President and CEO – Full Time

National Tropical Botanical Garden; Kalaheo (HI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) seeks an inspiring and visionary President & CEO to guide a premier tropical plant conservation organization. Headquartered on Kauaʻi, NTBG operates five gardens, preserves, and research centers across Hawaiʻi and Florida, advancing conservation, science, education, and cultural stewardship.

The next President & CEO will work with the Board to broaden NTBG’s reach, strengthen financial sustainability, and elevate its global presence.

Qualifications

• Proven success leading complex nonprofit or conservation organizations.
• Strong track record in fundraising and strategic planning.
• Ability to engage with diverse Hawaiian communities and cultures.
• Experience building partnerships with boards and donors.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Board of Directors to advance NTBG’s mission and impact.
• Lead financial sustainability efforts and diversify revenue streams.
• Elevate NTBG’s global visibility and external profile.
• Build meaningful relationships across Hawaiʻi, the mainland U.S. and international conservation communities.
• Inspire and unify ~130 staff while fostering collaboration and innovation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Fundraising expertise

Stakeholder relations

Nonprofit leadership

Cultural sensitivity

Job description

The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) seeks an inspiring and visionary President & CEO to lead one of the world’s most significant tropical plant conservation organizations into its next era of impact, growth, and global leadership. NTBG is a congressionally chartered, privately funded nonprofit dedicated to restoring flourishing relationships between plants, people, and places through conservation, science, education, and cultural stewardship.

Headquartered on the island of Kauaʻi, NTBG encompasses an extraordinary network of five gardens, preserves, and research centers across Hawaiʻi and Florida. Home to world-renowned living collections, the largest assemblages of native Hawaiian plants and breadfruit cultivars in existence, and internationally respected scientific and conservation programs, NTBG stands at the forefront of protecting tropical biodiversity while honoring the cultural traditions and communities connected to these landscapes.

The next President & CEO will partner closely with the Board of Directors to advance NTBG’s mission, strengthen its financial sustainability, elevate its global visibility, and build meaningful relationships across Hawaiʻi, the continental United States, and the international conservation community. This leader will inspire and unify approximately 130 staff, champion innovation and collaboration, expand philanthropic support, and serve as a passionate ambassador for the organization and its five remarkable gardens.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, culturally respectful, and mission-driven executive with demonstrated success in organizational leadership, fundraising, strategic planning, team development, and external relationship building. Experience leading a complex nonprofit, conservation, cultural, educational, museum, botanical garden, or similarly mission-driven institution is preferred. A deep appreciation for Hawaiian culture, community engagement, and conservation is essential.

NTBG is an equal opportunity, equal access employer. A copy of NTBG’s Drug Free Workplace Policy can be found here .