About the Organization

Heal the Bay is the most recognized environmental nonprofit group in LA for a reason: we have been keeping Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean for people and marine life since 1985. Using education, science, advocacy, and community action, we raise awareness and make progress with practical solutions to often complex problems. We conduct hundreds of beach and community cleanups each year, informing people about the root causes of pollution along the shorelines and in their neighborhoods. We advocate for strict water quality regulations that protect the health of both humans and the animals that call local creeks, rivers, and the Santa Monica Bay home. We operate the award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, educating over 100,000 visitors a year and inspiring countless guests to become stewards for the region’s most important natural resource: clean water. We also educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, with 10,000 to 15,000 students joining Heal the Bay each year for school field trips, science-based classroom presentations, and hands on learning events. Learn more about us at www.healthebay.org/our-impact 

About the Role

Heal the Bay is seeking a full-time Development Specialist, Major Gifts professional to support the organization’s overall fundraising plan and year-round campaigns.

Heal the Bay’s Development Specialist position requires approximately 70% Fundraising and 30% Administrative responsibilities.

Under the supervision of the Director of Development, the Development Specialist will primarily solicit, cultivate, and steward individual donors, including high net-worth prospects, in support of the organization’s fundraising goals.

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About the Organization  

Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds of greater L.A. safe, healthy and clean. To fulfill our mission, we use science, education, community action and advocacy. We educate the greater Los Angeles region about the undersea wonders of our local Santa Monica Bay, the causes and impacts of local water pollution, the need for an improved resilient water supply, and what Angelenos can do to make a difference. We reach over 150,000 people every year through our Heal the Bay Aquarium, beach cleanups and community outreach programs.

California’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Heal the Bay is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment that respects all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, or age. We are focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse team of employees, fostering a positive environment where inclusive behaviors are the norm, prioritizing our work through an equity and inclusivity lens, and embedding accountability for diversity throughout the organization. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees are included, are treated with dignity and respect, and are in a position to contribute to our success.

Heal the Bay is looking for a full-time Senior Aquarist to support our Heal the Bay Aquarium Operations Department.

About the Role  

Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Operations, the Senior Aquarist will fill the primary role of providing high standard husbandry care and maintenance for all aquatic exhibits, displaying local Santa Monica Bay species. As an advanced level position, the Senior Aquarist will be expected to have a strong base understanding of aquarium science and the ability to lead projects, develop volunteers, and contribute to the overall mission of Heal the Bay.

Expectations & Responsibilities  

• Daily duties include but are not limited to: cleaning exhibits, food preparation and feedings, treating any injured/diseased individuals as necessary, making observations and recognizing abnormal animal behavior/appearance, acting upon/reporting such observations in a timely manner, and completing all necessary records and paperwork thoroughly
• Maintains all life support systems equipment, aquarium exhibits, and facilities. Identifies issues, performs necessary repairs, develops new systems, and keeps adequate supplies in stock
• Performs routine water quality analysis, monitors trends, and makes necessary adjustments to maintain ideal aquatic habitat conditions
• Leads and/or assists with acquiring all aquatic specimens through industry supplier purchase, zoological institution trade/donation or in boat collecting trips
• Performs veterinary/medical procedures under the guidance of the HTB contracted veterinarian
• Assists with procurement of supplies and equipment within quarterly/monthly designated budgets
• Assists in the advancement and implementation of exhibit goals by contributing to design and management
• Trains, develops, and oversees the work of aquarist volunteers and interns
• Contributes to the mission of Heal the Bay by creating exhibit displays and work that promotes science, education, community action, and advocacy
• Performs all other duties as required

Preferred Experience & Skills  

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, fisheries, zoology or related field required OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of progressive levels of responsibility providing daily husbandry to aquatic animals
• Knowledge of modern principles of animal care and welfare, including behavioral enrichment, habitat, nutrition, disease, training, water quality, and transport
• Open Water SCUBA certified. Rescue Diver Certification preferred or the ability to get the certification within 4 months of hire
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, kneel, bend, crouch, squat, and stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to work effectively in wet conditions indoors and out, as well as, in inclement weather
• Experience with computerized record keeping software such as Tracks is highly preferred

If you don’t meet all of the preferred skills above, you are still encouraged to apply and will be considered based on diverse and equivalent skills and experience.

