This is your opportunity to join the dynamic Business Development and Finance team at Woodland Park Zoo. Applications are now being accepted for Vice President of Business Development and Finance in the Finance department. There is one full-time, regular, benefited position to be filled at this time. SUMMARY In support of WPZ’s mission and objectives, provide strategic direction and leadership for all new and on-going business and earned revenue opportunities. Focus on strategies that will maximize revenues and optimize resource utilization and allocation. Enhance the zoo’s financial stability, strategy and stewardship by creating facilities and programs that yield new year-round revenue streams, and recognizes the special importance of the principal three avenues of earned revenue, public support, and private and corporate philanthropy. Ensures the integrity and operational efficiency of all internal business systems. Align operational and financial resources with the organization’s strategic goals. Responsible for overall guest experience, including customer satisfaction ratings. Advisor to the President/CEO and leadership team on strategic business development, and new venture issues. Establish and implement short- and long-range divisional goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures. Recommend strategic or incremental tactical improvements to the CEO or other divisional managers as needed. Primary areas of responsibility include: - Finance and Budget Management
- Guest Services, including Admissions, Retail Sales and Merchandising and Events
- Information Services
As a member of the Zoo's executive leadership team, develop strategies to ensure policies and practices for achieving business results are aligned with the organization’s mission. In partnership with the President/CEO and Board, guide the development and execution of the zoo’s strategic and operating plans, goals and budgets, and communicate a broad vision to the organization and the community. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Business Development - Provide a strategic focus for the organization through new business opportunities, via external collaborations, partnering and acquisitions, and by facilitating a robust strategic expansion plan
- Generates new business ideas and plans with new partners, new business lines and new market/sales channels.
- Lead zoo-wide processes to identify and pursue key growth opportunities that require cooperation across internal business units.
- Identify, qualify and advocate for the pursuit of opportunities aligned with the strategic plan.
Finance and Fiscal Balance - Provide executive leadership to the Finance team which is responsible for:
- Coordination of overall strategic planning, accounting, finance and budgeting efforts of the organization.
- Direct preparation of budgets, review budget proposals, and prepare necessary supporting documentation and justification.
- Maintain responsibility for annual accounting projects such as the coordination of the financial statement audit, endowment and investment planning and management, tax returns, budgeting, pension retirement plan reporting and compliance, and the financial section of the annual report. Coordinate efforts of related service contractors such as our CPA firm.
- Monitor the control environment of the accounting area and establish financial policies/procedures that promote efficient and effective fiscal controls and procedures.
- Keep up with current developments in nonprofit finance, investment, accounting and tax reporting requirements. Inform others of developments and share tax disclosure information, as appropriate. Review development materials for proper tax disclosure language.
- Oversee the timely preparation of financial statements, financial reports, special analysis, and information reports as required organizationally.
- Develop effective management tools for business and IS areas. Provide necessary leadership for five or more direct reports in division.
Guest Services, including Admissions, Retail Sales and Merchandising and Events - Provide strategic direction and oversight of the Guest Services team to drive revenue and visitor satisfaction.
- Proactively guide the Guest Services department in their day-to-day execution of admissions, events, and sales deliverables.
- Work with external vendors and contractors in areas of food services, merchandising and all other areas of guest services to maximize revenue and guest satisfaction. Negotiate and manage quality compliance and contractual relationships with external vendors
- Monitor competitive strategies, positioning, and product functionality. Provide sales with competitive analysis and strategy information.
- Oversee implementation of key efforts to continuously improve the guest experience and customer satisfaction.
Information Services: Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Information Services team: - Lead strategic implementation of information services goals and objectives.
- Insure the safety, health and stability of the zoo’s information infrastructure, including compliance with industry security standards in processing confidential and personal data
Internal and External Partnerships - Partner with President/CEO and the COO, while working closely with the Advancement team and others to raise funds to meet zoo goals.
- Articulate a vision and strategy in a way that inspires and motivates resources and focuses energy on achieving business goals.
- Build a positive image and create public awareness of and interest in WPZ.
- Foster strong relationships with key institutions, individuals and stakeholders to harness support and create a positive environment for WPZ and enhance the organization’s impact. Particularly with Seattle Park Parks & Recreation and other government entities that support and regulate zoo operations
- Establish and maintain a strong, effective partnership with Board members to foster a culture of collaboration, cooperation, and consultation. Prepare materials for the Board.
