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Vice President of Technology and Digital Strategy
Monterey Bay Aquarium
IT
Monterey, CA, USA
USD 210k-270k / year
Posted on Sep 10, 2025
***This role is being recruited by a third party agency, Koya. To be considered for this role, you must apply via the Koya website. Applications submitted to the Monterey Bay Aquarium website will not be considered.***
About Monterey Bay Aquarium
With a mission to inspire conservation of the ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the most admired aquarium in the United States, a leader in science education, and a trusted global voice for ocean conservation. The Aquarium combines world-class exhibits with groundbreaking science, policy, and public engagement—helping to redefine what an aquarium can be.
The Aquarium was founded through the vision of marine scientists and the support of David Packard, whose engineering mindset and commitment to innovation shaped the institution from the start. Built on the site of a former cannery, it became a powerful symbol of renewal, transforming into a global center for ocean conservation and education. It introduced the world’s first living kelp forest exhibit and set new standards for immersive habitats, animal care, and conservation storytelling. Its partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) continues this spirit of innovation, linking advances in marine science and technology with public engagement and conservation.
The Aquarium’s conservation programs are rebuilding sea otter populations and tackling plastic pollution, while its groundbreaking Seafood Watch program is transforming global seafood practices by helping consumers and businesses make more sustainable choices. As an educational institution, the Aquarium offers free programming for students and educators, delivering innovative experiences on-site and online that inspire and equip the next generation of ocean leaders.
Today, the Aquarium welcomes nearly two million visitors each year and engages millions more through digital platforms and partnerships. Its location on the edge of Monterey Bay provides daily inspiration from one of the world’s richest marine regions, while its proximity to global centers of technology and creativity in Silicon Valley reinforces a culture of curiosity and innovation.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. For too long, Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities have been underrepresented in marine science and conservation fields. By actively working to change that, the Aquarium strengthens its ability to serve visitors, advance ocean conservation, and shape the future of the field. Candidates who share this commitment are strongly encouraged to apply.
Learn more about Monterey Bay Aquarium at montereybayaquarium.org.
The Opportunity
This is a pivotal moment for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, as it expands its reach globally, deepens digital engagement, and modernizes enterprise systems to better connect people with its mission to inspire conservation of the ocean. The Vice President of Technology and Digital Strategy will lead this transformation by strengthening the systems, tools, and culture that support conservation, science, education, and public engagement, in alignment with the Aquarium’s strategic plan.
As a large nonprofit with global impact, the Aquarium combines the complexity of a multifaceted institution with the need to work lean. The right leader will bring focus and adaptability to accelerate progress.
Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, the Vice President serves as a transformational leader who bridges operational excellence with visionary innovation. This role advances the Aquarium’s digital presence and technical foundation while reimagining how emerging technologies and platforms can expand engagement and amplify conservation impact.
The Vice President oversees digital platforms, enterprise systems, cybersecurity, business intelligence, and data architecture. They ensure dependable operations while driving innovation that enhances experiences for staff, visitors, and worldwide audiences. From ticketing and fundraising systems to websites, mobile, and immersive engagement, the Vice President stewards a dynamic ecosystem that balances stability with experimentation.
As a collaborative partner across all departments, the Vice President champions digital-first strategies that expand audience connections, create an inclusive and effective hybrid workplace, and position the Aquarium as a leader in experimenting with new technologies. They are both a visionary who inspires stakeholders and a pragmatic executor who delivers results.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Digital Leadership
Provide visionary leadership for the organization’s technology and digital strategy, aligning tools, platforms, and capabilities with the Aquarium’s strategic commitments and objectives. Develop and implement a long-term technology roadmap that advances conservation, education, public engagement, and revenue, grounded in user insights and service design. Collaborate with the CMO and leadership team to integrate technology into organizational priorities. Stay attuned to emerging technologies and trends, evaluating their potential to deliver mission-aligned value. Lead a cross-functional team spanning digital platforms and products, enterprise systems, data, and business intelligence
Technology Operations and Governance
Ensure dependable, secure, and cost-effective technology operations that meet the needs of staff, visitors, and global audiences. Oversee enterprise systems that support ticketing, fundraising and membership, customer relationships, human resources, finance, and productivity. Strengthen the Aquarium’s cybersecurity posture. Establish governance practices that promote data integrity, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and user-centered design. Apply strong business acumen to connect technology decisions with broader organizational strategy—using an understanding of financial drivers, operational models, and external trends to identify opportunities that grow revenue, manage costs, and mitigate risk. Anticipate future organizational needs by planning for scenarios, managing risk, and aligning technology with long-term institutional resilience.
