Director Marine Life Foimdation
North Pacific Region, United States.
$150 - 170K
Our client a government agency situated in the North Pacific region of the United States. Is seeking an outgoing Executive Director to lead a Board of seven members.
Our client is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at the intersection of rigorous science, community, and place. Founded in 2007 and based in the Noth Pacific region of the United States. Our client advances awareness and understanding of aquatic, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems across coastal regions through research, education, and meaningful partnerships.
With an annual budget of approximately $6 million and more than 50 programs and projects, our client plays a vital role in connecting science to community and place.
Our client envisions a future where community members, scientific innovation, and Indigenous Knowledge work together so that marine ecosystems, people, and local economies can thrive across generations. The team of 27 full-time and 10 seasonal staff members embodies that vision every day — through collaborative research, hands-on education programs, salmon hatchery operations, aquaculture, and a public aquarium that connects thier community to the living world around them.
The Opportunity:
Our client is seeking an Executive Director who is as comfortable presenting to a Senate committee as they are walking a student through a tide pool. This is a rare opportunity to lead a well-established, financially sound, and deeply mission-driven institution at a pivotal moment — building on a decade of growth while shaping the next chapter.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director holds full strategic, programmatic, financial, and operational accountability for the organization. They will oversee a ~$6M operating budget with more than 55 funding streams and lead six (6) direct reports: the Directors of Education, Research, Finance & Human Resources, Aquaculture, the Facilities Manager, and the Communications Coordinator.
This person will not simply manage what exists — they will help evolve it. They will bring bold ideas, earn the trust of a talented team, and serve as our clients most visible ambassador to funders, partners, and the public.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
• Partner with the Board to develop and implement a compelling strategic vision that builds on the foundation momentum and extends its reach regionally and nationally.
• Balance ambitious long-term thinking with realistic, achievable implementation — moving the organization forward without outpacing its capacity.
• Champion the coindations commitment to community-driven research and education, ensuring programs continue to reflect the real needs of coastal communities.
• Actively uplift Indigenous Knowledge and values as integral to the foundations scientific and educational work.
Organizational Leadership & Culture
• Lead with transparency, humility, and a collaborative management style that motivates staff at all levels and sustains the foindations strong internal culture.
• Champion the foundations Justice, Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity initiatives — bringing genuine commitment and fresh ideas to diversifying the sciences and the foundations workforce.
• Attract, retain, and develop top talent; foster an environment where creativity, innovation, and cross-departmental collaboration thrive.
External Relations & Advocacy:
• Serve as the foundations chief advocate locally, regionally, and nationally — communicating the institution's mission with clarity, credibility, and passion.
• Build and sustain productive relationships with federal, state, Tribal, and local officials; visiting scientists and their students; peer institutions; civic leaders; and the broader public.
• Bring demonstrated experience working respectfully and collaboratively with Tribal governments and other corporations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to effectively partner with the Board of Directors by supporting strong governance practices, honoring responsibilities, and communicating clearly on corporate performance, risks, and strategic opportunities.
• Deep understanding of governance, federal contracting frameworks, and global business operations.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Strong decision‑making, problem‑solving, and conflict‑resolution abilities.
• Must have superior leadership skills and be able to work well with a team.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder‑engagement skills.
• High ethical standards, sound judgment, and commitment to the foundations mission and cultural values.
• Strong public-speaking skills with the ability to effectively represent the foundations Corporation at conferences, meetings, and public events.
Fundraising & Resource Development
• Lead fundraising efforts in partnership with the Board — cultivating individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders to grow the foindations private and public support.
• Write and manage grants; identify and develop new funding streams; explore opportunities to grow earned income.
• Build lasting strategic partnerships that extend the foindations impact and visibility.
Financial & Operational Oversight:
• Uphold fiduciary responsibility to the organization by overseeing sound financial management, ensuring resources are used in accordance with donor intent and organizational mission, maintaining compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, and always acting in the best interests of the organization.
• Provide disciplined, transparent financial oversight of a ~$6M budget with more than 55 funding streams.
• Apply sound, data-informed judgment to budgetary decisions that align with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure field station facilities — classrooms, laboratories, dive spaces, salmon hatchery, and aquarium — are well maintained and that a facility master plan is actively advanced.
Candidate Profile:
The ideal Executive Director brings significant leadership, fundraising, and management experience — and the kind of genuine passion for science, education, and community that is impossible to manufacture.
We're looking for someone who:
• Has led a complex organization or department with meaningful programmatic scope and proven results.
• Is a seasoned, confident fundraiser with a track record of cultivating diverse funding relationships — including private donors.
• Thinks strategically and creatively but stays grounded in what is actually achievable.
• Communicates with clarity and warmth across a wide range of audiences — from Indigenous community members to federal agency heads to middle school students.
• Earns trust and followership by listening as much as they speak and celebrating the success of others as much as their own.
• Has the intellectual credibility to engage meaningfully with the foindations scientific and educational programs — a background in or deep appreciation for the sciences is preferred, but excellence in leadership skills are most highly valued.
• Brings a genuine commitment to the foundations principles that go beyond policy — it shows in their leadership.
• Is energized by its communities, its ecosystems, and the opportunities and challenges of operating in this place.
• An ideal candidate will have10 years of experience in a leadership position.
Our foundation are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in our work and within our team. Our client actively seeks a candidates with diverse perspectives and lived experiences, particularly those from communities historically underrepresented in the field.
Compensation & Benefits
The annual salary range is $117,000–$165,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The foundation offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement, and generous leave. The position requires periodic travel, which may include small planes.
Other Requirements
• Valid Driver's License, or ability to obtain one.
• Agree to travel to world-wide business meetings.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check (required to work with students).
• Educational background or demonstrated understanding of the sciences.
Interested? Please send your CV to Jonny Scott-Slater, Vish Atari, Joey Polpero or Ashley Armstrong LLM.
E - uswwrecruitment@aol.com
We will contact you by email and arrange a preliminary discussion.
We are currently invloved in seeking the above mentioned category of professional. We are speaking to candidates in the market using direct approach methodologies.