President & CEO

About Friends of Waterfront Park

Friends of Waterfront Park is the nonprofit organization responsible for fundraising, stewarding and programming Seattle's 20-acre Waterfront Park, a new public space stretching along the city's central shoreline and reconnecting downtown Seattle with Elliott Bay. Working alongside the City of Seattle, Seattle Center, community organizations, cultural partners, philanthropic contributors and neighboring businesses, Friends brings the park to life through free arts and cultural programming, recreation and wellness, community events, public space activation, partnerships and ongoing stewardship.

At its core, Friends works to ensure Waterfront Park is more than a physical place: it is a welcoming and inclusive civic gathering space where people and communities can connect with one another, Seattle's waterfront and the stories and cultures that define the region.

Seattle's Waterfront Park is the product of decades of civic imagination, public investment, philanthropy, community engagement and partnership. Today, twenty acres of renewed public space reconnect downtown Seattle with Elliott Bay and bring together culture, recreation, nature, commerce and community.

With the capital campaign complete and the full park now open, Friends of Waterfront Park is entering a new institutional chapter. The opportunity ahead is to define the organization's long-term role, strengthen its internal and external leadership capacity, deepen civic and regional partnerships and build a durable financial model that sustains a vibrant, inclusive and welcoming waterfront for generations.

The President and CEO will lead Friends through its transition from a successful capital campaign and park opening into its next era as an enduring civic institution. The President and CEO will shape strategy, advocate for Friends and Waterfront Park, steward a consequential public-private partnership, and build the financial and organizational foundation required for long-term impact.

Friends has built significant community credibility, programming expertise, partnerships and institutional knowledge. The next President and CEO will be expected to understand and build upon those strengths while bringing greater strategic clarity and organizational maturity. The strongest leader will know when to listen, when to preserve what is working and when to move decisively to position Friends for its next era.

This is a rare executive opportunity at the intersection of civic leadership, public space, arts and culture, community belonging, economic vitality, philanthropy and government.

The next President and CEO will inherit extraordinary momentum, a highly visible public asset, an engaged Board, talented and committed staff and a network of influential partners. They will also have the opportunity to help define the institution that supports the waterfront for decades to come.

For an executive who believes great cities are strengthened through shared public spaces, strong institutions, inclusive workplaces and authentic partnerships, this role offers the opportunity to leave a visible and lasting legacy.

The anticipated compensation range for the President and Chief Executive Officer is $280,000 - $340,000 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.

This search is being conducted by ND Leadership Partners, led by Managing Partner Chris Nguyen, as a retained executive search.…