Working Title: Chief Guest Engagement & Revenue Optimization
Job Class: Agency Division Director Senior
Agency: Minnesota Zoological Garden
Job ID : 96269
Location : Apple Valley
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 08/21/2026
Closing Date : 09/10/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Minnesota Zoological Garden / Zoo Gardens-Managerial
Division/Unit : Zoo Division Directors / Revenue Optimization
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift; 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes - up to 25% time
Salary Range: $55.68 - $79.79 / hourly; $116,259 - $166,601 / annually
Classified Status : Unclassified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 - Manager/Unrep
FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
Relocation assistance may be available to support the selected candidate's move to the area. Eligibility and the level of assistance will be determined based on the circumstances of the relocation and applicable policies.
This position is responsible for driving an exceptional, modern, and mission-centered guest experience at the Minnesota Zoo while maximizing revenue generated through admissions, membership, events, educational programming, and third-party food, beverage, and retail operations. This position serves on the Director's Advisory Team as a principal advisor and strategist for guest engagement, revenue generation, educational program creation and delivery, brand position, and go-to-market strategy. This position plans, directs, and implements strategies to generate statewide, national, and international engagement with the Zoo's educational and conservation mission.
This position supports operations across a large campus environment and requires the employee to travel between multiple buildings and work sites located throughout the campus to perform assigned duties and respond to operational needs. The incumbent must be able to travel between campus locations in a timely and reliable manner to carry out essential job functions. When job duties require the operation of a motor vehicle to access work sites, transport equipment, or respond to service needs, the employee must be able to safely operate a vehicle and possess a valid and unrestricted driver's license.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Direct and manage the division staffing in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and labor contracts to ensure a high-performing division structured for scalability, cross-functional collaboration, and long-term sustainability.
Establish and direct a comprehensive guest experience strategy across all guest-facing departments to ensure experiences are mission-aligned, financially sustainable, operationally excellent, and responsive to public accountability standards.
Establish and direct the Zoo's earned revenue strategy to maximize revenue generated through admissions, membership, events and educational programming, and third-party food, beverage, and retail operations.
Provide executive leadership for the creation, delivery, and evaluation of educational programming aligned with conservation priorities and financial sustainability.
Provide executive oversight of major third-party partners including retail, food, and beverage operations and other service delivery partners.
Serve as a key member of the Director's Advisory Team to develop and lead Zoo-wide strategies and policies and to ensure management decisions and actions are aligned with state values and the priorities of the Director and Deputy Director.
Minimum Qualifications
The following qualifications are required of all applicants seeking consideration for this position. Only applicants whose application materials clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for the position. To ensure accurate evaluation, your resume must clearly describe your experience in the required areas. For each job, include whether it was full-time, part-time, or intermittent/on-call; how many hours per week you worked; and the month and year you started and ended.
Minimum Qualifications
Ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in guest engagement and revenue operations, commercial strategy, within a complex, public and mission-driven organization with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
Demonstrated leadership experience must include time as an executive leader.
Total demonstrated leadership experience may include experience as a manager, supervisor, or team/project lead.
Master's degree may substitute for 18 months of experience; Bachelor's degree may substitute for one year of experience; Associate's degree may substitute for six months of experience.
Demonstrated experience managing $10M+ in earned revenue, including revenue forecasting, pricing strategy, budgeting and financial performance management.
Ability to create and communicate division level strategy, a roadmap to achieve the vision and experience with effectively managing and/or leading diverse partners or constituent groups through change.
Experience leading and developing leaders, fostering accountability and collaboration, and translating organizational strategy into measurable results.
Experience using customer-centered approaches or community feedback, knowledge and perspectives to improve organizational strategies, decisions, operations and services
Experience overseeing third-party vendor contracts and performance-based agreements.
Valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's or Master's degree in hospitality, business, communications, education, or related field.
Experience in zoological, aquarium, museum, comparable attraction, or retail leadership.
Experience leading projects from planning through implementation while meeting established timelines and objectives, and maintaining operational excellence.
Experience establishing ongoing feedback structures with customers or community to inform organizational strategies and decisions.
Experience creating and managing large-scale ticketed events.
Advanced proficiency with POS, CRM, ticketing, and analytics systems.
Fluency in a second language such as Spanish, Hmong, or ASL.
Physical Requirements
Flexible availability, including weekends, holidays, and evenings.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Proficiency with modern digital tools and communication platforms.
Additional Requirements
Applicants must have the ability to meet the physical requirements and work in the environmental conditions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
It is policy of the Minnesota Zoo that all candidates submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
Conflict of Interest Review
Criminal History Check including fingerprinting
Education Verification
Employment Reference / Records Check
License / Certification Verification
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
