President & CEO

Shape the next future of Seattle's waterfront.

A rare opportunity to lead at the intersection of public space, civic life, culture, community, philanthropy, partnership, and the future of a region.

The Opportunity

The park is here. The full possibility is still being defined.

Seattle's Waterfront Park represents a once-in-a-generation transformation of the city's shoreline. Where the Alaskan Way Viaduct once separated downtown from Elliott Bay, 20+ acres of renewed public space now reconnect people to the water, the city, and one another.

Friends of Waterfront Park helped make this transformation possible. The next chapter is not simply about maintaining momentum. It's about defining this waterfront's future as a civic platform and defining how Friends evolves as an institution to help make that future real.

The President and CEO Mandate

Define and Shape the Institution for the Next Era

Establish an ambitious and differentiated future for Friends. Clarify what the organization is uniquely positioned to do and translate that direction into organizational structure, programming priorities, partnership, and disciplined execution.

Strengthen Civic Influence and Complex Public Private Partnerships

Position Friends as an influential civic institution while navigating partnerships, including the City of Seattle, Seattle Center, the Port, cultural institutions, business, Tribal partners, and neighboring waterfront organizations.

Cement a Sustainable Financial Model

Ensure the economic foundation required for Friends to pursue a larger future. Strengthen philanthropy and donor stewardship while expanding public investment, corporate partnerships, grants, mission aligned earned revenue, and other creative sources of support.

Essential Leadership Attributes

There is no single resume for this opportunity. We're looking for a combination of imagination, executive judgment, civic leadership, and the ability to turn ambition into a durable institution.

Strategic Institution Architect

Translates vision and ambition into clear direction, priorities, organizational capacity, and execution. Knows how to move an institution into its next chapter while making thoughtful choices about what to advance, change, or leave behind.

Civic and Coalition Leader

Navigates complex relationships with political sophistication and credibility. Earns trust across differing interests, creates shared ownership, and advances Friends' influence while defining its distinct role.

Executive Leader and Communicator

Brings strong judgment, presence, resilience, and clarity. Can lead through ambiguity, make difficult decisions, work effectively with an engaged Board, and inspire confidence among staff, and the broader community.

Financial and Resource Savvy

Brings sound financial judgment and the ability to distinguish between philanthropy, public investment, partnerships, earned revenue, and other resources needed to support long term growth and sustainability.

People Leader and Organizational Capacity Builder

Develop strong teams and leadership capacity. Understands personal strengths and gaps, empowers leaders, creates accountability, an organizational framework, and cultivates inclusivity.

Experience and Perspective

Friends is intentionally open to leaders from different sectors, geography, and career paths. Direct experience running a park is not required, and a traditional social sector career is not the only path to this role.

Compelling candidates will demonstrate:

• Meaningful executive accountability for strategy, people, financial outcomes, organizational performance, and external relationships.

• A track record of taking an organization, platform, or major initiative into a fundamentally different chapter.

• Experience shaping an organization's direction as opposed to simply executing a strategy created by others.

• Success influencing sophisticated stakeholders across public, private, philanthropic, community, or civic

settings.

• Strong financial judgment and experience attracting, deploying, or diversifying resources.

• Evidence of developing strong teams and leaders.

• Visible leadership in high-stakes settings where communication, credibility, and judgment matter.

People Leader and Organizational Capacity Builder

Develop strong teams and leadership capacity. Understands personal strengths and gaps, empowers leaders, creates accountability, an organizational framework, and cultivates inclusivity.

Experience and Perspective

Friends is intentionally open to leaders from different sectors, geography, and career paths. Direct experience running a park is not required, and a traditional social sector career is not the only path to this role.

Compelling candidates will demonstrate:

• Meaningful executive accountability for strategy, people, financial outcomes, organizational performance, and external relationships.

• A track record of taking an organization, platform, or major initiative into a fundamentally different chapter.

• Experience shaping an organization's direction as opposed to simply executing a strategy created by others.

• Success influencing sophisticated stakeholders across public, private, philanthropic, community, or civic

settings.

• Strong financial judgment and experience attracting, deploying, or diversifying resources.

• Evidence of developing strong teams and leaders.

• Visible leadership in high-stakes settings where communication, credibility, and judgment matter

Why This Role is Different

The next President and CEO will inherit an extraordinary public asset, a committed Board, a talented team, strong civic relationships, and a level of public visibility that few organizations of this size possess.

This is an opportunity to turn that platform into something larger!

The Invitation

Tell us what you believe Friends of Waterfront Park could become. What would you challenge? What would you protect? What possibilities do you see that may not yet be obvious? Then show us how you would translate that vision into the institution, resources, relationships, and team needed to make that future real.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated compensation range for the President and Chief Executive Officer is $280,000 - $360,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Friends of Waterfront Park offers a comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined by the organization's compensation philosophy and the experience of the selected candidate.

Search Process

This search is being conducted by ND Leadership Partners, led by Managing Partner Chris Nguyen.

Qualified candidates and referral sources are encouraged to engage with ND Leadership Partners. All expressions of interest will be managed with appropriate discretion and confidentiality throughout the search process.

You can email Chris directly at Chris@nextdeavor.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Friends of Waterfront Park is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.