Woodland Park Zoo, located in the Phinney Ridge area of Seattle, is one of the world’s foremost zoological institutions. Situated on 92 beautifully landscaped acres, the zoo houses over 1,100 animals (300 species with 70+ species threatened with ex tinction). The award-winning accredited zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting international standards for zoos in animal care, conser vation, education programs and guest experience.
Woodland Park Zoo saves animals and their habitats through conservation leadership and engaging experiences, inspiring people to learn, care and act. Founded in 1899, Woodland Park Zoo has sparked delight, discovery and unforgettable memories for generations of Northwest families. People who experience the wonders of the natural world are inspired to protect it. That’s why every year the zoo leads more than 1 million people on a journey that inspires a lifelong love of animals, makes science come alive, and gives people the tools to take conservation action. With a unique combination of public and private support, the zoo hosts over 1.2 million visitors annually with one of the highest membership bases (40,000+) among Puget Sound cultural attractions and museums. As a “living classroom,” Woodland Park Zoo reaches nearly 75,000 students and teachers annually through its formal education programs. In addition, the zoo supports more than 35 field conservation programs working to save animals and habitats around the world and in the Pacific Northwest.
Woodland Park Zoo has annual operating revenues of $39M of which the development function at the zoo contributes about $4.5 million. Other revenue sources include about $12 million or 1/3 of the total operating budget from governmental sources (City of Seattle and King County), about $4 million through memberships, $9 million from attendance and the rest from a diverse stream of earned income sources including summer concerts, contracts with food and retail vendors, education programs and sponsorships.
Woodland Park Zoo is led by a dynamic and talented leadership team with a strong and engaged Board. Through a 20-year operating agreement partnering with the City of Seattle, the zoo is truly a beloved institution.
THE POSITION
Contribute to the overall success of Woodland Park Zoo, fur thering its mission and leading its internal and external messaging strategy to the greater Seattle community, regional and state governments and zoo suppor ters. Repor ting to the President and CEO, leading a team of nine and serving as a member of the zoo’s executive leadership team, this position will be critical in fur thering the mission of the organizaztion and driving its strategic direction.
The Communications and Public Affairs Department manages all communications in suppor t of the zoo’s mission and business operations while encouraging community suppor t, and serving as the zoo’s liaison with local and regional constituencies, communities, neighborhood associations, business, trade associations and cultural institutions.
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
• The media landscape is changing. The role of traditional media (e.g., TV, newspapers) is adjusting in the context of a rapidly expanding digital media landscape. Zoo communications faces the dueling demands of driving visitor attendance while supporting public engagement and advocacy in conservation and education issues.
• The zoo has a large amount of content possibilities that range from traditional baby animal pictures, to far flung international conservation projects, to heroic feats of animal care, to personal life-changing engagement in conservation or education programs. The zoo faces the strategic challenge of allocating limited resources to narrate these compelling stories through communications channels that target specific audiences and engage supporters.
• Woodland Park Zoo, as most zoos, remains widely popular and trusted by the public, with a 97% favorability rating among Seattle residents. At the same time, the role of zoos is being questioned openly and frequently in the media, particularly by extreme animal rights groups whose ultimate objective is to close all zoos. The challenge is how to regain the communications initiative in animal welfare, conservation and education.
• There are glimpses of a potential generational change in public opinion about zoos as our audience demographics change from Boomers to GenXers to Millennials and beyond. How the zoo adapts to different communication vehicles and media habits offers both challenges and opportunities.
• Demand for dynamic storytelling, particularly for audio- visual content, continues to increase in a way that challenges existing resource allocation, production and delivery structures (e.g., centralized vs. decentralized approaches)
• Public outreach and communications of zoo’s programs outside the zoo grounds require an institution-wide approach in which all programs, community partnerships, and government relations need to be coordinated toward a common goal of supporting the zoo’s mission and strategic direction.
• The zoo receives a significant portion of its operations and support for capital projects from government agencies, including a management agreement with the City of Seattle. A robust program of government relations and constituency-building is essential for the future of the organization.
• The zoo is driving an ambitious agenda for diversity and inclusion that should be reflected in brand positioning, communications and institutional relations. This includes visual and narrative communications that accommodate the needs of all audiences in Seattle and beyond.
KEY COMPONENTS OF THE POSITION INCLUDE:
• Develop and implement a strategic communication plan that addresses the zoo’s mission in a changing media landscape and advances the goal of creating social change through advocacy, engagement, and participation in conservation and education objectives
• Oversee all external communications for the zoo in support of the zoo’s mission and business plan to reinforce the value that Woodland Park Zoo brings to the community, and to encourage support and advocacy for conservation.
• Lead internal communication of goals, plans and progress of various departments in support of the zoo’s missionand business plan; use internal communications to support institutional values and culture as well as the zoo’s strategic goals.
• Develop and oversee new and existing community relations efforts, including building strong relationships with key communities in the Puget Sound region; ensure timely communication with the zoo’s many interested communities about ongoing and future zoo events and activities.
• Oversee communications and community relations programs designed to address concerns of the immediate neighborhoods adjacent to Woodland Park Zoo and to educate and inform the neighborhoods of both short and long-range programs and plans.
• Manage a comprehensive program for creating and sustaining strategic relationships with elected and appointed officials and decision-makers at all governmental levels.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive plan to enhance and secure annual, programmatic and capital support from city, county, state, and federal governments.
• Working with senior staff, develop a list of potential programs from the strategic and annual plans for such support, including major repairs and improvements; education, training, and conservation operating (annual) programs; and field conservation programs.
• Direct and implement public affairs initiatives, including but not limited to supervising public affairs consultants, conducting community presentations, serving as key liaison with the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department and report as required by the Management Agreement with the City of Seattle.
• Engage board members to establish and maintain relationships with public entities and government agencies, and secure governmental support.
• The ideal candidate for this position will be articulate, well-spoken, and capable of effectively representing the zoo to various audiences, both within and outside the organization; outstanding written and audiovisual communications skills in both traditional and digital landscapes, with strong interpersonal and listening skills also required. We would love to talk to people who have a demonstrated track record of strategic decision making and partnership building. Seeking individuals with an exceptional ability to create an environment of diversity and respect, dignity and entrepreneurial spirit.
COME TO WOODLAND PARK ZOO AND HELP US CHANGE THE WORLD!
Recruiting Contact: Dana Keeler,
Vice President of Human Resources
Dana.Keeler@zoo.org
Position open until filled
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