Executive Director

About the Sitka Sound Science Center

The Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at the intersection of rigorous science, community, and place. Founded in 2007 and based in Sitka, Alaska, the SSSC advances awareness and understanding of aquatic, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems across coastal Alaska through research, education, and meaningful partnerships.

With an annual budget of approximately $6 million and more than 50 programs and projects, the SSSC plays a vital role in connecting science to community and place. We envision a future where community members, scientific innovation, and Indigenous Knowledge work together so that marine ecosystems, people, and local economies can thrive across generations. Our team of 27 full-time and 10 seasonal staff members embodies that vision every day — through collaborative research, hands-on education programs, salmon hatchery operations, aquaculture, and a public aquarium that connects our community to the living world around them.

The Opportunity

The SSSC is seeking an Executive Director who is as comfortable presenting to a Senate committee as they are walking a student through a tide pool. This is a rare opportunity to lead a well-established, financially sound, and deeply mission-driven institution at a pivotal moment — building on a decade of growth while shaping the next chapter.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director holds full strategic, programmatic, financial, and operational accountability for the organization. They will oversee a ~$6M operating budget with more than 55 funding streams and lead six (6) direct reports: the Directors of Education, Research, Finance & Human Resources, Aquaculture, the Facilities Manager, and the Communications Coordinator.

This person will not simply manage what exists — they will help evolve it. They will bring bold ideas, earn the trust of a talented team, and serve as the SSSC's most visible ambassador to funders, partners, and the public.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Board to develop and implement a compelling strategic vision that builds on the SSSC's momentum and extends its reach regionally and nationally.
• Balance ambitious long-term thinking with realistic, achievable implementation — moving the organization forward without outpacing its capacity.
• Champion the SSSC's commitment to community-driven research and education, ensuring programs continue to reflect the real needs of coastal Alaskan communities.
• Actively uplift Indigenous Knowledge and values as integral to the SSSC's scientific and educational work.

Organizational Leadership & Culture

• Lead with transparency, humility, and a collaborative management style that motivates staff at all levels and sustains the SSSC's strong internal culture.
• Champion the SSSC's Justice, Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (JAIDE) initiatives — bringing genuine commitment and fresh ideas to diversifying the sciences and the SSSC's workforce.
• Attract, retain, and develop top talent; foster an environment where creativity, innovation, and cross-departmental collaboration thrive.

External Relations & Advocacy

• Serve as the SSSC's chief advocate locally, regionally, and nationally — communicating the institution's mission with clarity, credibility, and passion.
• Build and sustain productive relationships with federal, state, Tribal, and local officials; visiting scientists and their students; peer institutions; civic leaders; and the broader public.
• Bring demonstrated experience working respectfully and collaboratively with Tribal governments and Alaska Native corporations.

Fundraising & Resource Development

• Lead fundraising efforts in partnership with the Board — cultivating individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders to grow the SSSC's private and public support.
• Write and manage grants; identify and develop new funding streams; explore opportunities to grow earned income.
• Build lasting strategic partnerships that extend the SSSC's impact and visibility.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• Uphold fiduciary responsibility to the organization by overseeing sound financial management, ensuring resources are used in accordance with donor intent and organizational mission, maintaining compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, and always acting in the best interests of the organization.
• Provide disciplined, transparent financial oversight of a ~$6M budget with more than 55 funding streams.
• Apply sound, data-informed judgment to budgetary decisions that align with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure field station facilities — classrooms, laboratories, dive spaces, salmon hatchery, and aquarium — are well maintained and that a facility master plan is actively advanced.

Candidate Profile

The ideal Executive Director brings significant leadership, fundraising, and management experience — and the kind of genuine passion for science, education, and community that is impossible to manufacture.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has led a complex organization or department with meaningful programmatic scope and proven results.
• Is a seasoned, confident fundraiser with a track record of cultivating diverse funding relationships — including private donors.
• Thinks strategically and creatively but stays grounded in what is actually achievable.
• Communicates with clarity and warmth across a wide range of audiences — from Indigenous community members to federal agency heads to middle school students.
• Earns trust and followership by listening as much as they speak and celebrating the success of others as much as their own.
• Has the intellectual credibility to engage meaningfully with the SSSC's scientific and educational programs — a background in or deep appreciation for the sciences is preferred, but excellence in leadership skills are most highly valued.
• Brings a genuine commitment to JAIDE principles that go beyond policy — it shows in their leadership.
• Is energized by Alaska: its communities, its ecosystems, and the opportunities and challenges of operating in this place.
• An ideal candidate will have 10 years of experience in a leadership position.
• We are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in our work and within our team. We actively seek candidates with diverse perspectives and lived experiences, particularly those from communities historically underrepresented in our field.

Compensation & Benefits

The annual salary range is $117,000–$165,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The SSSC offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement, and generous leave. The position requires periodic travel, which may include small planes.

Other Requirements

• Valid Alaska Driver's License, or ability to obtain one.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check (required to work with students).
• Educational background or demonstrated understanding of the sciences.

Health insurance, 401K, PTO