Required Experience:
What We Need in a Leader
Chehaw seeks a professional with strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and a collaborative leadership style. What we need is a leader who:
Brings financial and operational management strength
Demonstrates honesty, transparency, and accountability
Builds and values a high-functioning team
Communicates clearly and involves staff in decision-making
Inspires trust and can deliver both quick wins and long-term improvements
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenges:
Overcoming stagnation and re-energizing long-time staff
Establishing trust and credibility through action and consistency
Opportunities:
Rapid improvement across departments
Build organizational systems for budgeting, planning, and performance
Reinforce Chehaw as a key destination and community partner
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Strategic Planning
Develop and implement a long-term strategic vision
Lead a collaborative and empowered senior management team
Serve as Chehaw's external ambassador to the community and stakeholders
Operations Management
Oversee day-to-day operations of the park and zoo
Ensure compliance with legal, safety, and accreditation standards
Monitor and evaluate performance metrics and service delivery
Financial Management
Develop and manage the annual operating budget
Maintain sound financial practices and reporting
Lead all fundraising, grant writing, and donor development initiatives
Human Resources
Oversee staffing, hiring, and staff development
Foster an inclusive, mission-driven organizational culture
Ensure compliance with HR laws and best practices through a third-party administrator
Public Relations & Community Engagement
Act as the organization’s chief spokesperson
Cultivate relationships with government, donors, and community partners
Drive public engagement and marketing strategies to raise visibility
Qualifications
Required:
Minimum 5-7 years of senior-level leadership experience in a nonprofit, zoo, park, or public service organization
Strong skills in operations, budgeting, and team management
Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
Commitment to conservation, education, and public service
Preferred:
Experience with AZA-accredited institutions
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in zoology, nonprofit management, public administration, or related field
Successful track record in fundraising and strategic planning
Why Join Chehaw?
Lead a one-of-a-kind facility with deep community roots
Guide impactful conservation and education programs
Work with a dedicated team and passionate supporters
Help shape the future of one of Georgia’s most treasured public spaces
Salary Range & Benefits
Chehaw Park & Zoo offers a competitive salary in the range of $75,000 to $125,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package includes health and dental insurance, paid time off, and retirement contributions.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume, cover letter, and three professional references to:
Stanlee Consulting LLC
stanleeconsulting@gmail.com For questions, please call 478-697-2142.
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Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
Visit us at: www.chehaw.org
Chehaw Park & Zoo is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us in shaping a brighter, wilder future for southwest Georgia
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
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Duties / Expectations:
Executive Director
Chehaw Park & Zoo
105 Chehaw Park Rd, Albany, GA 31701
$75,000 - $125,000 a year - Full-time
Skills
Team management
(Required)
Leadership
(Required)
Fundraising
(Required)
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Do you have experience in Team management?
Benefits
Health insurance
Retirement plan
Paid time off
Dental insurance
Full job description
Chehaw Park & Zoo
Executive Director
Lead the Future of Conservation, Community & Growth
Executive Director Search | Albany, Georgia
Chehaw Park & Zoo invites visionary, results-driven leaders to apply for the role of Executive Director. This is a unique opportunity to guide a vital regional resource through its next chapter of innovation, sustainability, and impact.
The Executive Director is the chief executive officer responsible for the strategic leadership, financial health, daily operations, and community engagement of Chehaw Park & Zoo. This individual will serve as the face of the organization, advancing its mission and strengthening relationships with stakeholders, donors, city officials, and the broader community.
Who We Are
Located on 800 acres in Albany, Georgia, Chehaw Park & Zoo combines adventure, conservation, education, and recreation. Chehaw is home to more than 230 animals and serves thousands of visitors annually. From wildlife encounters and youth programs to camping, trails, Chehaw is a beloved destination and an essential community asset.
Chehaw has a rich history, a unique setting, a skilled and diverse staff, strong city support, an outstanding support organization, and a new vision for the future. This vision encompasses the principles on which Chehaw was founded… conservation, education, and preservation.
First developed as Chehaw State Park in 1937, the property consisted of 586 acres donated to the state of Georgia by private landowners in Dougherty and Lee Counties. It is enclosed on two sides by a large, clear water bayou formed by the conjoining of the Kinchafoonee and Muckalee Creeks. The property has expanded to nearly 800 acres and consists of moss-covered cypress swamps, hardwood forests, and a well-maintained wiregrass habitat.
The Park was named after the Chiaha, or Chehaw, a tribe of Creek Indians who lived throughout the property and befriended white settlers. Artifacts such as arrowheads, spearheads, tomahawks, hoes, drill, scrapers, clay pipes and stone celts were commonly found during original park development. Variations in artifact design show the land was used by distinctly different tribes over several hundreds of years.
In 1974, the city of Albany leased 100 unused acres of Chehaw from the state of Georgia with the intent to develop a wild animal park where exotic and indigenous animals would be displayed in their natural habitats. With the inception of the wild animal habitat, the State donated the entire Chehaw acreage to the city to further development. The City of Albany with Chehaw commissioned Jim Fowler, a native of Albany and host of the popular television show Wild Kingdom, to design and supervise the construction of the wildlife area.
The original animals were moved from the Tift Park Zoo in Albany to their new home at Chehaw between 1975 and 1977. Chehaw Wild Animal Park was officially dedicated and opened to the public in October of 1977. Accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) was achieved in 1997. Between 1997 and 2002, the then Parks at Chehaw began to examine other park venues that would be a valuable asset to the community. The Wild Animal Park became The Zoo at Chehaw in 2016.
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