#132538 Chief Operating Officer - Birch Aquarium

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Birch Aquarium at Scripps (BAS) serves as the outreach center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego and provides the public a lens into cutting edge ocean, atmospheric and earth sciences. Birch Aquarium at Scripps mission is to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet. BASs growing portfolio of services and outreach programs currently serve over 565,000 public visitors and 43,000 K-12 students. BAS is a recognized industry leader in animal care and conservation and in innovation in science communications. Birch Aquarium is distinguished from other public aquariums by its deep association with a world-class ocean research and teaching institution and its commitment to pre-college pipeline development. Birch Aquarium is at an exciting inflection point in deepening its work in community engagement, expanding its business model and advancing its Capital Improvements campaign. BAS just launched the first of five major capital improvements and will open the new Living Seas Gallery in summer of 2025. BAS is also in the early planning stages for participating in a new downtown Blue Campus (aquarium, learning center, and blue tech innovation center) as part of the Seaport Village renovation project.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) position is responsible for developing and executing operating plans to support delivery on mission and strategic direction for Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The COO is responsible for oversight of organizational strategy, business development and operational execution. The COO reports directly to the Aquariums Executive Director and is an integral member of the BAS senior leadership team. The COO manages all operational aspects of BAS including general administration, finance, human resources, IT systems, facilities maintenance, marketing, membership, visitor services (admissions, group sales, food service, first aid, parking), guest experience, special events, and retail.

The COO provides strategic leadership by formulating a clear institutional plan that is thoughtfully orchestrated, through integrated departmental and individual plans, to achieve coordinated organizational outcomes. The COO leads annual and long-term strategic and budget planning and oversees and monitors an overall annual budget of approximately $14M and oversees a staff over 175 (including 75 students). The COO embodies an entrepreneurial spirit and drives new business initiatives that contribute to BASs long-term fiscal sustainability.

Birch Aquarium is a fast-moving work environment requiring careful management of staff, resources and overlapping initiatives. The COO is responsible for developing and maintaining an effective team-oriented, inclusive and equitable work environment through artful communications, empathetic listening, and communal problem solving. The COO is responsive to and responsible for effective change management on multiple scales.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum five (5) years experience with demonstrated success managing the operation of a multi-million dollar aquarium, zoo, museum, science center, or related operation; demonstrated application of professional standards of aquarium, museum and/or non-profit operations.
• Bachelors degree in business administration or business-related field or equivalent combination of education or experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and successfully managing complex annual strategic and budget plans.
• Proven ability to think, act and plan strategically to help BAS successfully navigate the fast changing social and economic environment.
• Proven skills to apply entrepreneurial thinking to identify and make the most of opportunities, overcome and learn from setbacks, and succeed in a variety of settings using creativity, innovation and risk-taking, as well as the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives.
• Demonstrated team player attitude having a growth mindset, openness to feedback, an active listener, adaptability, with strong emotional intelligence skills.
• Broad knowledge of the organization's processes, protocols and procedures with a focus on budget, account and fund management and / or personnel management under labor contract(s) and personnel policy.
• Knowledge of public funding sources and grant proposal process; ability to support development of budgets for proposed projects.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Must pass a background check.

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