Vice President Of Marketing, Communications And Guest Experience - Seattle Aquarium

Vice President Of Marketing, Communications, And Guest Experience

The Seattle Aquarium is hiring a Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Guest Experience—a visionary executive role leading both guest experience and marketing/communications as the organization enters an exciting new era with its state-of-the-art waterfront expansion. This is a unique opportunity to fuse strategy, storytelling, and community connection in a mission-driven, high-energy environment where marine conservation and public engagement meet. The ideal candidate brings humility, curiosity, and transformational leadership to elevate the Aquarium's brand and deepen its impact locally and globally. Join a passionate team in one of Seattle's most iconic institutions to inspire conservation, spark empathy, and drive change.

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world's one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more. Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding. Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we're among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we're working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion.

We are seeking an innovative and collaborative Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Guest Experience to lead our brand strategy, deepen community connections, and steward a compelling, awe-inspiring guest experience that reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability, inclusion, and public impact. The Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Guest Experience reports to the President and CEO and is a member of the Aquarium's executive team. This position also co-staffs two different Board of Directors committees, the Public Partnerships Committee and the Board Advancement Committee, to engage the board in marketing and fundraising efforts in support of our mission. This is a rare opportunity to shape the voice, visibility, and in-person experience of one of the Pacific Northwest's most treasured institutions, and to directly impact ocean conservation through storytelling, innovation and leadership.

The Seattle Aquarium connects with audiences through a variety of communication channels and platforms, engaging our community locally and globally.

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is: $170,000- $180,000 based on experience.

Key functions

The Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Guest Experience has a strong guest-centric focus, developing and deploying a variety of strategies to integrate all Aquarium audiences and drive earned and contributed revenue. This includes visitation and exposure to the Aquarium itself, as well as its website, blog and social media presences. The role is responsible for developing, executing and evaluating strategic marketing, advertising, public relations, communications and guest experience programs and campaigns to promote visitation and awareness, and to communicate the Aquarium's key messages to target audiences, while managing resources to produce results consistent with Aquarium plans, goals and mission.

This role collaborates across the organization to ensure consistent messaging, branding and guest experiences for all areas of the institution.

How you will spend your time:

Communication, Marketing & Engagement

• Lead the creation and execution of strategic, multi-channel marketing campaigns to increase visibility, engagement, and revenue across regional, national, and international audiences.

• Collaborate with Finance, Membership and the Conservation, Engagement, & Learning teams to set visitation, admission pricing, and per-cap targets, hit earned-revenue goals and execute audience driving strategies.

• Guide the evolution of the organization's brand identity in alignment with our conservation mission and sustainable values.

• Expand digital reach through innovative content, SEO/SEM strategies, and targeted messaging to grow both online and onsite audiences.

• Develop and implement marketing partnerships that help strengthen the brand while generating revenue.

Communications & Public Relations

• Serve as lead communications strategist and brand steward, ensuring clear, compelling messaging and storytelling across platforms—from media and web to social and print.

• Build and nurture relationships with local, national, and international media to elevate organizational initiatives and conservation impact.

• Lead internal communications that connect staff and stakeholders to mission, impact, and strategic priorities.

• Oversee crisis communications for external and internal audiences.

Guest Experience & Waterfront Connection

• Develop and implement strategy for an awe-inspiring and impactful guest experience for all audiences. Oversee front-of-house operations across multiple facilities, including the newly expanded Ocean Pavilion campus along Seattle's revitalized waterfront.

• Champion guest service excellence with a focus on inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability in every touchpoint.

• Implement systems and training to continually improve guest satisfaction, flow, and engagement, while upholding sustainable operating standards.

Events & Commercial Operations

• Oversee strategy and performance for a diverse events portfolio—daytime audience-building activations, community programs, fundraising galas, conferences, and private rentals—aligning each with outcome targets.

• Oversee revenue-generating commercial partnerships, including retail, café/catering, private rental events and other concessions.

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Impact

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of professionals in marketing, communications, guest services, events, and commercial operations, including the direct supervision of 4 senior leaders.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Development, Conservation, Education, and Operations to support integrated campaigns and guest-centric program design.

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, participating in the shaping of long-term strategy and organizational innovation.

Sustainability & Social Responsibility

• Align marketing and guest experience initiatives with the organization's commitment to climate action, sustainability, and community equity.

• Embed sustainability and equity practices in all aspects of marketing, events, and operations—from vendor selection to digital infrastructure to onsite experiences.

• Reflect and represent the aquarium's SALISH values in all aspects of the messaging and the experience.

What you will bring:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership in marketing, communications, brand strategy, and/or guest experience—preferably in nonprofit, conservation, or public-facing cultural organizations.

• Experience building and stewarding a compelling brand aligned with organizational mission and values.

• Proven track record in managing integrated marketing programs across digital, social, and traditional media, with measurable outcomes.

• Strong creative direction skills; demonstrated ability to oversee writers, designers, and contractors across campaigns, publications, and media.

• Prior responsibility for retail-style marketing, brand presentation, and sales or revenue-driving initiatives.

• Executive or senior leadership experience, including cross-functional collaboration and strategic planning.

• Demonstrated success in leading diverse teams toward shared outcomes; skilled in fostering inclusive, mission-driven workplace culture.

• Deep understanding of and commitment to environmental sustainability, marine conservation, or climate-focused missions.

• Excellent communicator with strong storytelling, data-informed decision-making, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.

• Experience in fundraising campaign marketing and nonprofit donor engagement is strongly preferred.

What's in it for you:

Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium's comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability,