Tennessee Aquarium | Chief Operating Officer

The Tennessee Aquarium is seeking an accomplished, strategic, and highly collaborative Chief Operating Officer to help lead one of the nation’s 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 Chattanooga’s 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 capacity. In 2025, the Aquarium welcomed more than 784,000 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 Aquarium’s 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 Aquarium’s 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 Aquarium’s 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 Aquarium’s 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.
• 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.
• Experience in an executive leadership position with a cultural institution is strongly preferred.
• 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 Aquarium’s mission and an understanding of how operational excellence, guest experience, revenue, conservation, and education work together to advance impact.
  

A bachelor’s 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 $200,000–$250,000, 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 Search’s Nonprofit Practice, to lead this search.

For additional information, contact:

Kay Linder
Partner, Nonprofit Practice
ThinkingAhead Executive Search
klinder@thinkingahead.com