Executive Director

Salary: $120,000 – $140,000 annually, DOE

Step into a leadership role where you can see your work literally bloom. As Executive Director (ED) of the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society (BBGS), you’ll provide programming and fundraising in support of one of the nation’s premier botanical gardens that inspires nearly a half million visitors annually.

Come lead a team of professionals, partnering with a passionate Board and the City of Bellevue to help shape the next chapter of a beloved community institution. The ED role is a rare opportunity for a mission-driven nonprofit leader to make a lasting impact in the Garden and on the surrounding community.

Considered one of the best botanical gardens in the nation, the Bellevue Botanical Garden began its rich history as the humble home of Cal and Harriet Shorts, who committed to sharing the beauty of the land they developed with as many people as possible by bequeathing their home and property to the City of Bellevue in 1981.

Opening its doors in 1992, the Garden has since grown to include 53 acres and expanded its exhibits in partnership with community organizations such as the Northwest Perennial Alliance, Eastside Fuchsia Society, Washington Native Plant Society, and King County Master Gardeners.

Today, more than 450,000 visitors from around the globe visit the Garden each year to discover the best plants and gardening practices for healthy Northwest gardens, renew their spirit, delight their senses, and connect with community.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden Society (BBGS) was formed in 1986 to support the City of Bellevue by cultivating the bond between plants and people, raising funds to support the Garden’s physical growth and development, and providing educational programs and community events.

In partnership with the City of Bellevue, BBGS strives to ensure the Shorts’ vision of opening their home to as many people as possible remains a reality, now and well into the future.

BBGS now seeks its next Executive Director to help usher the Society into the next chapter of inspiring people and building community on the grounds of the beautiful Bellevue Botanical Garden.

The ED leads the organization with the primary mission of connecting the community to the Garden through educational programs, visitor services, events, and member engagement.

The ED will join and lead a dedicated team of full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, with direct supervision of the Development Director, Youth & Children’s Education Manager, Adult Programs Manager, Visitor Services Manager, Marketing & Communications Manager, Trillium Store Manager, and contracted accounting and IT services.

Leveraging learnings from prior leadership experience, the ED will assess and improve internal systems and processes to ensure staff are fully supported and that BBGS’s resources are used efficiently. As the primary ambassador for BBGS, the ED will further relationships with donors and funders and ensure continued collaboration with the City of Bellevue through the City’s Garden Director.

In partnership with the Board Chair, the ED will continue professionalizing the Board of Directors through timely and consistent communication, coaching and mentorship, and member recruitment.

While each day will be new and exciting, we anticipate the incoming leader will dedicate most of their attention in the following ways:

• Lead the creation and implementation of strategies, policies, and practices in collaboration with the Board, staff, and the City of Bellevue to ensure organizational effectiveness.
• Manage a dedicated, passionate, and high-performing team of staff and volunteers. Provide the necessary tools, skills, procedures, and information for optimal performance.
• Own BBGS strategy, goals, and objectives through identifying, creating, gaining Board approval, and implementation.
• Hold responsibility for overseeing BBGS’s successful partnership with the City of Bellevue and collaborating with the City’s Garden Director to optimize resources across both organizations.
• Actively engage in the community to increase awareness of the…