Collaborative and People-Centered Leadership
Lead a digital and technology team that is accountable, curious, and adaptive. Set clear goals while fostering a culture of learning, equity, and continuous improvement. Approach conflict as a natural part of collaboration, guiding the team to surface different perspectives and resolve disagreements in ways that strengthen relationships and improve results. Ensure team roles, skills, and structures evolve with organizational priorities. Partner with leaders across the Aquarium to support an inclusive, effective hybrid workplace, and provide tools and systems that empower staff to do their best work. Champion accessible and equitable digital experiences for both internal and external audiences.
Change Management and Digital Innovation
Drive innovation while focusing on practical, mission-driven outcomes through cross-functional collaboration. Translate digital trends into initiatives that improve staff effectiveness, deepen public engagement, and generate mission-aligned revenue, guided by human-centered design and data. Lead change with transparency and empathy as the organization modernizes systems, adopts new tools, and strengthens digital governance. Lead change with transparency and empathy as the organization modernizes systems, adopts new tools, and strengthens digital governance. Anticipate and manage resistance by equipping teams with the training, resources, and support they need to adapt successfully. Build trust through clear communication, early stakeholder engagement, and ongoing feedback loops. Model resilience and adaptability, partnering with executives and ensuring leaders at every level are aligned and empowered to champion change. Balance experimentation with stability to ensure innovation supports long-term impact.
Equity & Belonging Leadership
Champion a workplace culture of belonging, trust, and growth. Embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles throughout the digital and technology team and across the Aquarium, creating an environment that attracts and develops exceptional talent.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in digital transformation, digital strategy, enterprise technology operations, and public-facing digital innovation. Experience in nonprofit, cultural, government, education, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex organizational change with confidence and empathy, fostering accountability, improving performance, and driving continuous improvement.
Strategic thinking and digital fluency, with the ability to translate emerging technologies—from AI to immersive media—into actionable, mission-aligned initiatives that enhance public engagement and institutional effectiveness. Proven track record of linking digital initiatives to measurable mission and business outcomes, using data and scenario planning to inform strategy and guide operational priorities.
Collaborative leadership style with a record of building and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams across multiple domains.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across divisions and build productive partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, both in team leadership and in shaping digital strategies, platforms, and institutional impact.
Preferred:
Experience managing and modernizing enterprise systems such as HRIS, finance platforms, CRM systems, and productivity tools in hybrid environments.
Strong technical fluency across enterprise platforms, cloud infrastructure, and data governance, combined with a deep understanding of digital products, platforms, and experiences.
Experience partnering with marketing and digital engagement teams to design and deliver innovative public-facing digital experiences, including websites, mobile, immersive, and AI-driven engagement.
Experience operating effectively in mission-driven environments that require strategic focus, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration.
We welcome candidates with backgrounds in cultural institutions, aquariums, zoos, museums, public service, civic technology, environmental organizations, and mission-driven innovation, among others.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $210,000 - $270,000 with a generous benefits package. The exact salary that will be offered to the Vice President of Technology and Digital Strategy will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills and experience and aligned with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s compensation policies.
This role is hybrid, with two days a week minimum required.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Erin Reedy and Christy Farrell. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Monterey Bay Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.