Compensation  

This is a non-exempt full-time position $20-$24 per hour with appropriate state and federal taxes withheld.

Benefits  

There are dental, medical, health insurance, and vacation benefits included as part of employment. In accordance with California Labor Law, employee will be eligible to receive up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year, after completing 90 days of employment. All Heal the Bay recognized Holidays will be compensated in accordance to time worked.

Schedule 

Full-time, 40 hours per week. Must be available for weekends, evenings, and holidays.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in variable weather conditions with potential exposure to heat, wind, and inclement weather both inside the Aquarium Pier Gift Shop and Aquarium Exhibit Gallery, and outdoors on the Santa Monica Pier and beach

 How to Apply  

Please email your resume and cover letter to Laura Rink, Associate Aquarium Director, at lrink@healthebay.org with the subject line “Senior Aquarist Heal the Bay”. No phone calls please.  Applications will be reviewed immediately and on an ongoing basis in the order they are received

Qualified individuals that reflect the diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of Los Angeles County are strongly encouraged to apply for this opportunity.

Heal the Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and we strongly encourage applications from individuals that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County.

Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered including: the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking.

Heal the Bay requires all staff to obtain and maintain up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations, when available. Heal the Bay believes this is an important measure to protect the health and safety of employees, volunteers, family members and those who visit the workplace from COVID-19 infection. Staff must show proof of vaccination (vaccination card or website).

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Heal the Bay invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of Development. This senior director will generate gifts, grants, and other charitable revenue to support Heal the Bay’s efforts to improve the long-term quality of life for the human and wildlife inhabitants of California’s treasured coastlands. This is a rare opportunity–ideal for the fundraising leader who is professionally and personally motivated to make an impact now! Climate change and pollution threaten California’s beaches, rivers, and coastal wildlife. Join the passionate team at Heal the Bay to help make Santa Monica Bay and its watersheds safe, healthy, and clean. The successful candidate’s vision, enthusiasm, and fundraising expertise will support science, advocacy, community outreach, and education to create positive change in our environment.

About the Organization

Heal the Bay is an environmental organization dedicated to making southern California’s Coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. To fulfill our mission, we use science, education, community action, and advocacy. Heal the Bay has an annual budget of over $4 million and more than 15,000 members. Progress toward our mission is achieved by effectively combining science, advocacy, community outreach, and education to create positive change in our environment. 

We strongly encourage applications from individuals that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County, including but not limited to people of color, LGBTQIA and other communities that environmental organizations, including Heal the Bay, have not adequately engaged. 

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer as a key member of the organization’s senior staff cabinet, the Director of Development leads the organization’s fundraising and grants administration efforts that generate more than $6 million annually. As the chief fundraiser for Heal the Bay, the Director of Development conducts ongoing communications with major donors, foundation program officers, public sector agencies, and senior corporate officers to sustain and grow contributions from these partners.

The Director of Development is expected to be an effective public ambassador for Heal the Bay and will address diverse audiences in a wide variety of settings on behalf of the organization. The Director of Development will coordinate major donor appeal meetings and foundation site visits, often in concert with institutional representatives, including board members, the Chief Executive Officer, or other senior staff. Heal the Bay plans to carry out a capital campaign to build a new aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier. The Director of Development will be the primary internal coordinator of activities carried out by the capital campaign consultants and the campaign fundraising committee.

Heal the Bay produces several successful fundraising events, generating at least $1.3 million in annual gross proceeds. The Director of Development will work closely with staff and consultants to ensure sponsorship and onsite revenue goals are achieved, taking ownership of coordinating pledges from event sponsors, board members, and special guests.

The Director of Development actively collaborates with Heal the Bay’s board of directors, senior staff, and the staff of the Development department to set and measure progress toward achieving annual and long-range fundraising goals. In this highly collaborative role, success depends on building mutually respectful working relationships with fellow executives and program teams, understanding and persuasively articulating Heal the Bay’s projects, initiatives, and strategic priorities. The Director of Development will also work closely with Heal the Bay’s communications team to support fundraising objectives and ensure consistent institutional branding.

Heal the Bay is committed to a healthy, safe, and inclusive workplace environment. The Director of Development will be a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion–both as an organization leader, and in alignment with donors, foundation grantmakers, and corporate sponsors who value diversity and inclusion as principles of ethical stewardship.

