Job Description

The Minnesota Zoological Garden (Minnesota Zoo) was established by the State of Minnesota and opened to the public in 1978.  Located in the Twin Cities metropolitan suburb of Apple Valley, the Zoo is a world-class, family recreation, environmental education, and conservation destination that serves more than 1.2 million guests each year.

The mission of the Minnesota Zoo is to connect people, animals and the natural world to save wildlife.  This mission is realized through award-winning animal management and breeding programs, field research throughout the State, environmental education offerings, and international conservation efforts.

The Minnesota Zoo is home to more than 4,700 animals that reside in large, natural exhibits throughout curated trails that highlight entire eco-systems rather than groups of species.  The Zoo’s 485-acre campus features miles of outdoor trails and the largest indoor interconnected zoo exhibits in the country.  Beyond its extensive animal exhibits, guests also enjoy the Wings Financial World of Birds Show, Conservation Carousel, Hanifl Family Wild Woods (a nature-based play area), IMAX movies, and more.

The Zoo has more than 40,000 annual member households and provides more than 120,000 free admission passes to economically disadvantaged families throughout the State each year.  More than 70% of the Zoo’s $26 million annual operating budget comes from earned and contributed income.

As an agency of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Legislature appropriates $8.25 million toward the Zoo’s operations.  With $146 million in annual economic impact, the Zoo employs more than 270 FTEs and is further sustained by over 1,100 volunteers who contribute more than 113,000 service hours annually.

The Minnesota Zoo is the State’s largest environmental educator with 484,000 participants in 2014, including nearly 90,000 school program participants.  More than 11,000 students visited the Zoo at no charge thanks to the Zoo Safari program.  In the past year, the Zoo’s Zoomobile traveled to 55 Minnesota counties, presenting live animal programs to more than 53,000 people.  Approximately 150,000 Zoo guests shared “close encounters” with Zoo animals through programming supported by funding from the “Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment,” an additional appropriation from the State of Minnesota.

The Zoo supports international conservation efforts, conducts field research in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and University of Minnesota, and coordinates international conservation and breeding programs for numerous species.

The Zoo’s signature international conservation efforts include efforts to protect and save Amur tigers, black rhinos, dholes (Asian wild dogs), Przewalski’s horse (Asian wild horses), Hawaiian monk seals, and hyacinth macaws.  The Zoo’s Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant program encourages staff participation in international conservation programs and has awarded more than 126 grants in 47 countries since 2002.

In Minnesota, the Zoo takes a leadership role on many local conservation efforts, including multifaceted anti-extinction work to save endangered prairie butterflies; field work and research to understand and halt the precipitous moose population decline; restoring federally-endangered fresh water mussels; and cultivating herds of pure-bred American Plains bison.

The Minnesota Zoo works with zoos around the world to maintain healthy, genetically-stable and diverse, self-sustaining populations of threatened and endangered species in human care.  The Zoo participates in more than 60 Species Survival Plans (SSPs) in an ongoing effort to manage and breed animals that face extinction in the wild.

The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and is an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Learn more about the Minnesota Zoo—its mission, leadership, and history by visiting www.mnzoo.org/us

The Director/President has overall responsibility for the Minnesota Zoo, providing leadership for the planning, development, implementation, assessment, and improvement of biological programs, conservation, education, finance, strategic and annual planning, guest relations, legislative relations, campus planning and management, and other key areas.

The Director/President also serves as President of the Minnesota Zoo Foundation, a 501(c)3 that raises contributed income on behalf of the Zoo.  The Foundation President serves as the principal development officer for the Minnesota Zoo.

The Director/President of the Minnesota Zoo reports to the Minnesota Zoological Board of Directors, and specifically the Chairman of the Board of Directors.  As part of the Director/President responsibilities, she/he will formally and informally present reports, updates and results to the Board on a periodic basis, which will include regular board meetings and specific committee meetings of the Board including: Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Governance Committee, and Public Affairs Committee.  Periodic audit of operations and procedures by executive review and legislative representatives is required.

Within the limits of approved budgets or income developed, policy supervision by the Legislature and Board, and continuing executive and legislative oversight, the incumbent is free to direct all staff operations, including a work force of 270 employees and 1,100 volunteers.

In addition to managing the day-to-day activities of the organization; the Director/President is accountable for strategic and operational components; oversees the implementation and enforcement of policies and procedures; and effectively communicates, interacts and maintains positive and ongoing professional relationships with constituents locally, nationally and internationally.

