Executive Director

The Zoo Society; Tacoma (WA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Holidays

Sick leave

Health reimbursement

Disability insurance

Retirement match

Job summary

The Zoo Society in Tacoma, WA is seeking an experienced Executive Director to lead the nonprofit into its next phase of growth. Reporting to the Board, the ED will oversee fundraising, donor development, community engagement, strategy, and staff leadership while partnering with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Parks Tacoma.

The role requires a proven fundraising track record, strong relationship skills, financial stewardship, and a collaborative leadership style, with a commitment to animal

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior nonprofit leadership experience.
• Proven fundraising track record, including major gifts.
• Ability to build and manage complex partnerships with boards and donors.
• Strong external presence, public speaking, and donor engagement.
• Financial acumen, budgeting, and endowment management.
• Collaborative leader who develops staff and sustains a flexible culture.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising and donor development to advance priorities.
• Serve as ambassador, deepen community engagement and partnerships.
• Provide strategic leadership, staff direction, and financial stewardship.
• Partner with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Parks Tacoma, and the Board.
• Oversee program implementation and organizational growth.

Skills

Senior nonprofit leadership

Fundraising expertise

Board liaison

Public speaking

Financial acumen

Staff management

Mission-driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Overview

The Zoo Society is a nonprofit organization and the philanthropic partner of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. While Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is operated by Parks Tacoma, the Zoo Society is a separate nonprofit organization that raises funds and generates community support to advance the Zoo’s mission. The Zoo Society supports animal care and welfare, conservation initiatives, education and youth programs, community access, and capital improvements.

Mission and Values

The Zoo Society envisions a community where people of all ages and backgrounds are connected to wildlife and the botanical world, inspired by conservation, and invested in a thriving zoo for generations to come. As the partner of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Zoo Society engages the community to secure the resources needed to advance animal care, access, education, and conservation.

About the Position

The Zoo Society is seeking an experienced, relationship-driven Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide overall leadership, including fundraising and donor development, community engagement, organizational strategy, staff leadership, financial stewardship, and partnership with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Parks Tacoma. For the right leader, this is an opportunity to not simply to manage an established organization, but to help define the Zoo Society’s next era of philanthropy, community engagement and impact.

Serving as a visible ambassador and active fundraiser, the Executive Director will strengthen relationships with donors, community leaders, businesses, and civic partners while building a more intentional fundraising and major gifts program. The leader will also navigate the Zoo Society’s unique public-private environment, building trust and alignment across partners while maintaining momentum around zoo priorities.

The Executive Director will lead a small, committed team and partner closely with the Board, preserving the Zoo Society’s collaborative and flexible culture while strengthening priorities, accountability, communication, and capacity for future growth.

Key Priorities for the First 12–18 Months

The new Executive Director should begin by listening and learning, developing a strong understanding of the Society and its relationships with the Zoo, Board, community, donor base, staff and the broader environment in which it operates. Building upon that foundation, the Executive Director will focus on the following priorities:

• Strengthen Zoo and Key Partner Relationships: Build strong, trusted relationships with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Parks Tacoma, and other key government and public-sector partners. The Executive Director will need to understand the roles, priorities, and decision-making processes of these different partners and effectively navigate a complex operating environment. Particular attention should be given to strengthening communication and alignment with Zoo leadership around priorities, projects, timelines, and philanthropic opportunities. The incoming executive should also build strong partnerships with the Board, keeping members engaged, informed, and aligned around priorities and direction.
• Deepen Community Connections and Outreach: Increase The Zoo Society’s visibility throughout Tacoma and the surrounding community by building relationships with civic organizations, foundations, businesses, community leaders, and prospective supporters. The Executive Director should serve as an active ambassador for the organization, expand its network, and help the community better understand the Society’s role and impact in supporting the Zoo.
• Strengthen Fundraising and Major Gift Development: Develop and begin implementing a more intentional fundraising strategy focused on growing individual and major giving, strengthening donor cultivation and stewardship, expanding the donor pipeline, and preparing the Society for potential future capital fundraising. The Executive Director will take an active, visible role in building relationships with current and prospective donors and work closely with staff and the Board to establish clear fundraising priorities, goals, and responsibilities.
• Strengthen Organizational Capacity: Review the Zoo Society’s current staffing structure, roles, responsibilities, workload, systems, and workspace to determine what additional capacity is needed to support the organization’s future direction. The Executive Director will work collaboratively with staff to clarify roles and ensure resources are appropriately aligned, and identify where additional expertise or staffing may be needed as fundraising and community engagement efforts expand.

Essential Qualifications, Skills, & Experience

The Zoo Society is seeking an experienced, mission-driven leader with proven fundraising expertise, relationship building skills, strategic leadership, and the ability to navigate complex partnerships. The ideal candidate will have the following experience, skills, and attributes:

• Senior nonprofit leadership experience (minimum 5 years) in a similar sized organization, including experience partnering with and reporting to a board of directors
• Significant fundraising experience, including individual donors, major gifts, and capital campaigns
• Ability to build, manage, and maintain complex relationships and the ability to strengthen relationships with key partners, engage community leaders, and partner effectively with the board
• Strong external presence and communication skills, including public speaking, storytelling, donor engagement, and the ability to raise awareness of The Zoo Society in the local community
• Financial and business acumen, including budgeting, endowment management, responsible stewardship of assets, and ability to connect financial decisions to organizational strategy
• Collaborative and empowering people leader, including experience managing staff and recognizing strengths while preserving a positive and flexible work culture
• Commitment to the mission, including animal welfare, conservation, education, children, access, and community impact
• Knowledge of South Sound and community relationships would be preferred, but candidates from outside the region should demonstrate the ability and desire to quickly become engaged in the community
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree preferred (public administration, nonprofit management, business administration, or related field)

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation: $150,000-$175,000, with the potential for additional performance-based incentive compensation.

Benefits include:

• Paid time off based on years of service
• 10 paid holidays and 3 floating personal days annually
• Paid sick leave
• Qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement towards eligible healthcare expenses
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Retirement plan with an employer match

The position is hybrid and based in Tacoma, Washington. The Executive Director will be expected to maintain a meaningful in-person presence to lead staff, engage donors and community partners, and build strong relationships with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Board, and other key stakeholders.

The position is open until filled.

Inclusiveness:

The Zoo Society is an equal-opportunity employer and seeks to recruit people of diverse backgrounds and support the retention and advancement of diverse persons within the organization. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer corps with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission.

The Zoo Society is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that includes people of diverse backgrounds and fully utilizes their talents to achieve its mission. We are committed to fostering and supporting a workplace culture inclusive of people regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, age, physical abilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other non-merit fact, so that all employees feel included, equal, valued and supported.