Facility

Los Angeles Zoo

Closing Date

Description

About the Zoo
Located in one of the nation’s largest urban parks, Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a destination for nearly two million visitors annually, a hub for environmental sustainability, a regional gateway to nature, and a global conservation leader. The Zoo embodies caring for one another, our planet, and our shared experiences, and is developing a Vision Plan to build on past successes in order to further transform the Zoo into an environmentally sustainable, world-class destination and wildlife conservation center.

About the Position
The LA Zoo Director oversees an annual budget of approximately $23 million and leads a staff of 350 employees. The new LA Zoo Director will report directly to the Office of the Mayor and City Council and will:
• Lead a team in developing, communicating, and implementing the LA Zoo’s strategic and vision plans, with clearly defined strategies and methods for measuring success;
• Maximize the welfare of the animals in the care of the LA Zoo by collaborating with governmental leadership and partners to apply the most up-to-date research and advanced understanding in animal welfare, zoo husbandry, zoo management, and exhibit design at the LA Zoo;
• Build on the LA Zoo’s position as a leader in the care and conservation of animals;
• Continue the LA Zoo’s exceptional programming and further develop and implement programming that brings in a diverse array of audiences to the LA Zoo;
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships, including that with GLAZA;
• Lead a capital campaign effort to upgrade LA Zoo exhibits to the latest world-class standards, guided by a creative and progressive vision plan that reimagines exhibits into more natural settings where visitors can have a more organic observational experience;
• Maintain sound fiscal stewardship and discipline that accounts for ongoing capital and programmatic improvements;
• Provide and ensure exceptional leadership and management throughout the organization by promoting high morale, shared values, transparency, accountability, and collaboration; and
• Oversee world-class events and achieve greater performance in terms of zoo animal/species care and visitorship.

Education and Pre-requisites

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and at least five years of service in a professional managerial capacity of a large public or private cultural institution. Demonstrated expertise in zoology, animal biology, species conservation, wildlife care, and management and/or experience working with individuals with that expertise or in an organization devoted to those fields strongly encouraged to apply. A master’s degree is a plus.

Compensation and benefits

The salary range for the Zoo Director is $212,537 to $275,000 annually, depending on qualifications and depth of experience. The City of Los Angeles offers a highly competitive benefits package which includes an independent retirement plan to which both the employee and the City contribute; a multi-option deferred compensation plan; generous vacation and sick leave; 14 paid holidays per year; a flexible benefits plan including multi-option health, dental, and vision coverage; and family and domestic partner leave.

Application instructions

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume by February 15, 2019 to:
Management Partners
Attn: Nancy Hetrick
search@managementpartners.com

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please visit the position brochure at:
https://www.managementpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LA-Zoo-Director.pdf

To learn more about the LA Zoo and the opportunities that lie ahead, please visit the department online at www.lazoo.org or contact Nancy Hetrick at 408-437-5400.