President and CEO

Friends of Waterfront Park; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 280,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Friends of Waterfront Park in Seattle seeks a visionary President & CEO to shape the institution at a pivotal moment for the waterfront. The role combines public space leadership with philanthropy, partnerships, and a long-term growth plan.

You will translate ambition into structure, programming priorities, and durable operating models, while earning trust with the Board, city partners, funders, and community.

Qualifications

• Executive accountability for strategy, people, and outcomes.
• Proven track record leading a major initiative into a new chapter.
• Ability to shape organizational direction rather than just execute plans.
• Experience influencing stakeholders across public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
• Strong financial judgment and ability to diversify resources.

Responsibilities

• Define and articulate the institution's next era and priorities.
• Strengthen civic influence and navigate complex public-private partnerships.
• Build sustainable financial models through philanthropy, grants, and earned revenue.
• Develop leadership capacity and executive teams.
• Engage a diverse set of stakeholders with credibility and vision.

Job description

Shape the next future of Seattle's waterfront.

A rare opportunity to lead at the intersection of public space, civic life, culture, community, philanthropy, partnership, and the future of a region.

Shape the next chapter/future of Seattle's waterfront.

The Opportunity

The park is here. The full possibility is still being defined.

Seattle's Waterfront Park represents a once-in-a-generation transformation of the city's shoreline. Where the Alaskan Way Viaduct once separated downtown from Elliott Bay, 20+ acres of renewed public space now reconnect people to the water, the city, and one another.

Friends of Waterfront Park helped make this transformation possible. The next chapter is not simply about maintaining momentum. It's about defining this waterfront's future as a civic platform and defining how Friends evolves as an institution to help make that future real.

The President and CEO Mandate

Define and Shape the Institution for the Next Era

Establish an ambitious and differentiated future for Friends. Clarify what the organization is uniquely positioned to do and translate that direction into organizational structure, programming priorities, partnership, and disciplined execution.

Strengthen Civic Influence and Complex Public Private Partnerships

Position Friends as an influential civic institution while navigating partnerships, including the City of Seattle, Seattle Center, the Port, cultural institutions, business, Tribal partners, and neighboring waterfront organizations.

Cement a Sustainable Financial Model

Ensure the economic foundation required for Friends to pursue a larger future. Strengthen philanthropy and donor stewardship while expanding public investment, corporate partnerships, grants, mission aligned earned revenue, and other creative sources of support.

Essential Leadership Attributes

There is no single resume for this opportunity. We're looking for a combination of imagination, executive judgment, civic leadership, and the ability to turn ambition into a durable institution.

Strategic Institution Architect

Translates vision and ambition into clear direction, priorities, organizational capacity, and execution. Knows how to move an institution into its next chapter while making thoughtful choices about what to advance, change, or leave behind.

Civic and Coalition Leader

Navigates complex relationships with political sophistication and credibility. Earns trust across differing interests, creates shared ownership, and advances Friends' influence while defining its distinct role.

Executive Leader and Communicator

Brings strong judgment, presence, resilience, and clarity. Can lead through ambiguity, make difficult decisions, work effectively with an engaged Board, and inspire confidence among staff, and the broader community.

Financial and Resource Savvy

Brings sound financial judgment and the ability to distinguish between philanthropy, public investment, partnerships, earned revenue, and other resources needed to support long term growth and sustainability.

People Leader and Organizational Capacity Builder

Develop strong teams and leadership capacity. Understands personal strengths and gaps, empowers leaders, creates accountability, an organizational framework, and cultivates inclusivity.

Experience and Perspective

Friends is intentionally open to leaders from different sectors, geography, and career paths. Direct experience running a park is not required, and a traditional social sector career is not the only path to this role.

Compelling candidates will demonstrate:

• Meaningful executive accountability for strategy, people, financial outcomes, organizational performance, and external relationships.
• A track record of taking an organization, platform, or major initiative into a fundamentally different chapter.
• Experience shaping an organization's direction as opposed to simply executing a strategy created by others.
• Success influencing sophisticated stakeholders across public, private, philanthropic, community, or civic settings.
• Strong financial judgment and experience attracting, deploying, or diversifying resources.
• Evidence of developing strong teams and leaders.
• Visible leadership in high-stakes settings where communication, credibility, and judgment matter.

Why This Role Is Different

• The next President and CEO will inherit an extraordinary public asset, a committed Board, a talented team, strong civic relationships, and a level of public visibility that few organizations of this size possess.
• This is an opportunity to turn that platform into something larger!

The Invitation

Tell us what you believe Friends of Waterfront Park could become. What would you challenge? What would you protect? What possibilities do you see that may not yet be obvious? Then show us how you would translate that vision into the institution, resources, relationships, and team needed to make that future real.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated compensation range for the President and Chief Executive Officer is $280,000 - $360,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Friends of Waterfront Park offers a comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined by the organization's compensation philosophy and the experience of the selected candidate.

Search Process

This search is being conducted by ND Leadership Partners, led by Managing Partner Chris Nguyen.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Friends of Waterfront Park is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.