Chief Operating Officer

Company: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Location: Jacksonville
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Consider a career at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens where you can share your passion about the wonders of wildlife and plants with our community and guests.Join the innovative, award-winning Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens family, ranked as a top twenty-five zoo in the USA by Trip Advisor and granted a Gold Award by First Coast Worksite Wellness Council. The number one paid destination in North Florida is seeking friendly, flexible team players, with excellent communication skills, who have the ability to interact positively with a variety of personalities and ages.If you think you possess the above qualities, consider joining our awarding winning team by applying for the job opportunity listed below. We are a Drug-Free workplace and participate in E-verify.The Zoo will provide reasonable accommodation to complete the online application consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation, please contact a human resources representative at employment@jacksonvillezoo.org.Position: Chief Operating Officer (Strategic Leader)Location: Jacksonville, FLJob Id: 812# of Openings: 1Shape the future of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens as our next Chief Operating Officer! We're seeking a visionary leader to drive revenue growth, create exceptional guest experiences, and ensure the highest safety standards. Your goal is to guide our institution towards a sustainable and thriving future and to develop a high-performing team of industry leaders.What we're looking for:

• A mission-driven leader with a passion for wildlife conservation, sustainability, and community engagement.
• Ten years of experience building high-performing teams and mentoring exceptional leaders.
• Eight years of experience in operations management, including:
  • Managing a seven-figure budget
  • Driving operational excellence and implementing revenue-generation initiatives.
  • Proficiency in strategic planning, goal setting, and resource planning.ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
    • Availability to accommodate a flexible schedule, including extended hours, holidays, and weekends.PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
      • Requires visual acuity for reading, writing, and observing surroundings, and auditory acuity for communication.WORK CONDITIONS:
        • Exposure to various weather conditions, including extreme heat, sunlight, cold, rain, and wind.
        • Potential exposure to allergens (dust, animal dander, pollen, etc.), bloodborne pathogens, zoonotic diseases, and injuries from animals.
        • Must be available to fulfill disaster-response duties as required.TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS:
          • Must have a valid driver's license and clear driving record and be over age 18 to drive organizational vehicles.
          • May require local travel.Inclusion, diversity, and equity as a value:Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens embraces diversity in a meaningful way and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of a person's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, weight, or height.EOE / DRUG FREE WORKPLACEThis is just the start! See more of our Employee Benefits here.
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Keywords: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Ocala , Chief Operating Officer, Executive , Jacksonville, Florida