- Be the lead staff person for Board Committees, including Finance, Audit and Investment Committees.
- Maintain relations with regional and national professional associations, such as AZA and others.
- Stay abreast of important trends (including business competitive, technological, social, economic) that could potentially impact the organization.
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. SPECIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES - Ability to create an environment of diversity and respect, dignity and entrepreneurial spirit while constantly promoting organization’s vision, culture and mission both internally and externally. Demonstrated experience with regard to products and services and their ties to advertising and marketing collateral and to assessing marketing environment (markets, customers, economy, political, social, etc.)
- Strong financial, business and analytical skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communications as well as negotiations skills.
- Possess a marketing and customer service orientation.
- Ability to lead and work individually as a part of a team. Operate in a constantly changing environment, with a minimum of supervision.
- Inspire, motivate, and marshal resources throughout entire organization.
- Ability to experiment and cultivate the creative ideas of others, make connections between ideas, and project potential outcomes. Enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar opportunities.
- Ability to design and manage multiple projects simultaneously, setting deadlines and ensuring program accountability.
- Commitment to the mission of the zoo and the organization’s core values.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree or comparable degree from a nationally accredited college or university; and at least 10+ years relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. At least 10 years financial/project experience with progressively higher management and/or leadership responsibility is required. STRATEGIC EFFECTIVENESS - Deep awareness of the organization and its core capabilities and vulnerabilities; understand the industry, it’s linking industries and the competition; and have specific strategies to gain competitive advantage. Develop a clear vision for the future of the organization. Maintain a long-term, big-picture view of the organization and identify the long-term, future needs and opportunities, including emerging trends such as impact investment and technological tools. Anticipate the evolution and future of the industry and how the organization must adapt to these changes in order to sustain competitive advantage. Clearly communicate the organization’s vision and goals and excite and energize people behind the vision and direction, building consensus and collaboration.
- Partner with the President/CEO on all operational and strategic issues as they arise; provide strategic recommendations to the President based on analysis and projections. Participate in the ongoing strategic planning process as an integral member of the executive leadership team. Engage all members of the executive leadership team to align operational management with short and long-term planning and projections.
OPERATING RESPONSIBILITY - Leverage complex systems of people and processes, create connections between people and processes and align them with vision and strategy. Envision and drive changes and sponsor and support changes championed by others. Drive continuous improvement in all organizational processes and services. Establish appropriate performance measures to ensure organizational success.
- Leverage constructive and effective relationships with team and leaders within the organization. Provide regular management reporting that will assist in guiding daily business.
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT - Create an environment of enthusiasm and excellence by communicating high expectations and fostering optimistic, positive attitudes about people and their work in the organization. Nurture commitment to a common vision and shared values.
- Ability to identify appropriate levels of resources and talent needed to meet objectives, while developing a stream of future leaders so as to ensure the organization’s continued growth and constant success
- Recruit and hire qualified applicants for open positions; ensuring adequate staff to meet operational requirements. Ensure on-going training, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving are administered according to policy and procedure.
- Carries out managerial responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
SUPERVISION - Provides leadership and oversight over assigned functions, staff, projects and daily operations.
- Provide effective and inspiring leadership, as well as stewardship, to the organization by being actively involved in all operations. Promote regular and ongoing opportunities for all staff to give feedback regarding operations.
- Ability to identify appropriate levels of resources and talent needed to meet objectives, while developing a stream of future leaders so as to ensure the organization’s continued growth and constant success.
- Prepare and deliver employee performance evaluations, appropriate disciplinary actions and documentation of excellent work performance to assure a mutual understanding of goals and progress towards ever improving professional achievement.
LANGUAGE SKILLS Excellent oral and written communication skills. Experienced in clear and persuasive writing and editing of proposals and documents. Ability to read and analyze financial reports and legal documents. Ability to communicate effectively with influential people and to command attention. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. REASONING ABILITY Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs or ladders; balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Position requires ability to work evenings and weekends and the occasional long hours. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. APPLICATION DIRECTIONS Applications are only accepted online through our Jobs page at www.zoo.org; no other forms of application will be accepted. Cover letter and resume are REQUIRED when applying for this position. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications are due prior to 12:00 AM on the posted Close date (i.e. by 11:59 PM the evening before). Woodland Park Zoo is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. |
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