Reports to:                               Chair, MN Zoological Board

Team:                                      VP for Biological Programs
VP for Conservation
VP for External Relations
VP for Finance & Administration
VP for Campus Planning & Management
Minnesota Zoo Foundation Executive Director

Other key relationships:            Minnesota residents/Zoo Guests
Zoo Board of Trustees
Minnesota Zoo Foundation Board
Minnesota State Legislature
State of Minnesota Executive Branch
Donor Community
American Association of Zoos & Aquariums
World Association of Zoos & Aquariums

External Leadership

  • Serves as the passionate advocate, compelling spokesperson, and community and statewide leader for the purpose of sharing the Zoo’s mission to save wildlife and increasing the Zoo’s financial resources.
  • Raises the profile of the Minnesota Zoo as a locally and nationally recognized conservation-based zoo leader by conveying a clear and compelling case to a wide variety of constituents.
  • Is actively involved in the community and is a visible and prominent community member.
  • Acts as the principal lead for government relations.  Develops and nurtures meaningful relationships with the Governor and his staff, State Legislators and their staff, and government agencies.  Secures increased State funding to meet the Zoo’s operating and capital needs.  Builds long-term support for the Zoo with all stakeholders.
  • Creates a zoo-wide culture of philanthropy and serves as the principal development officer for the Zoo.  Develops and nurtures meaningful relationships with major individual and corporate prospects, philanthropic foundations and donors.  Raises increased contributed income from an established portfolio.  Secures transformational gifts for a future capital campaign.  Effectively leads the MN Zoo Foundation in its efforts to support and grow philanthropic giving to the Zoo.
  • Monitors challenges and opportunities in the zoological field, and consolidates the Zoo’s reputation in the national and international zoological communities.

Strategic Planning

  • Develops and recommends realistic short and long-term business plans, strategies and tactics in support of the Zoo’s mission for Board approval and implementation when approved.
  • Conducts long-range planning for the Minnesota Zoo together with the Zoo Board and Zoo Foundation Board.  Within the context of plans and strategic concepts approved by the Board, prepares and implements effective entrepreneurial ventures, using good judgment and prudent risk-taking.
  • Approves the planning and development of present and future facility designs of new building projects to be accomplished at the Zoo as part of the long-range capital development plan.
  • Appraises future technical and financial feasibility of plans based on financial principles and clear success measures.

Conservation and Exhibits

  • Assumes leadership in the creation of new exhibits based on global need for species conservation as well as public appeal.
  • Keeps up-to-date on zoological issues and demonstrates technical competence.
  • Develops action plans for projects, allocates resources, and monitors progress to complete projects.
  • Assesses organizational needs, assigns priorities and makes recommendations to the Board.
  • Forms coalitions with other zoos and conservation/environmental groups to protect wildlife and habitats.
  • Maintains working relationships with national and international colleagues.

Fiscal Management

  • Develops and executes a viable financial plan for the Zoo.
  • Works with the Board’s Finance Committee, prepares the Minnesota Zoo’s biennial budget and makes presentations and justifications to the Zoo Board and State Legislature as well as to donor communities.
  • Directs Zoo Foundation staff and works with the Zoo Foundation Board to prepare annual financial plans in coordination with Zoo budget planning.
  • Establishes and meets realistic budget goals and takes actions, when necessary, to control costs and/or increase revenue.

Operations and Program Management

  • Directs the day-to-day operations and activities of the Zoo, ensuring that each division contributes effectively to the Zoo’s overall goals.
  • Understands and communicates issues relevant to the zoological and conservation professions.
  • Commits to quality in programs and services, identifying and responding to customer needs and continuously improves all work efforts, processes and outcomes.
  • Sets broad goals and allows team managers to develop their own objectives to support the broad goals.

Team Leadership

  • Continues to build, motivate and retain an outstanding professional staff.
  • Develops and maintains positive interpersonal relationships with staff and volunteers.
  • Clearly assigns responsibilities and tasks to others while establishing effective controls, ensuring employees have the necessary resources and authority.
  • Provides performance feedback and facilitates professional growth of senior management staff.
  • Provides opportunities for professional development and helps others achieve career advancement.
  • Fosters teamwork within the Zoo and establishes positive working relationships with other agencies, professional organizations, communities and constituencies.
  • Serves as a role model for Minnesota Zoo staff, acting with integrity and meeting or exceeding ethical standards of the zoological profession, public agency and non-profit organizational best practices.
  • Assures that the health and safety rules and regulations are provided to all staff and that a safe work environment is provided.
  • Directs Affirmative Action initiatives to ensure that they are a priority in the workplace, so that the Zoo will maintain compliance and be sensitive to workplace diversity.

