President and Chief Executive Officer Zoo Knoxville | Knoxville, Tennessee Zoo Knoxville, a treasured zoo and integral part of the Knoxville community, seeks a visionary and collaborative leader as its next President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). This leader will guide the Zoo to take full advantage of the growth and momentum in the Knoxville metro and surrounding areas and to lead economic and community development in the Zoo’s immediate neighborhood. The Zoo is staffed, resourced, and supported to continue its positive trajectory with a savvy leader at the helm.Zoo Knoxville is committed to sharing wildly fun experiences that educate and inspire. Combined with the goal of saving animals from extinction, both locally and globally, the Zoo blends fun with a seriousness of purpose, and the new President & CEO will put these ideals at the forefront of their leadership. Zoo Knoxville is a sophisticated Zoo featuring an increasing number of captivating exhibits, and the new CEO will build upon its reputation for both animal care and community engagement, supported by a strong vision and stable finances.Zoo Knoxville is home to approximately 1,500 animals and 12 major exhibits spanning over 53 wooded acres. As a result of the most recent capital campaign that ended successfully in 2021, new exhibits and other capital improvements are in progress. The Zoo's attendance reached a record of over 591,000 in 2023, and a new master plan and the Zoo’s conservation work plan are near final. The Zoo is a private 501(c)(3), governed by an engaged and supportive Board of Directors.The new President & CEO will assume leadership at a time of great momentum for Zoo Knoxville and the broader Knoxville community. The City of Knoxville is growing in population daily, and the Zoo is an integral nonprofit in the region. Located in Chilhowee Park and East Knoxville, areas of potential investment in the years to come, the Zoo is poised to be a key contributor to the revitalization of Chilhowee Park, helping to shape Knoxville for future generations. The new CEO will play a significant role in these plans and their implementation while ensuring the continued successful operation of the Zoo.Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically below.Natalie Leonhard is leading this search with Sharon Hansen and Kendra MoleéZoo Knoxville is committed to listening, learning, supporting, and protecting human diversity as passionately as we do the diversity of our natural world. It's our differences that make a strong, vibrant, beautiful world. We work to increase access to the zoo for families in our local communities of color and continually improve the zoo as a diverse and inclusive community asset and workplace. APPLY NOMINATE contact Sharon Hansen Full Description