Posted July 28, 2014.

The Managing Director serves in a strategic leadership role, working with the Executive Director, Julie Packard and with all senior management in the execution of the Aquarium’s mission. The Managing Director leads a dynamic team of senior executives from diverse fields to create an environment of collaboration and innovation, ensuring the Aquarium delivers a superlative visitor experience while growing it conservation impact.

The Managing Director has oversight of both core operating and program related expenditures. Core operations include the cost of operating the Aquarium and providing an excellent visitor experience and are funded by earned revenues. These costs consist of expenses for husbandry, exhibits, guest experience, facilities operations, human resources, marketing and membership, and finance. Program expenses represent all other current spending and include education, conservation research, policy, and Seafood Watch and visitor programs. The Aquarium has established a long standing funding philosophy to assure that earned revenues cover core Aquarium operations each year. Overall, the 2014 budget calls for $85.5 million in total spending, consisting of $63.4 million in expenses and $22 million in capital expenditures.

In 2014 the Aquarium purchased a 23,000 square foot building on Cannery Row to build a new Education Center. The project cost to develop the Education Center is approximately $25 million. The new Education Center will expand programs for teachers and youth, provide more facilitated programs for school groups that visit the Aquarium, and integrate technology to reinforce lessons learned at the Aquarium. The Aquarium has also embarked on a $150 million Campaign which will run through 2018. The Campaign is designed to fund exhibit and program initiatives outlined in the Aquarium’s strategic plan. It will also raise funds toward a growing endowment.

The Aquarium’s marketing plans call for increasing the highly successful strategy for targeting high propensity visitors living beyond the traditional geographic base. Together with a modest adjustment in ticket prices, the Aquarium’s 2014 admission revenue is expected to be $34.2 million, which is estimated to be 6.5% higher than last year’s ticket revenue (without a price adjustment). The Aquarium saw total attendance of approximately 1.9 million visitors in 2013.

The Managing Director is responsible for ensuring that the organization channels the vast reservoir of skills and abilities represented by its 500 employees and 1200 volunteers into strategically achieving the Aquarium’s mission, goals, and objectives.

The broad goals and responsibilities for the Managing Director are as follows:

Foster a highly collaborative strategic partnership with Julie Packard as Founder and Executive Director of Aquarium.
Create a high integrity and motivating working environment that inspires the best creativity and performance from all team members.
Lead organization planning and periodic updates of strategy and priorities to enable the Aquarium to advance its mission.
Lead development and execution of annual work plans and budgets and effective mechanisms for reporting and accountability.
Facilitate integration across workgroups Aquarium-wide to take advantage of talent across the institution and drive greater results.
Lead, coach and develop the Aquarium’s senior management staff members and encourage an environment of continuous learning and capacity growth.
Interface with the Board and its Board committees, providing input on agendas and delivering written and verbal reports.
Professional Qualifications and Personal Attributes

The Managing Director should possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

A commitment to Aquarium’s mission and a demonstrated passion for marine conservation, wildlife and habitat conservation.
A capacity to engage, motivate and mobilize people, particularly leaders, volunteers, supporters in joint and shared enterprises.
Solid financial, business leadership of a complex enterprise which relies upon multiple sources of revenue – contributed, earned, investments, etc.
Successful record of experience in developing and managing a complex budget, oversight of staff and board relations.
A management style that is goal oriented, but flexible; that respects the capabilities and independence of volunteers and staff alike, but provides them with a clear sense of direction.
Strong work ethic.
Ability to think strategically, tactically and creatively.
Visionary, articulate, and diplomatic.
Trustworthy and possessing the highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards.
High energy level and possessing a keen sense of humor.
Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required and an advanced degree appreciated.
Compensation

Compensation for the Managing Director includes a competitive base salary, along with a generous benefit package including health care insurance and retirement benefits.

Interested candidates should email a cover letter explaining how their skills and background fit this position and a resume to: Daniel Sherman, President, Explore Company at resumes@explorecompany.com. Refer to MBA/MD in the subject line. No phone inquiries please.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is committed to diversity and invites individuals who bring a diversity of culture, experience and ideas to apply.

All correspondence will remain confidential.

Job Requirements
The Managing Director is responsible for ensuring that the organization channels the vast reservoir of skills and abilities represented by its 500 employees and 1200 volunteers into strategically achieving the Aquarium’s mission, goals, and objectives.

The broad goals and responsibilities for the Managing Director are as follows:

Foster a highly collaborative strategic partnership with Julie Packard as Founder and Executive Director of Aquarium.
Create a high integrity and motivating working environment that inspires the best creativity and performance from all team members.
Lead organization planning and periodic updates of strategy and priorities to enable the Aquarium to advance its mission.
Lead development and execution of annual work plans and budgets and effective mechanisms for reporting and accountability.
Facilitate integration across workgroups Aquarium-wide to take advantage of talent across the institution and drive greater results.
Lead, coach and develop the Aquarium’s senior management staff members and encourage an environment of continuous learning and capacity growth.
Interface with the Board and its Board committees, providing input on agendas and delivering written and verbal reports.
Professional Qualifications and Personal Attributes

The Managing Director should possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

A commitment to Aquarium’s mission and a demonstrated passion for marine conservation, wildlife and habitat conservation.
A capacity to engage, motivate and mobilize people, particularly leaders, volunteers, supporters in joint and shared enterprises.
Solid financial, business leadership of a complex enterprise which relies upon multiple sources of revenue – contributed, earned, investments, etc.
Successful record of experience in developing and managing a complex budget, oversight of staff and board relations.
A management style that is goal oriented, but flexible; that respects the capabilities and independence of volunteers and staff alike, but provides them with a clear sense of direction.
Strong work ethic.
Ability to think strategically, tactically and creatively.
Visionary, articulate, and diplomatic.
Trustworthy and possessing the highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards.
High energy level and possessing a keen sense of humor.
Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required and an advanced degree appreciated.
APPLY FOR THIS JOB
Contact Person: Daniel Sherman
Email Address: resumes@exporecompany.com