Summary
Description
Vice President of Guest Experience
Location: Westminster, CO
Reports to: President & CEO
About Butterfly Pavilion: At Butterfly Pavilion, we transform the way people think about invertebrates. These small but mighty animals that surround us are so much more than people think. They are everywhere because everything depends on them. They are the hidden heroes of the animal kingdom. As the leader in invertebrate knowledge, inspiration and connection, Butterfly Pavilion works to foster an appreciation of these critical animals by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation. Whether it is providing unique, firsthand learning experiences in our exhibits and educational programs, conducting new research that sets the standard for zoos across the country or building innovative solutions for species and habitat conservation in countries around the world, Butterfly Pavilion is leading the way in ensuring invertebrates are protected for the future.
Our Core Values are a large part of who we are as an organization:
- Make Science Cool
- Love What You Do
- Go Above and Beyond
- Lead Change
- Know Your Stuff
- Be Positive
- Welcome All
These aren't just words, but words to live by here at Butterfly Pavilion.
FLSA Status & Classification: Exempt | Full-Time
Work Schedule: Onsite | Monday through Friday | 5 days/week | Occasional weekends/evenings as required.
Salary: $140,000 – $160,000
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life/AD&D, LTD, STD, and Employee Assistance Program
- Voluntary Life, ID Shield, Legal Shield, and Pet Insurance plans available
- Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan with employer match
- Paid holidays, vacation, sick time
- One personal holiday per year and anniversary paid day off during the month of anniversary
- Butterfly Pavilion Membership and 25% Gift Shop discount
Position Description:
Butterfly Pavilion-the world's first stand-alone Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited non-profit invertebrate zoo-is seeking a transformative Vice President of Guest Experience to reimagine how guests, members, and donors connect with our mission to inspire the appreciation and conservation of invertebrates. This executive role brings together guest services, marketing and audience engagement, retail operations, and private events into one seamless, data-driven strategy that grows both mission impact and earned revenue.
As a key member of the executive team, the VPGX will oversee the guest-facing operations that drive the majority of Butterfly Pavilion's earned revenue, including admissions and ticketing, memberships, on-site retail, and audience engagement initiatives-ensuring each is aligned, optimized, and delivering exceptional experiences.
The Opportunity:
We're looking for a strategic leader who can:
- Champion the voice of the guest at the executive level, ensuring all guest experiences are consistent, inclusive, and inspiring.
- Integrate guest services, audience-focused marketing, retail, and private events to create a unified approach that strengthens loyalty and drives revenue growth.
- Align storytelling, programming, and guest touchpoints to reach broader audiences and deepen their connection to our mission.
- Ignite collaboration across Guest Services, Education, and Development departments to improve handoffs and create shared accountability for guest, member, and donor experiences.
- Leverage data and analytics to measure impact, improve decision-making, and tie experience improvements directly to business outcomes.
- Lead multiple guest-facing departments, directing diverse teams toward creative innovation and operational excellence.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
This position oversees the end-to-end guest experience, with direct responsibility for guest services operations, marketing & audience engagement, retail, and private events activities.
- Guest Services
- Direct strategies that grow attendance, memberships, and community engagement while reinforcing mission alignment.
- Oversee acquiring members through guest-facing channels, working in close partnership with Development to ensure seamless handoff for cultivation and long-term retention.
- Establish systems for capturing and acting on guest and employee feedback, linking insights to operational and financial goals.
- Marketing and Audience Engagement
- Direct marketing and communications strategies to expand audience reach, grow attendance and membership, and increase earned revenue.
- Drive innovation in how we present our brand across platforms and how we connect with diverse audiences.
- Retail and Private Events
- Provide strategic oversight for retail operations and private events, ensuring they contribute to revenue goals and support Butterfly Pavilion's mission.
- Organizational Leadership
- Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement across guest-facing functions.
- Serve as a strategic partner to other executives, ensuring that guest and employee experience considerations shape organizational priorities.
Position Qualifications and Experience:
- 10+ years of leadership in guest experience and services, marketing and audience engagement, or a related field-preferably in a zoo, aquarium, museum, or cultural attraction.
- Proven success in growing revenue, attendance, and loyalty through integrated, guest-centered strategies.
- Proven experience driving large-scale technology and software transitions, with the ability to evaluate and adopt emerging digital tools that modernize operations, enhance guest engagement, and position the organization for the future.
- Strong financial acumen and the ability to tie experience improvements to ROI.
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends and travel locally as needed.
- Exceptional ability to influence across departments and levels, building buy-in for shared goals.
- A balance of creative vision and disciplined execution.
- Commitment to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and everyone has equitable access to engage with our mission
Why Join Us?
You'll shape how hundreds of thousands of people each year connect with the smallest animals that make the biggest impact. You'll lead the earned revenue engines that power our mission-admissions, memberships, marketing & brand engagement, and retail & private events-while working in a mission-driven organization that values innovation, inclusion, and impact.
Work Environment / Physical Requirements:
While performing the responsibilities of this position, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the position will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
At Butterfly Pavilion, the employee is occasionally exposed to moderate to loud environmental noise for extended periods of time.
While performing the responsibilities of this position, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and stand, use their hands and fingers, to handle/feel/grasp. The employee is occasionally required to reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Employee should be able to lift, carry and items up to 25 lbs.
How to Apply:
Butterfly Pavilion is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply for open positions and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or veteran status.
Please visit https://www.applicantpro.com/openings/butterflies/jobs/3865754-1055658 to apply.
Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter. Candidates within commuting distance are preferred, as relocation and interview travel expenses are not covered.
Position is open until filled. No phone calls or drop in's please.
