Summary

Description

The South Florida Wildlife Center (SFWC), 

founded in 1969, is the region’s and one of the nation’s leading nonprofits dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. SFWC is Florida’s highest-volume wildlife hospital, caring for 8,000–10,000 animals annually from nearly 300 different species. Ours is also a teaching hospital – one of the largest in the United States.

Located in Fort Lauderdale, our comprehensive wildlife hospital and rehabilitation facility is a vital resource for a region where rapid development and population growth increasingly put native wildlife at risk. Our programs are also national in scope helping to save the lives of migratory species of the U.S. and western hemisphere.

The Bold New Future of SFWC

The South Florida Wildlife Center recently announced the future site for an expanded hospital and 8-acre wildlife care campus in Southwest Ranches, Florida and a $10 million capital campaign.

For 56 years, SFWC’s current 4.5-acre site has served as a vital resource for South Florida’s wildlife and community. The new property will allow the organization to move forward with plans to build a new state-of-the-art hospital and expand its programs. Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in 2026. The new campus will enable the organization to start reimagining the future of wildlife care and rehabilitation in the area. Some of the desired elements of the future facility include:

• A wildlife hospital with triage, surgery, labs, and specialized care units.

• Education spaces, including an auditorium and wildlife observation areas.

• Enhanced professional training capabilities for veterinary students, plus online programs for global rehabilitation centers.

• Infrastructure upgrades to parking, administrative facilities, and community engagement spaces.

THE OPPORTUNITY

​South Florida Wildlife Center (SFWC) has partnered with Anderson Impact in its search for a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative leader for the position of Executive Director.

As the leader of SFWC, the Executive Director is responsible for providing executive leadership and management across all aspects of the organization’s operations. This includes strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, program evaluation, and overall organizational effectiveness. The Executive Director will guide and inspire a team of talented staff while fostering a culture of teamwork and collaboration at all levels.

The Executive Director is the face of the organization, its primary spokesperson, and cultivator of relationships with donors, community leaders, animal welfare organizations and advocates, government officials, media, volunteers, and other key stakeholders to promote animal welfare and the mission of SFWC.

The Executive Director will also lead SFWS’s exciting capital campaign and usher in the organization’s next bold chapter and expand its lifesaving impact.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Is an experienced, compassionate, and collaborative leader with a commitment to the mission of SFWC.

• Has successful experience working with a Board of Directors.

• Has demonstrated success in raising philanthropic support, particularly from major and sustaining individual donors.

• Has proven expertise in financial oversight, strategic planning, negotiation, and mediation. Strong business acumen with attention to detail and a commitment to achieving high-quality outcomes.

• Is committed to ensuring an organizational culture of inclusivity, collaboration, respect, and accountability.

• Has exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, strong personal integrity, and an ability to build effective relationships at all levels.

• ​Has an understanding of and commitment to animal welfare and protection.

• Has a proven ability to build and foster relationships based on trust and respect while demonstrating professionalism, diplomacy, and discretion.

• Displays excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively across various formats, including documents, presentations, and public speaking engagements.

• Has exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, shifting demands, and tight deadlines effectively.

• Demonstrates a strong leadership presence, integrity, and interpersonal skills to engage and influence diverse stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization.

• Has advanced critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex challenges and make sound decisions.

• Will ensure full compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and laws related to the organization's operation, including licensing, reporting, and adherence to best practices in nonprofit and animal welfare management.

• Is able to work independently while also thriving in a collaborative team environment.

• Is proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiar with donor management software and digital communication tools.

Required Education and Experience:

• Minimum ten (10) years of extensive experience in senior management within nonprofit organizations, with a strong background in fundraising, financial oversight, and public relations.

• Experience in animal care, whether domestic or wildlife—is highly preferred, along with familiarity with hospital or treatment facility operations.

• The ideal candidate will have a genuine love for animals and a passion for our mission.

THE POSITION: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

​The Executive Director is responsible for the overall management and operation of SFWC in compliance with Board-adopted policies and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and laws. S/he is a caring and committed worker who has a strong commitment to the goals and philosophies of the organization with a thorough knowledge of current wildlife issues, exceptional people skills and the ability to motivate and educate those with whom s/he comes in contact.

Leadership & Management

The Executive Director, reporting to the Board of Directors, is responsible for the strategic operation of the organization, including developing and executing its strategic plan, policies and procedures, budget development and fiscal management, revenue growth, philanthropic outreach, and all elements that support and maintain program delivery. The Executive Director will be committed to nurturing, mentoring, and motivating both paid staff and volunteers. The Executive Director will:

• Develop, implement, fulfill, and monitor the short and long-term business and mission-based objectives approved by the Board of Directors.

• Supervise and coach executive staff in the fulfillment of organizational operations, adopted policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.

• Ensure fulfillment of daily organizational operations, animal and client care standards, and sound business practices.

• Oversee preparation and execution of departmental budgets on annual basis, to include projected income and expenses; administer and monitor revenues and expenses in relation to annual budget.

• Ensure compliance with all local and state regulations.

• Provide a healthy and safe workplace environment in compliance with state and local regulations.

• Prepare the organization to respond to the community’s needs in time of disaster.

• Continuously strive to improve the environment for staff and volunteers and build a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, respect, accountability, and program excellence.

• Ensure there are training opportunities for professional and personal development for staff at all levels.

• Ensure effective internal communication to ensure staff and volunteers are well informed of decisions that affect them and the organization.

• Promote effective cross-departmental communication and collaboration.

Board Relations

A collaborative and productive working relationship with the Board of Directors is critical to the success of the organization. The Executive Director will:

• Work closely with the Board of Directors to establish and guide the strategic vision for South Florida Wildlife Center.

• Keep the Board of Directors routinely advised of the activities and the financial position of the organization.

• Make recommendations to the Board of Directors on operating policy, future directions, programs, fundraising activities, and outreach endeavors.

• Work closely with and respond to special requests from the Board of Directors and its committees for information, research, or recommendations.

Fundraising

The Executive Director, considered the lead fundraiser for SFWC, is ultimately responsible for its fundraising success, and will be deeply engaged in high level institutional fundraising. The Executive Director will:

• Develop and lead the execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support an annual budget of $2.5 million. This includes overseeing all aspects of fundraising, such as major gifts, grants, planned giving, special events, corporate partnerships, and other revenue sources.

• Identify and cultivate donor prospects, soliciting financial support, implementing donor stewardship and recognition programs, and proactively securing additional funding through grant opportunities.

• Oversee fundraising initiatives to support a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and long-term sustainability.

Advocacy & External Relations

The Executive Director serves as the face and voice of SFWC, as well as the leading advocate for the organization and its mission. The Executive Director will:

• Serve as an articulate and effective spokesperson for the organization.

• Develop and oversee strategic public relations and communications, including media relations, social media engagement, website content, and outreach efforts.

• Build positive relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders, including the nonprofit and business communities, government, and the media.

• Advocate for SFWC, its mission, and programs to local and state elected officials and government entities.

For the full opportunity prospectus and application requirements, please visit www.andersonimpact.com/executive-opportunities
 

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