Description
President and Chief Executive Officer
Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah’s Hogle Zoo (Hogle Zoo, the Zoo), one of the state’s most iconic cultural institutions and a leader in animal wellbeing, seeks a new Chief Executive Officer to guide the Zoo into its next era. The Zoo reached a historic milestone in 2025 when it received a rare perfect score during its reaccreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), becoming only the 10th institution to attain this achievement. With this achievement as a foundation, the next CEO will build on this momentum and commitment to exceptional care.
This is a moment of possibility for the organization. Operating in a crowded ecosystem that values family-friendly attractions, Hogle Zoo can solidify its place as the cultural organization for the state. The Zoo benefits from a talented, mission-driven team and a community that cares about the organization’s successful future. With important work already underway, guided by a strategic plan with broad buy-in, and an ambitious vision guiding the years ahead, the next CEO will have the opportunity to expand the Zoo’s impact, strengthen key partnerships, and elevate its role as a leader in conservation, education, and guest experience.
The CEO will steward relationships with state and county partners, maintain the Zoo’s excellent reputation for animal wellbeing, and ensure that Hogle Zoo continues to deliver meaningful, accessible, and inspiring experiences for more than 900,000 annual guests. The CEO reports to a highly engaged 21-member Board of Directors and leads a four-member executive team, which oversees a staff of 145 full-time employees and more than 80 seasonal employees.
The new CEO must be an experienced and strategic leader with a deep commitment to the Zoo’s mission to create champions for wildlife and foster a world where people and wildlife thrive together. The successful CEO will build trust through transparency, amplify the Zoo’s existing strengths, and introduce fresh thinking and an innovative spirit, positioning the Zoo for continued success.
The target salary for this role is $250,000 and will be commensurate with experience. Utah’s Hogle Zoo has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to support the search. Please submit all inquiries, nominations, and applications (including CVs and letters of interest) through the Isaacson, Miller website.