The successful candidate will be relentlessly goal driven, sustaining a singular focus on accountability–of both their own work and that of the Development team. To be seriously considered for this opportunity, applicants must demonstrate a history of directly initiating, sustaining, and expanding charitable fundraising results. The selection committee is eager to meet candidates who can demonstrate progressively senior professional employment, consulting, and/or volunteer roles that reflect a passion for protecting the environment.

The Santa Monica Bay and its environs are diverse in flora, fauna–and people. The future of Heal the Bay depends on engaging directly with and generating enthusiasm for its mission among prospective donors, volunteers, staff, and advocates from the region’s ethnically diverse communities. The Director of Development will support and coordinate, as directed by the CEO, Heal the Bay’s efforts to develop, implement, and measure the impact of methods to achieve greater visibility, affinity, charitable giving, and volunteer support among all who have a stake in the organization’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Fundraising, Stewardship, and Communications 

• Develops and leads the implementation of a multi-year Development Plan, in consultation with Heal the Bay’s executive and board teams.  
• Manages a portfolio of major donors and prospects; is personally and actively engaged in the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and documentation of donor relations.
• Leads development team in executing three major fundraising events:  gala, golf tournament and water agency luncheon. This includes generating gifts and sponsorships.
• Researches, explores, and executes methods to establish and leverage for fundraising impact relationships with private sector and philanthropic leaders and organizations. 
• May spend up to 20% of time on local (LA County) travel to develop and cultivate major donors. 
• Guides the creation of donor-related materials, including print, direct mail andelectronic appeals, stewardship communications, and event sponsorship appeal packets.
• Leads the development of written proposals and verbal appeals, ensuring that supporting materials are prepared for all grant requests and major donor meetings. 
• Solicits, either personally or with other senior team members, a targeted number of major gifts annually. 
• Develops and measures the effectiveness of methods to build a pipeline (tracked in Salesforce) of prospective major donors.
• Is an effective and compelling public spokesperson, leveraging appearances to increase the community of and enthusiasm among stakeholders.
• Creates opportunities in coordination with the CEO to raise Heal the Bay’s profile throughout the region by successfully leading and supporting strategic partnerships, special and public events, and issue campaigns.
• Ensures timely, transparent, and comprehensive information is provided to accounting and data management of impending gift requests to ensure compliance with accounting procedures.
• Manages and takes personal responsibility for the documentation of all fundraising activity, preparing and providing monthly briefing and periodic full reports to Heal the Bay board and senior staff of department objectives and ongoing fundraising activities.  
• Strictly observes and demonstrates respect for nonprofit and fundraising ethical principles of transparency, regulatory compliance, and donor stewardship. 

Management 

• Hires, supervises, and evaluates up to four Development staff, ensuring that they have the support and resources to succeed. 
• Oversees the preparation of Development department reports, monitoring progress and adjusting resources to achieve outcomes as described in fundraising plans.
• Conducts regular team and individual meetings with Development staff to shape and support donor relations, gift prospecting, foundation proposals, and private sector sponsorship appeals.
• Devotes approximately 10% of time to senior staff collaboration and general administrative activities across the organization.
• Continues professional and network development through ongoing training and climate/conservation community activities. 

Leadership Team & Board of Directors

• Participates actively and productively as a collegial member of the senior staff to support Heal the Bay’s strategic and operational success.
• Conducts respectful and productive meetings with Heal the Bay board members to support both their own giving and to leverage their capacity for referring major gift prospects among their networks.  

Management Approach, General Skills, Experience, and Education

• At least ten years of senior fundraising leadership and gift solicitation experience.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high net-worth individuals, with a track record of securing five-figure (and greater) gifts, and increasing major donor gifts.
• Experience preferred in capital campaign planning, fundraising, or other campaign support roles.
• Strong ability to persuasively express and describe the mission and programs of Heal the Bay to a wide variety of different audiences. 
• Proficiency in Salesforce or similar donor relations database; ensure that Development staff are skillfully maintaining Heal the Bay’s donor data system.
• Resourceful and creative problem solving and goal achievement style, bringing a blend of coaching and “lead by example” management approaches.   
• Flexible, collegial, and supportive interpersonal workplace style.  
• Ability to perform under pressure with grace in a dynamic workplace environment.
• Superior professional working style, including the ability to work effectively with the executive leadership, board of directors, major donors, and prospects in an effective manner.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• A clear understanding of 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal issues/structures.

