VP, Chief Operating Officer

If you are qualified and interested please apply here with your resume and cover letter. Do not apply via the Tennessee Aquarium careers site.

The Tennessee Aquarium is seeking an accomplished strategic and highly collaborative Chief Operating Officer to help lead one of the nations most respected aquariums through an ambitious new era of growth and impact.

Located on the banks of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga the Tennessee Aquarium is a nationally recognized leader in freshwater conservation education research and exceptional guest experiences. Since opening in 1992 the Aquarium has welcomed millions of visitors helped catalyze Chattanoogas celebrated riverfront renaissance and built an extraordinary reputation for connecting people with nature and protecting the remarkable freshwater biodiversity of the Southeast.

Today the Aquarium is building on that strong foundation while intentionally shifting its focus from business maintenance to impact growth. A new strategic platform is nearing completion a ten-year facilities master planning process is on the horizon and significant investments are underway in veterinary medicine conservation science education guest experiences and organizational 2025 the Aquarium welcomed more than 784000 guests while continuing to achieve strong financial conservation and educational results.

The Opportunity

Reporting to President & CEO Andy Wood the Chief Operating Officer will serve as a key strategic and operating partner helping translate the Aquariums ambitious vision into coordinated action.

This is much more than a traditional operations role. The COO will oversee a broad portfolio of functions while helping ensure that the people systems facilities resources and organizational capacity are in place to support the Aquariums next phase of growth. The role will influence guest experience and earned revenue; facilities and major capital projects; leadership development and organizational culture; safety risk and business continuity; long-term exhibit and facilities planning; and implementation of the Aquariums emerging strategic plan.

The successful candidate will also play an important role in strengthening collaboration and accountability across a highly specialized organization and developing the next generation of Aquarium leaders. This individual will serve as a trusted partner to a visionary energetic CEO bringing sound judgment prioritization candid counsel disciplined execution and the ability to turn ambitious ideas into measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

The Chief Operating Officer will:

• Translate strategic vision into clear priorities operating plans and measurable results.
• Lead guest-facing operations with a strong focus on hospitality attendance earned revenue growth and exceptional guest experiences.
• Provide executive leadership for facilities infrastructure major capital projects operational safety disaster preparedness and business continuity.
• Partner in the development of the Aquariums ten-year facilities master plan and long-term exhibit priorities.
• Develop leaders strengthen management capabilities and foster a culture of accountability collaboration hospitality and shared purpose.
• Help lead the organization thoughtfully through growth and change while preserving the strengths of an already successful institution.
• Strengthen cross-functional coordination and help highly specialized teams operate around shared organizational priorities.
• Serve as a respected representative of the Tennessee Aquarium within the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and the broader professional community.

The Successful Candidate

Strong candidates will bring:

• Seven or more years of senior leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading complex multi-functional operations and senior-level teams.
• Experience in an executive leadership position with a cultural institution is strongly preferred.
• Strong business and financial acumen including budgeting P&L responsibility revenue generation resource allocation and expense management.
• A record of translating strategy and vision into disciplined execution.
• Exceptional judgment and the confidence to serve as a genuine operating partner to a CEO.
• High emotional intelligence and demonstrated success developing leaders building trust and navigating different personalities and perspectives.
• Experience guiding organizations and teams through meaningful growth and change.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a Board executive colleagues employees at all levels and external stakeholders.
• A genuine commitment to the Aquariums mission and an understanding of how operational excellence guest experience revenue conservation and education work together to advance impact.

A bachelors degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

Why Chattanooga

Chattanooga combines an exceptional quality of life with an increasingly dynamic economy. Surrounded by mountains and the Tennessee River the city offers extraordinary access to outdoor recreation alongside a vibrant downtown restaurants arts and cultural attractions family activities and comparatively affordable living. Chattanooga became the first National Park City in North America in 2025 and is continuing to invest in major new downtown and riverfront development.

Long known as the Gig City for its pioneering high-speed fiber infrastructure Chattanooga is now emerging as a center for quantum computing networking research and workforce development adding another dimension to a diverse regional economy.

Compensation & Application

The Tennessee Aquarium offers an annual salary range of $200000$250000 with the final offer based on experience and qualifications. Relocation assistance and a highly competitive comprehensive benefits package are provided. The position is based in Chattanooga Tennessee.

The Tennessee Aquarium has retained Kay Linder Partner with ThinkingAhead Executive Searchs Nonprofit Practice to lead this search.

If you are qualified and interested please apply here with your resume and cover letter. Do not apply via the Tennessee Aquarium careers site.

For additional information contact:
Kay Linder
Partner Nonprofit Practice
ThinkingAhead Executive Search

Required Experience:

Chief