Board Relations

  • Keeps the Board informed of activities, financial status, community issues and challenges.
  • Provides staff and research services and policy action recommendations to the Zoo Board.
  • Provides reports for the Zoo Board regarding financial and operational activities at the Zoo.
  • Serves as the representative of the Board and of the Zoo to the general public, the governmental entities with whom the Zoo is involved, the media, and affiliated support groups so that the Zoo establishes good relationships with its wide community and secures the benefit of understanding and support for its mission and goals.
  • Inspire board engagement and participation by both the Zoo Board of Trustees and the MN Zoo Foundation Board.

As a leader of the Minnesota Zoo, the Director/President is expected to demonstrate the following leadership competencies:

Strategizes: Sees the business holistically rather than in silos; prioritizes the organization’s interests above individual interests; understands and accounts for long-term implications in planning and decision-making.

Shows Initiative:  Proactive and quick to take the lead in addressing critical issues; works with a sense of urgency to complete important tasks and solve problems; encourages others to drive issues to closure quickly and efficiently.

Acts with Courage: Takes well-reasoned risks to address important issues; demonstrates candor in expressing thoughts and ideas; deals with difficult situations directly and openly despite personal discomfort.

Engages Others: Inspires others to pursue challenging goals; builds commitment to the organization; leverages others’ unique motivations and interests to connect them with broader goals and strategies.  Inspires connection to the organization by both internal and external stakeholders.

Collaborates:  Relates well with people at all levels; builds support and trust among peers and key stakeholders; brings together different perspectives to create win-win solutions; shares credit appropriately and recognizes others’ accomplishments.

Communicates Effectively:  Translates broad strategies into specific objectives and action plans; creates or modifies structures, processes and systems to support strategic priorities; integrates efforts across functions and locations; obtains and allocates needed resources; assigns clear authority and accountability; establishes aggressive, yet realistic, time frames; persists in the face of adversity; sets high standards for performance.  Provides strong, communicative leadership to internal and external audiences – is the Voice of the Zoo.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, accomplished, and dynamic leader with a demonstrated record of success in developing, communicating and implementing a compelling strategic vision for a mission-based organization.  S/he will be a passionate advocate for the protection of wild animals and have an unwavering and authentic commitment to zoos and the role zoos play in conservation.  The candidate must bring a high level of energy, passion, political savvy, drive, and an engaging personality in order to achieve ambitious zoo goals.

The ideal candidate will have a track record of achievement, or demonstrated capabilities, in government relations and fund raising, and s/he will have secured transformational financial support and/or philanthropic gifts.  Other key attributes for this candidate include intellectual curiosity, excellent oral and written communications skills, and a results-oriented focus.

The ideal candidate will bring decisive management skills; be able to make difficult decisions and foster a collaborative environment that invites multiple perspectives.  S/he will have demonstrated success in attracting and retaining highly qualified staff and be able to build a strong and effective leadership team.  The ideal candidate will bring a track record of successful board relationships.  S/he will be expected to work effectively with the Boards of Trustees of the Zoo and Foundation and understand and promote the work of Trustees in achieving the goals of the Zoo.

Ideally, this individual will have and/or be able to develop a strong working knowledge of key elements of the zoo/aquarium profession.  These include: conservation biology, animal management, exhibit design, regulatory and accreditation requirements and standards, animal welfare and ethics, revenue generation, business analytics, informal education, STEM education, marketing, media relations, and national/international cooperative animal information and management systems.

The ideal candidate must be able to review, analyze and make immediate decisions in a unique and complex managerial and technical setting.  Problems to be solved affect the entire operation of a specialized zoological garden and aquarium.  Managerial problem solving covers a uniquely broad range of professional, technical, skilled and semi?skilled disciplines.

The ability to work cooperatively and productively with a wide variety of stakeholders is critical and includes legislators; State, Federal and local executive officials; Board Trustees; donors and sponsors; business partners; the media; Zoo members and visitors; and other zoological professionals.

Job Requirements

A bachelor’s is required, and related Masters or MBA preferred.  The highest ethical standards are assumed.

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Contact Person: Jenna Sandoe Phone: 612-767-6445
Email Address: Jsandoe@lymandoran.com