At Pacific Science Center, our mission is to ignite curiosity in every child and fuel a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us. Our colleagues are passionate lifelong learners who live our mission every day. Each of us commits to bring an inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) focus in every aspect of our work. Join our collaborative team and help steward our warm, welcoming, community-learning environment at PacSci.
As part of our ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Data shows that women and BIPOC candidates more frequently do not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed. If you have some of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed and you share PacSci's values and support our mission, we encourage you to apply.
Position Title: Chief Operating Officer
Department: Office of the President
Reports to: President and CEO
Pay Class: Full-time Regular
FLSA Status: Salaried Exempt
Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday
About Pacific Science Center
Pacific Science Center (PacSci) ignites curiosity in every child and fuels a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us. Located on a historic, 7-acre campus in heart of Seattle, PacSci welcomes approximately 500,000 visitors annually through hands-on exhibits, live science experiences, planetarium shows, and educational programming, and serving more than 100,000 students throughout our state with Science on Wheels. Pacific Science Center operates with an annual budget of approximately $20million. This is an onsite leadership role operating on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule to align with peak campus visitor traffic.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as an executive leader driving operational excellence, physical and technical infrastructure integrity, and guest experience quality, while championing a People & Culture strategy that strengthens organizational resilience and team engagement across PacSci.
Serving as a key strategic partner to the CEO and CFO, the COO holds executive accountability for the Operations division within PacSci’s five-pillar functional governance structure (Finance, Operations, Exhibits & Education, Marketing & Revenue, and Philanthropy). The COO aligns all daily operational activities, policies, and cross-functional teams with institutional mission goals, budget parameters, safety standards, and long-term strategic plans.
The Opportunity
PacSci is entering a pivotal period of operational renewal. The incoming COO will play a defining role in modernizing enterprise systems, strengthening campus infrastructure, and building a high-performing operations division to support the Center’s next chapter of growth.
As a core member of the Executive Leadership Team, the COO serves as the primary driver of internal communications and leads through a layered management structure of Department Directors across functional areas providing overarching strategic vision, executive accountability, and resource alignment while empowering operational leaders to manage daily department activities.
Key Roles & Areas of Ownership
The COO provides executive leadership and strategic direction across eight core operational departments:
- Internal Communications: Operational change management, messaging, organizational alignment, and staff communications.
- People & Culture: HR strategy, talent acquisition, total rewards/compensation, regulatory compliance, employee engagement, and workplace culture.
- Facilities & Campus Operations: Physical campus infrastructure, HVAC/building automation systems, vendor/contract management, capital projects, and site optimization.
- Custodial Services: Environmental sanitation, daily campus readiness, public space presentation, and cleanliness standards.
- Health & Safety: Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) compliance, regulatory reporting, emergency preparedness, and site risk management.
- Security: Visitor and staff safety, site access control, emergency response, and asset protection.
- Technology: Enterprise IT infrastructure, administrative systems, network security, and operational software.
- Vehicles & Fleet: Fleet logistics, vehicle maintenance, and safety compliance supporting mobile educational programming.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Executive Leadership & Strategic Alignment: Partner with the CEO, CFO, and executive leadership to establish long-term institutional strategy, annual operating plans, and capital budgets. Present operational metrics to the Board of Directors as requested.
- Operations Management & Campus Readiness: Ensure seamless execution of daily physical facility operations, safety protocols, and custodial practices to deliver exceptional, accessible guest and employee experience.
- Financial & Budgetary Discipline: Direct operating and capital budgets across all assigned operational departments in close partnership with the CFO; drive cost management, vendor negotiations, and resource allocation.
- Systems & Technology Modernization: Oversee the evolution and security of enterprise technology systems, administrative tools, and operational workflows.
- People & Culture Oversight: Guide People & Culture leaders to cultivate an inclusive, compliant, and highly engaged workplace environment centered on trust and strong inter-departmental communication.
- Risk Management & Compliance: Ensure organizational compliance with local, state, and federal laws, employment regulations, EHS guidelines, and emergency management protocols.
- Organizational Change Leadership: Serve as an operational anchor guiding leadership teams and staff through evolving structural, technological, and procedural transformations.
- Other Duties: Perform other executive-level duties as assigned by the President & CEO.
Position Requirements:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, or related field required; Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, or equivalent) preferred.
- Leadership Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive senior executive operational experience within a non-profit, cultural institution, science center, museum, public venue, or complex multi-faceted organization.
- Director-Level Management: Proven experience leading through a layered management structure rather than direct individual-contributor supervision.
- Multi-Disciplinary Scope: Direct oversight experience across Facilities, HR/People Operations, Safety/Security, and IT.
- Financial Acumen: Demonstrated success in managing multi-million dollar operational and capital budgets.
Knowledge Skills & Abilities:
- Strong executive acumen with a track record of translating strategic vision into scalable operational workflows.
- Deep functional knowledge of facility operations, enterprise IT systems, public safety protocols, and employment law compliance.
- Exceptional interpersonal and change-management leadership skills.
- High analytical rigor, sound judgment, and resilience under shifting priorities.
Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
- Work Location: This is a 100% on-site role based at PacSci’s Seattle campus w/ occasional hybrid arrangements.
- Campus Presence: Requires regular movement across a historic, 150,000-square-foot campus, including exhibit floors, office areas, and mechanical/facilities spaces (some of which are accessible only via stairs).
- Work Environment: Standard office and public venue environment. Occasional presence in mechanical, utility, or construction spaces is required for inspections, project management, and vendor meetings.
- Schedule: This role is a Tuesday-Saturday schedule, w/standard business hours including periodic evening or weekend availability required for executive events, major capital projects, or emergency responses.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
This position description generally describes the principal functions of the position, and the level of knowledge and skills typically required. It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change
Compensation
Pay is based on several factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and years of experience.
In addition to base salary, all employees receive:
- Employee PacSci Membership
- Commuter Benefits
- 403b Retirement Plan
Full-time regular employees (40 hrs/week) additionally recieve following benefits:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, basic life insurance, and disability insurance
- 4 weeks of vacation, 12 floating holidays, and sick pay
- 403(b) Retirement Savings
- Employee Assistance Program
Pacific Science Center stands with those who are courageously fighting against hate, racism, and injustice. We recognize that not being racist is not sufficient. We must be actively anti-racist, and we commit to doing so. We prioritize inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in everything we do. Curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and changes that need to happen.
Pacific Science Center complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at
[email protected].
