Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) · Florida · posted today
Position Summary Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), a nonprofit marine conservation organization with citizen science, education, and research programs, seeks a full-time Campus Director to lead people, day-to-day operations, and the visitor experience at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida. The campus includes administrative offices, a classroom building, the Native Plants and Heritage Trail, and the Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation, a free visitor and education center that opened in June 2025 and is open six days a week. As a member of REEF’s leadership team, the director exercises independent judgment within established policies and delegated authority. The director supervises direct reports and also engages and coordinates team members who report to others, within a campus team of seven staff and typically six interns and fellows. The ideal candidate brings strong people management and operations experience, thoughtful prioritization, and a warm, community-minded approach. Applications will be reviewed starting November 13, and the position will remain open until filled. The desired start date is January 2027, with flexibility for the right candidate. What You Will Do · Lead and develop the campus team: set priorities, coach, give timely feedback, and manage performance, while engaging team members who report to other supervisors. · Be accountable for dependable day-to-day operations and a welcoming, consistent visitor experience, and help ensure the campus supports earned revenue activities such as facility rentals and group bookings. · Ensure emergency and hurricane-preparation procedures exist, have owners, and are practiced, and lead the response to storms and incidents. · Lead annual campus planning and manage the campus operating budget, monitoring results and recommending adjustments. · Coordinate campus resources with program, finance, communications, and fundraising leaders, including campus support for signature events such as REEF Fest and the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby and Arts Festival. · Build local relationships with community partners, members, and donors, and represent REEF in community networks, including the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. First-year success means building on existing procedures, reviewing and closing gaps, and delivering an annual campus plan and operating budget, along with useful measures of visitor experience, participation, community engagement, and financial performance. Qualifications Required · Five or more years of management and operations experience, including staff supervision, coaching, performance management, and effective systems for accountability. · Strong written and verbal communication skills, including handling difficult conversations and collaborating across programs and a distributed team. · Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, prioritize competing demands, exercise independent judgment, and lead work across functions. · A practical leadership approach that enables and empowers team members and balances immediate needs with staff development and sustainable workloads. · Strong spreadsheet and shared-work-system skills, with the ability to learn REEF’s tools (familiarity with Zoho, Asana, Slack, Airtable, QuickBooks, and Adobe is preferred). · Comfort with public speaking and engaging with visitors; a strong interest in ocean life, marine conservation, and citizen science; and eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship. Preferred · Experience in informal education or visitor-serving settings such as museums, science centers, or aquariums; scuba diving is a plus but not required. Compensation and Terms • Position and Salary: Full-time, exempt, permanent; $65,000-75,000 annually, commensurate with experience • Benefits: health insurance reimbursement; 403(b) retirement plan with up to 3% employer match; 20 days of accrued PTO annually; 9 paid holidays per year; scheduling flexibility within this in-person role • Schedule: Monday–Friday on site, with occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays; the director is not expected on site all six days the campus is open. U.S. and occasional international travel may be expected. How to Apply Apply through www.REEF.org/director-application. In addition to the form questions, upload a combined PDF with your resume and cover letter, to the attention of Martha Klitzkie, Co-Executive Director for Strategy & Operations. References and a full position description are provided at the finalist stage. About REEF Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to conserving marine environments worldwide through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community. Founded over 30 years ago, REEF’s mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life. Diversity is at the heart of that mission, and we are committed to an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. REEF is an Equal Opportunity Employer, encourages individuals from all backgrounds to apply, and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process.
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