Compensation

• The salary and compensation package is very competitive, with the annual salary range from $120,000 to $150,000. The actual salary offer will depend on the finalist’s experience and demonstrated capacity for success. Heal the Bay offers an excellent benefits package.
• This is a full-time (exempt) position, with occasional evening and weekend work required. The position requires being based in Los Angeles County, California with a current flexible “in office” requirement of at least two days a week.

Learn more about Heal the Bay.

Application Information 

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter by 5 p.m. Pacific on January 20, 2023, to salazarsearch@gmail.com with the subject line “Heal the Bay”.

Qualified individuals that reflect the diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of Los Angeles County are strongly encouraged to apply for this opportunity.

Heal the Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

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About the Organization

Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds of greater L.A. safe, healthy, and clean. Heal the Bay mobilizes L.A.’s diverse communities to protect our coastline, revitalize our urban waterways, and speak out for smart water policies. For more than three decades, we’ve been the guardian of the Bay – protecting the health of beachgoers and animals alike.

California’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Heal the Bay is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment that respects all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, or age. We are focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse team of employees, fostering a positive environment where inclusive behaviors are the norm, prioritizing our work through an equity and inclusivity lens, and embedding accountability for diversity throughout the organization. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees are included, are treated with dignity and respect, and are in a position to contribute to our success

Position Description

Under the supervision of the Aquarium’s Associate Director of Programs, the Public Programs Manager will fill the primary role of providing high quality customer service while creating public educational content and programming, as well as leading public program operations, special events, birthday parties, and retail operations. Leads a team of public programs associates, volunteers, and interns and prioritizes the organization’s strategic initiatives through collaborative communication internally and externally.

Essential Job Functions include:

• Manage public programs team including staff, interns, and volunteers by motivating, coaching, training and developing them towards optimum performance.
• Develop skills and oversee special projects of staff, volunteers, and interns related to strategic planning, revenue goals, and program growth.
• Oversee the daily operations of public programs during all business hours including admissions, retail, and visitor experience.
• Listen, understand, and address the needs of our visitors, employees, and volunteers while creating a welcoming environment that supports Heal the Bay’s mission of fostering inclusivity, dignity, and respect.
• Create content and exhibit enhancements as needed, as well as managing and leading themed weekends, special events, birthday parties, and general public programs.
• Support retail operations through inventory management, ordering, pricing merchandising, marketing, and advertising
• Work closely with the communications team to ensure marketing and communications efforts are integrated and optimized on event, program, and department levels.
• Help to increase awareness of Heal the Bay’s mission and visibility for the Aquarium, and be an advocate for our strategic initiatives.
• Assist in office management, including supply ordering and maintaining Green Business Certification and Associate of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) best practices.
• Oversee the development and use of effective standard operating procedures, implementation, and monitoring programs to ensure that all policies and procedures are appropriately and effectively followed.
• Contribute positively to the leadership team and foster a culture of great communication and collaboration organization wide.
• Contribute to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all people and creatures.

Preferred Experience/Skills

• Management experience and proven success working as part of a diverse team.
• Experience with, or interest in learning about, working with animals and educating about animals, including familiarity with Santa Monica Bay marine organisms and ecosystems.
• Excellent communication, customer service, and public speaking skills
• Conversational level knowledge of at least two languages (Spanish preferred)
• Knowledge of major social media platforms (e.g.,. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite
• Can work collaboratively and communicate well with a team.
• Can also work independently with minimal supervision and take initiative.
• Experience working with children and fostering positive learning experiences.

If you don’t meet all of the preferred skills above, you are still encouraged to apply and will be considered based on diverse and equivalent skills and experience.

Compensation

This is a non-exempt full-time position $22.50 – $25.50 per hour with appropriate state and federal taxes withheld.

Benefits

There are dental, medical, health insurance, and vacation benefits included as part of employment. In accordance with California Labor Law, employee will be eligible to receive up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year, after completing 90 days of employment. All Heal the Bay recognized holidays will be compensated in accordance to time worked.

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week. Must be available for weekends, evenings, and holidays.

To Apply

Please submit cover letter and/or brief introduction and resume/CV or list of qualifications online HERE.

Heal the Bay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and we strongly encourage applications from individuals that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County.

Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered including: the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking.

Apply For This Job