About WCS
Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and by inspiring people to value nature. WCS is one of the world’s best-known zoological and educational enterprises, a major New York City cultural icon, and one of the oldest and largest global conservation organizations in the world. WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on Earth.
WCS delivers on its mission through two symbiotic sets of activities:
- WCS operates the largest system of urban wildlife parks in the United States, which includes the Bronx Zoo (WCS’s flagship park and global headquarters), the New York Aquarium, the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Queens Zoo. Together, these five parks are home to over 20,000 animals and welcome more than 3.5 million visitors each year. Through living animal collections and natural landscape exhibits, WCS educates and inspires people to value nature. Its award-winning and cutting-edge programs in animal husbandry, environmental education, and exhibit design reach over one million students, educators, and families annually through science education programs. Looking ahead to 2030, WCS aims to inspire millions of people to advocate for the conservation of wildlife and wild places.
- The Global Conservation Program represents approximately half of the programmatic operating budget of the WCS and focuses on conserving wildlife and wild places in natural settings around the world. From its first expedition in 1897, WCS has led the conservation community in the science-informed conservation of wildlife, beginning with the restoration of the American bison to the Western prairie. Over the past 100 years, WCS has helped governments around the world create more than 360 protected areas comprising over 40% of the world’s biodiversity. Today, leveraging the expertise of its scientists, conservationists, animal experts, and other dedicated staff, along with over 440 local partner organizations, WCS is advancing toward its ambitious 2030 goal: to help nations scale up conservation by supporting the creation of at least 50 new protected and conserved areas, preserving millions of square kilometers of tropical forests, peatlands, grasslands, oceans, and other key ecosystems.
WCS stands apart from other global conservation organizations in that its impact extends from engagement in local communities—through its award-winning zoos and aquariums—to critical conservation initiatives on a global scale. As a leading academic voice, WCS advances the field by publishing more than 350 peer-reviewed scientific papers each year. WCS is unique in the conservation field because it takes a multi-faceted approach: integrating science, education, and real-world action to address conservation challenges from multiple perspectives.
Governance and StaffWCS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Trustees, with 29 elected and eight ex-officio members. Its workforce totals almost 6,000 worldwide: roughly 2,500 are based in New York and the balance are predominately national hires of the field offices in the countries in which WCS works. The WCS workforce is broad-ranging, including numerous Ph.D. trained scientists performing a diverse set of roles – managers, curators, scientists, planners, and policy makers. The staff also includes veterinarians and pathologists, and a diverse group of architects, designers, administrators, zookeepers, and other skilled personnel. WCS also has a sizeable workforce of approximately 1,200 seasonal staff working in the five parks and is the largest employer of youth in the Bronx. Additionally, WCS manages 800 volunteers and 350 youth interns through its education program headquartered at the Bronx Zoo.
Relationship with the City of New YorkSince its founding, WCS has maintained a close and successful partnership with the City of New York. The City, through its Department of Cultural Affairs, provides part of the annual operating support for the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium, which occupy City-owned buildings on City-owned land. The City also provides significant funding for physical plant improvements. WCS manages the City Zoos (Central Park, Prospect Park and Queens) on behalf of the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation through management agreements. Through these agreements, the City reimburses WCS for operating expenses not covered by earned revenue and the City is also responsible for facility renewal and replacement costs.
President and CEO LeadershipAdam F. Falk became President and CEO of WCS on July 1, 2025. A theoretical high-energy physicist, Dr. Falk brings to the organization a background in science, philanthropy, and institutional leadership. Prior to joining WCS, Dr. Falk served as President of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, where he advanced scientific research, higher education, and public understanding of science and technology. Earlier in his career, Falk was President of Williams College and Dean of the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, where he was also a professor of physics.
Looking ahead, Dr. Falk is eager to bring his passion, commitment, and ideas to WCS, helping to build an even stronger organization to support wildlife and the environment for years to come.
The Role As a key member of the WCS Executive Management Team -- comprised of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel; the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; the Executive Vice President and General Director, Zoos and Aquariums, and Director, Bronx Zoo; the Executive Vice President of Global Conservation; and the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs -- and reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President of Development (SVP) will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the organization. The SVP will oversee a committed, long-tenured staff of 50 with year-over-year success in achieving and/or exceeding fundraising goals.
The SVP will have purview over major and principal gifts, the annual fund, donor communications, special events, donor engagement, donor services and operations, planned giving, corporate giving, foundation giving, and grant development and stewardship, which in total generate approximately $138 million annually for the organization. The SVP will also engage with and help coordinate multilateral and bilateral public grant efforts, in both the proposal and performance phases. In 2025, WCS’s private philanthropic revenue included $53.4 million from major gifts, $57.2 million from foundations, $10.1 million from estates, $8.3 million from corporate donations, $6.3 million from the annual fund, and $2.9 million from events. Revenue from public sources equaled $167.6 million; $39.1 million from the US Government, $80.8M from other bilateral and multilateral government sources, and $47.7 million from NY City and State.
