Chief Executive Officer USA

The client is searching for its inaugural President and CEO to guide the integration of two closely related organizations into a single entity. This merger aims to combine the esteemed resources of a public arboretum and a university botanical garden, which have historically been responsible for the management and enhancement of a world-class plant collection, research initiatives, and educational programs. The Arboretum has a rich history, providing access to both a freely accessible public park and an internationally renowned woody plant collection. Meanwhile, the university garden has excelled in managing this collection while contributing to significant botanical and environmental research and educational activities. Together, these institutions welcome over 600,000 visitors annually, maintaining several major sites including a 230-acre arboretum, a center for urban horticulture, a large natural area, and a Japanese garden, with plans for further expansion by 2031. Once unified, the client organization will harness resources to enhance public access, maintain plant collections, conduct scientific education, and facilitate community programs across its sites. The upcoming opportunity involves developing the Montlake Peninsula, a project necessitating substantial fundraising efforts and a comprehensive vision for future visitors' experiences. The objective is to create a more impactful organization through increased resources and robust program offerings that neither entity could achieve independently. The new President and CEO will play a pivotal role in realizing this vision by leading both strategic integration and capital development projects. The client seeks a visionary leader who can engage and inspire, combining strategic and empathetic leadership with strong relationship-building and fundraising skills. Candidate qualifications will be evaluated on a broad spectrum of experiences, including professional, volunteer, lived experiences, and applicable skills. The position offers a competitive salary of $250,000 to $290,000 along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance and a commitment to equity and inclusion, aimed at supporting a positive workplace environment and professional growth opportunities.

Created: 2026-03-26