Tampa Bay Watch

Looking for work??

I’d do it if it was in the cards. The opportunity:

In spring 2020, Tampa Bay Watch will launch a 3,000 square foot environmental visitor exhibition and education center at the new St. Pete Pier, greatly expanding and enhancing the public’s awareness of the organization and the Tampa Bay estuary. This will be the only marine environmental experience in downtown St. Petersburg, FL, occupying coveted space on the new Pier. It is anticipated that the new St Pete Pier will attract 1.7 million visitors in its first year. The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center (the “Discovery Center”), which will be open daily, is forecasting annual attendance of approximately 100,000 visitors. Our audience will consist of tourists and local residents visiting the St Pete Pier seeking leisure activities including dining, shopping, entertainment and fun. The Discovery Center will greatly enhance outreach opportunities to these new and diverse audiences. The Discovery Center will present a new public face for the Tampa Bay Watch organization that emphasizes public engagement, excitement, inspiration and motivation. The Executive Director is the chief executive of the Discovery Center and, as such, is responsible for the general and fiscal leadership and management of the organization, including operations, programs, staff, volunteers, partnerships, fundraising, budgets, external relations and the overall visitor experience. Above all, the Executive Director of the Discovery Center is charged with delivering on the mission and goals of the organization in a fiscally sound manner and will represent the Discovery Center as its chief advocate and spokesperson throughout the community. This person plays a leading role, working closely with the President of Tampa Bay Watch, its Board of Directors and staff, in developing and articulating the strategic direction of the Discovery Center and implementing the resulting strategies and initiatives. Tampa Bay Watch seeks a senior-level event venue administrator and proven business operations leader skilled in driving organizational success and empowering high performing staff in a public venue environment. Reporting to the President of Tampa Bay Watch, the Executive Director will be based at the Discovery Center and have overall management responsibility for successfully overseeing a new, high-profile public venue with a rapidly scaling operating budget, and full and part-time paid staff, interns and volunteers. The Executive Director will lead the Discovery Center through start-up and in to the next phase of Tampa Bay Watch’s evolution and growth. Key Responsibilities: • Under the direction of the President of Tampa Bay Watch, the Executive Director provides onsite leadership and direction over Discovery Center daily operations to maximize the visitor experience by ensuring the exhibition, programs, volunteer and intern programs and facilities are running smoothly, efficiently and in accordance with the Discovery Center’s mission and vision.• Provide in-depth supervision, leadership, and coaching to grow employees to their fullest potential, maintain required staffing coverage, and ensure staff are meeting performance expectations and effectively executing Discovery Center processes.• Successfully oversee and coordinate the activities of three Discovery Center departments: Visitor Exhibition Experience, Education/Programming and Eco-Boat classroom/tours, including prioritizing competing and changing priorities to ensure the very best and safest visitor experience and optimization of business operations.• Serve as spokesperson and key advocate for the Discovery Center. Create and enhance the Discovery Center’s public image to expand awareness, interest and support. Establish strong partnerships in the community and with Tampa Bay area cultural and environmental organizations and tourism partners. Oversee and direct all operational financial activities and work closely with the President to prepare annual budgets, analyze financial data, maximize financial efficiencies and reduce costs. Provide monthly report of actual results and variances to budget.• In coordination with the President establish and support strategic goals by defining objectives, implementing processes and evaluating outcomes for the Discovery Center.• Partner with the President to ensure important communication is provided to stakeholders in a timely manner.• Exercise Discovery Center and Tampa Bay Watch core values and organizational best practices.• Confirm all departments are complying with Tampa Bay Watch and Discovery Center policies, procedures, and protocols on a daily basis to ensure the organization meets and exceeds its standards of quality.• Ensure compliance with all city, state and federal regulatory agencies.• Respond and resolve visitor and employee issues in a timely and effective manner.• Manage maintenance of the facility and develop strategies to optimize the building’s use.• Manage and practice environmental sustainability methods for all operational aspects of the Discovery Center.• Management and programming of the Point of Sale systems with respect to retail items and membership purchases.• Carefully and thoroughly manage inventory control to ensure optimal levels of merchandise, supplies, materials, and equipment are on hand at all times, while ensuring cost-effective procurement.• Attend Tampa Bay Watch board meetings and provide monthly board reports.• Serve as the Discovery Center’s liaison to city, county and civic organizations and attend relevant city, county and organizational meetings and events.• Work cooperatively, diplomatically and effectively with St Pete Pier management, tenants, and city staff and with diverse public constituencies.