
Group.

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