Role:  Executive Director, Taronga Zoo Operations

• Perform a significant leadership and stakeholder management role
• Taronga Zoo, Mosman location on Cammeraigal Country
• Senior Executive Band 2, ongoing
• Total remuneration package $287,201

The role of Executive Director of Taronga Zoo Operations presents a unique opportunity to lead one of Sydney’s most iconic institutions, Taronga Zoo, and advance the principles of conservation and sustainability across the site.

About the Role

The Executive Director is a member of the Executive team, reporting to the Chief Executive. This role embodies a synthesis of strategic thinking and operational excellence, which is crucial for advancing Taronga’s vision of securing a shared future for wildlife and people.

In this role, the Executive Director will oversee diverse teams dedicated to education, commercial operations, asset management, and wildlife operations. A key responsibility will drive innovative exhibit development and experience creation, reinforcing Taronga’s reputation as an animal welfare, conservation, and tourism leader.

The role will also enhance the guest experience through comprehensive monitoring of site admissions and feedback, necessitating effective collaboration with marketing and commercial teams.

This role is ideal for a visionary leader committed to fostering a sustainable future while delivering world-class wildlife experiences in a vibrant, multicultural setting.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio of functions, negotiate budgets, set performance expectations, and monitor and evaluate performance outcomes to achieve Taronga’s objectives and outcomes. 
• Partner with the Chief Executive on developing and implementing strategic and business plans. 
• Provide expert advice, recommendations and services to the Minister and the NSW DCCEEW, Taronga’s Board and Chief Executive. 
• Represent Taronga with diverse internal and external stakeholders nationally and internationally, nurturing strategic partnerships to achieve short- and long-term goals. 
• Drive accountability for creating innovative and engaging experiences that attract guests, exceed customer expectations, inspire loyalty, and influence positive behavioural changes by engaging greater visitation across Taronga. 
• Manage the Taronga Zoo site through effective and strategic asset management and the improvement of environmental sustainability of the organisation’s operations and assets. 
• Lead diverse teams, including wildlife, guest experience, commercial, asset management and education, to increase impact, including education outcomes, net contribution and business revenue. 

About You

The ideal person will demonstrate:

• Strategic problem solver skills, with a track record of translating strategy into implementation on a large scale.
• Proven executive experience building organisational capabilities and sustainability, including planning, change management and resolving complex challenges to drive organisation wide outcomes.
• Proven executive experience leading business operations, ideally in a prominent medium to large tourist attraction, public venue, or commercial business.
• A strong understanding of First Nations people, culture, communities, organisations, ways of working and history.
• An ability to strategically leverage relationships to support program and project development, and fundraising/partnership opportunities.

About Applying

Please submit your resume and a cover letter.

Please ensure you include a concise statement in response to the two target questions below with a 300 word limit per target question:

1. What is your experience leading large, diverse teams? In particular, how have you balanced delivering strategic priorities whilst addressing operational challenges?
    
2. Delivering new and innovative guest and wildlife experiences at Taronga Zoo requires the Executive Director to navigate through regulatory requirements and managing diverse stakeholders’ interests. Describe how you have gained buy-in from key stakeholders as your organisation has evolved? Include references to government and community.

If you require any further information about this opportunity, please contact Jessica Vlatko via email at jvlatko@zoo.nsw.gov.au for a confidential discussion.

Applications Close: 11:59pm Sunday 22 December 2024