• Coordinate with Development Director of Tampa Bay Watch to plan and implement Discovery Center fundraising activities and seek sponsors for exhibits, programs and events.• Identify and pursue appropriate grant opportunities.• Oversee the creation of on-going educational components and hands-on activities to complement exhibits and programs. Collaborate with the President on ideas for new exhibits.• Oversee the development of on and off-site programming for a variety of audiences to enhance the mission of the Discovery Center and the environmental and economic importance of the health of Tampa Bay.  Qualifications & Required Experience: • 5+ years of successful industry experience as a public venue executive director, senior manager or director of operations, preferably in a non-profit setting, is required.• Bachelor’s degree required. Will consider equivalent experience.• Industry experience in cultural institutions, tourism attractions, hotels/resorts, publicly facing customer service teams, and/or restaurants strongly preferred.• Demonstrated proficiency in managing public venue/museum/aquarium operations, including personnel matters.• Demonstrated knowledge of marketing a public venue, customer and public relations, public speaking and audience development.• Experience working for an environmental or marine-centric organization is a plus, but not required.• Proven ability to provide strong leadership, vision and strategic direction, including development of strategic plans.• Demonstrated skills in building, motivating, supervising and retaining high-performance teams, including paid staff, interns and volunteers.• Expertise creating, maintaining, and supervising budgets and expenses while ensuring compliance and adherence to financial policies.• Flexibility; willingness to adjust work days and hours, including weekends and evenings, to accommodate events, emergencies and leadership coverage as needed.• A genuine passion and appreciation for the mission of the Discovery Center.• A hands-on leader who leads by example and is willing to do all that is necessary to get the job done.• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to professionally organize, present, and articulate ideas and information in an effective and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.• Exceptional judgment and critical thinking skills with the ability to exercise discretion.• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable and innovative approach to business operations.• Ability to lift 25 lbs. and occasionally engage in physically demanding work both indoors and outdoors. About the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center Located approximately halfway down the new St Pete Pier’s over-water walkway, the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, with its soaring rooflines and floor to ceiling glass walls, creates a dynamic visitor experience which includes a 2,000 square foot exhibition that will tell the story of Tampa Bay and bring the history and recovery of this unique ecosystem, and the role of Tampa Bay Watch, to visitors from around the corner and around the world. Inside, a centerpiece aquarium will showcase many of the species found in Tampa Bay waters. Interactive displays, video presentations, a touch tank and hands-on exhibits will combine for an unforgettable experience and a newfound respect for our local environment. The public exhibition hall will provide a new and unique venue for special events, corporate events, weddings, or other public/private meetings. Outside, visitors will find a large open deck area with amphitheater seating at the water’s edge encouraging them to linger and watch seabirds and sea life, as well as participate in outdoor programming. The Discovery Center also includes 1,000 square feet of classroom space to accommodate educational and field trip opportunities to students of all ages, including water-borne Eco-tours in the Discovery Center’s new floating classroom. Programming created for adult audiences will introduce new generations to the importance and uniqueness of Tampa Bay, and its role in the quality of life for residents and visitors to the Tampa Bay area.  How to apply: For immediate consideration, please submit a cover letter and your resume to resume@tampabaywatch.org or mail to:  Tampa Bay Watch, Inc., 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. Please, no phone calls.

Volunteer to help:

Helping hands needed for October oyster shell bar installationsOctober 3, 4, 25, & 26, from 9am – noon on each dateTampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to install an oyster shell bars to restore lost habitat systems to the bay, prevent further erosion of shorelines and improve water quality through natural biological filtration.  We still need volunteers at MacDill AFB on 10/3 & 10/4 from 9am – noon. The deadline for registration is Friday, 9/27. We’ll also be at McKay Bay on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 from 9am – noon. The project meeting location is Desoto Park, 2617 Corrine St., Tampa, FL 33605.  Cross Bayou & Joe’s Creek Cleanup on October 12 Pinellas County in partnership with Keep Pinellas Beautiful needs volunteers for a waterway and mangrove island cleanup in Pinellas Park on Saturday, October 12. Volunteer registration is between 8 AM – 8:30 AM. You can bring your own canoe/kayak or borrow a canoe on a first come first serve basis. No sea legs? They still need your help on the mangrove islands! The minimum age to participate is 18 years old. Meeting location is the Pinellas County Property at the corner of 78th Street N and 70th Ave N. Lunch and raffle prizes donated by local businesses are provided.  Registration is required by clicking here.