Chief Aquarium Operations Officer

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Aquarium

Operations

Monterey, CA, USA

USD 300k-375k / year

Posted on Oct 31, 2026

***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 the Monterey Bay Aquarium at montereybayaquarium.org.

The Opportunity

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader for the newly created role of Chief Aquarium Operations Officer (CAOO). Reporting to the CEO and serving as a member of the Executive Team, the CAOO will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of the Aquarium's core operations and on-site experience, providing direction at both the institutional and day-to-day levels and ensuring efficient and effective implementation of the Aquarium's programs, operations, and strategic priorities.

The CAOO will lead four direct reports – the Vice President of Animal Care, Vice President of Education & Guest Experience, Vice President of Exhibitions, and Vice President of Facilities – and will oversee a total team of more than 300 staff. This is the senior leader responsible for the Aquarium's core product: its on-site experience and adherence to an operating budget that falls within allocated resources. The CAOO will set and meet modern animal care standards and deliver impactful education programs, world-class facilities, and exceptional exhibit and guest experiences.

The CAOO will have the authority to shape the future of one of the world's most admired aquariums – driving integration and efficiency across divisions, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning, and ensuring that every aspect of the Aquarium's operations reflects its values and advances its mission to inspire conservation of the ocean.

Key Responsibilities

  • Aquarium Management: Establish clear goals, accountability structures, and performance standards across all divisions. Oversee a combined budget of significant scale and complexity, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources while driving mission impact.
  • Strategic Leadership: Lead the development and implementation of institutional plans and priorities that balance programmatic and operational excellence. Participate in Board of Trustees committees, including Programs, and support the CEO in planning and executing Board meetings and following up on Board direction.
  • Guest Experience/Exhibits: Develop the plans and capacity to serve over 2 million visitors annually. Ensure that every touchpoint, from animal exhibits to educational programming, reflects the Aquarium's commitment to excellence, scientific accuracy, and inspiring conservation. Lead a $40 million plus annual capital program, across both facilities and exhibits, including overseeing all exhibits from concept through opening, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and safety.
  • Team Leadership: Lead exceptional talent across divisions, beginning with engagement in the selection and retention of top talent. Foster creativity, experimentation, and continuous learning within working groups and across the institution, and champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the organization.
  • Facilities Management: Provide executive oversight of a complex, large-scale facilities portfolio that includes the main Aquarium building and 18 additional buildings housing staff, laboratories, exhibit production, graphics, and other institutional functions. Partner with the VP of Facilities to develop long-range capital and deferred maintenance plans that protect the Aquarium's physical assets, sustain its world-class animal care infrastructure, and support its operational and programmatic needs for decades to come.
  • Inspire Conservation of the Ocean: Ensure that the Aquarium's on-site programs and operations actively advance its conservation mission. Support the growth of mission impact through education initiatives and the integration of conservation priorities into the visitor experience.
  • Collaboration: Build and maintain excellent relationships across the organization, guiding teams to resolve challenges and leveraging cross-divisional strengths to advance strategic priorities. Support an integrated approach that accelerates efficiency, reduces silos, and creates new opportunities for programmatic and operational alignment.
  • Security/Crisis Management: Oversee security and emergency preparedness for the Aquarium including access control, surveillance, and coordination with local law enforcement, as needed. In times of emergencies, serve as a key contact focused on guest, staff and animal safety through a clear command structure, tested contingency plans and calm transparent communication.
  • Problem Solving: Assist professional teams in improving efficiency and effectiveness through continuous improvement and strategic problem resolution and tradeoffs.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

  • Exemplary senior management experience at a guest-facing organization and corresponding, complex financial oversight experience.
  • Successful oversight of major capital construction and deferred maintenance programs, including experience managing complex, aging institutional infrastructure.
  • Experience managing a multi-building real estate portfolio across diverse institutional functions.
  • Experience developing and implementing major education programs.
  • A collaborative leader who builds effective teams, maximizes collaboration across workgroups, and is committed to continuous improvement.
  • Experience overseeing security and serving as a point of contact during times of crisis. Outstanding communicator – articulate, concise, and effective – who actively ensures plans and decisions are broadly understood at all levels of the organization.
  • Deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, with a demonstrated record of fostering environments of belonging and trust.
  • Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust and credibility with colleagues, board members, and external partners.
  • Comfort with ambiguity and institutional change; a source of clarity and calm in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
  • Experience working in the public aquarium or zoo space a strong plus.
  • Experience working in a union environment a plus.
  • Ability to work within and uphold Monterey Bay Aquarium's core values of impact, integrity, innovation, equity, and hope.
  • Passion for the mission of Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $300,000 - $375,000 with a generous benefits package. The exact salary that will be offered to the Chief Aquarium Operations Officer will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate's skills, experience, and aligned with Monterey Bay Aquarium's compensation policies.

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Erin Reedy and Shannon O’Neill. 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.

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