Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

About East Coast Zoological Foundation
Established in 1986, the East Coast Zoological Society, d.b.a East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF), is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Melbourne, Florida. It includes Brevard Zoo, Restore Our Shores, and the future Aquarium and Conservation Center campuses that will work collaboratively to ensure our mission to share our joy of nature to help wildlife and people thrive is realized.

Since its inception, the community has been an integral part of the Zoo, with the Brevard Zoo recognized as the largest community-built Zoo worldwide, supported by nearly 16,000 volunteers who collectively contributed 84,808 hours of labor. Located 55 miles outside central Orlando, the Brevard Zoo has become the largest zoo in East Central Florida, caring for nearly 900 animals and welcoming more than 500,000 guests a year, with 44% of guests from outside the county.

With the help of its surrounding community, the Zoo has continually been recognized as a leading institution in top zoo lists and awards from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Brevard Zoo has continuously been voted as a top zoo in the nation by USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice awards.

Position Summary
East Coast Zoological Foundation seeks a transformative, mission-driven, strategic, engaged leader to become its first Chief Operating Officer. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO is responsible for the organization's business operations, facilities management, earned revenue, and safety, and in the future, will oversee animal and veterinary services as well. The COO will provide the forward-thinking operational strategy and leadership for achieving the organization's goals, supervise the multi-departmental directors, and oversee and manage business and operational protocols and standards.

This experienced leader will have the exciting opportunity to establish the operations leadership function in a new capacity. The ideal COO is a dynamic and trusted leader who can build and execute thoughtful and ambitious strategies while ensuring operational excellence across the enterprise and its multiple campuses.

The COO must be committed to animal well-being and environmental conservation, passionate about this mission, and dedicated to working with the diversity of staff, stakeholders, and communities we serve.

Essential Job Functions
The COO position requires demonstrable operational leadership success, an entrepreneurial mindset, and an ability to develop alliances and coordinate the shared interests of all aspects of the East Coast Zoological Foundation and its multiple campuses. It requires excellent strategic, communications, and problem-solving skills to meet the challenges of a growing cultural institution focused both on its existing Zoo campus in Melbourne, FL, and the development of an emerging world-class Aquarium campus located nearby at Port Canaveral.

The successful candidate must have comprehensive experience in and advanced knowledge of the following:

• Complex institutional and operational leadership
• Infrastructure, technology, and facilities management; multiple-campus management and oversight
• Organizational and project budget development, monitoring, and reporting
• Contract development, management, and negotiations
• Staffing and supporting Board committees
• Strategic planning design and execution
• Organizational development, change management, and culture building

Qualifications
Position Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field with ten (10) or more years of proven experience as Chief Operating Officer or in a comparable, relevant role.
• An advanced degree in Business Administration, Organizational Management, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Project Management Institute (PMI) certification is a plus.
• General management experience in a zoo, aquarium, or theme park is beneficial, not required.
• Well-developed executive presence.

Skills + Competencies:

• High emotional intelligence; able to understand the needs and concerns of colleagues.
• Ability to communicate with all levels of internal and external management/leadership.
• Professional and well-organized with strong time management skills; detailed, with the ability to manage multiple priorities/projects concurrently.
• Ability to handle high-pressure situations in a calm, productive manner.
• Well-developed decision-making, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Strictly confidential with the ability to handle and protect sensitive, personal, and confidential information/material.
• Ability to effectively manage employees.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Possess the following personal attributes: mission-driven, trustworthy, strategic, organized, results-driven, self-starter, inclusive, transparent, and collaborative.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft applications.
• Flexibility and resilience in the face of external threats to ECZF's development objectives.
• Curiosity and motivation to maintain an up-to-date understanding of operational, executive, and leadership industry best practices.
• Task- and outcome-oriented.

Location
This position is based in Brevard County, FL. The successful candidate must reside in or relocate to the Brevard County region.

Compensation + Benefits
The salary for this position is approximately $190,000-$210,000. New employees are eligible for company insurance benefits on the first day of the month following 60 days of continuous full-time employment.

Submission Instructions (read carefully)
Cooper Coleman is leading this search on behalf of ECZF. To apply, please visitthis link ( . Inquiries and nominations of qualified candidates can be sent to:

Kathy Kraushar
Vice President, Executive Search

Kindly use the position title as the subject line of your email. All inquiries will be held in confidence.