The SVP will take the lead on key fundraising priorities and build on WCS’s existing fundraising successes. The SVP will be responsible for developing creative and innovative approaches to secure new, unrestricted grants, and for leveraging the organization’s zoos and aquariums to expand fundraising capacity. Throughout, the SVP will broaden and deepen WCS’s donor and partner network, strategically cultivating new gifts and identifying new areas for growth. In particular, the SVP will prioritize expanding fundraising efforts and cultivating donor relationships in New York City.
As a key senior spokesperson for WCS, the SVP will articulate and communicate the future vision of the organization and its objectives to internal and external constituencies at the highest levels. The SVP will be a front-facing, active development professional able to cultivate and maintain positive and productive senior-level relationships with the full range of WCS donors and partners. Internally, the SVP will establish strong and collaborative working relationships with the WCS executive team and colleagues across all facets of the organization.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Create and implement a strategic and tactical plan for development, including major gifts, planned giving, annual campaign, corporate giving and foundation support;
- Forge high-impact collaborations with the Board of Trustees and executive leadership, unlocking new opportunities for board engagement and partnership;
- Champion inventive fundraising methods, with a particular focus on securing unrestricted support and harnessing the visibility and reach of WCS’s zoos and aquariums to attract new donors;
- Identify and successfully solicit individual, foundation, and corporate prospects whose philanthropic priorities or business interests overlap with the work of WCS;
- Work collaboratively with public grant acquisition teams and align revenue strategies across all sources of funds to ensure full cost coverage of projects and programs;
- Participate productively in financial and strategic planning efforts; Develop and implement strategies to attract and cultivate new major donors, identifying untapped areas for long-term growth;
- Participate actively in leadership gift solicitation. Cultivate, steward, and build effective relationships with a portfolio of select major donors.
- Retain, recruit, and develop staff, creating a dynamic and effective development team;
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with other cultural institutions, not-for-profit organizations, agencies, and community leaders, including the identification and implementation of innovative, collaborative fundraising efforts serving WCS and its funding relationships – especially in New York, and beyond.
Equal Employment Opportunity Disclaimer
WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities. Note that the salary offer will reflect the selected candidate’s individual experiences, skills and qualifications, internal equity, work location and country of work WCS seeks an accomplished and strategic fundraising executive to lead a comprehensive and integrated fundraising team at a pivotal moment for the organization. The ideal candidate will bring leadership experience within a complex environment, be a global thinker with exceptional communication skills, and demonstrate an enthusiasm to WCS’s mission and values.
Candidates may come from a range of sectors, including major cultural institutions, global NGOs, conservation and environmental nonprofits, higher education, science- and research-based organizations, or senior relationship development roles in the private sector. The successful candidate will be a proven fundraising leader with significant experience designing and executing ambitious development strategies in large, multifaceted organizations, and a strong record in cultivating major and principal gifts. WCS seeks a results-oriented leader who can leverage technology to enhance fundraising performance. They will think creatively, identify new opportunities in a competitive philanthropic landscape, and cultivate strong relationships globally and within the New York community, where WCS is based.
The selected individual will be a warm, collaborative leader with intellectual curiosity, integrity, and the ability to quickly understand WCS’s culture, mission, and structure. They will inspire and empower a high-performing team and possess the gravitas, communication skills, and presence to represent WCS effectively to donors, partners, and the public. Sound judgment, discretion, and ethical standards are essential.
Strategic Fundraising Leadership
- Has track record of strategically cultivating and soliciting gifts from high net worth individuals and managing a strong individual giving program.
- Has the flexibility to create nuanced plans and objectives that adapt to the situation and/or partners at hand, while bringing to life an inspirational future for the overall fundraising operation.
Inspirational Leadership and Team Management- Has the ability to provide leadership that will challenge, inspire, and motivate the range of people involved in and with WCS globally.
- Has a flexible, intercultural approach to leadership, adjusts to different audiences and gives focus to colleagues’ work.
Delivering Results- Has the ability to work thoughtfully and decisively in a complex, international system with multiple donors and partners as well as operational and programmatic possibilities.
- Has a track record of balancing financial wisdom and prudence with innovation and calculated risk- taking.
- Has experience working closely with a CEO and Board on cultivating a culture of philanthropy.
Collaboration and Building Relationships- Has the natural abilities to persuade and influence; can build and preserve trust, confidence, and respect among various constituencies.
- Has the experience of thriving in a complex environment by fostering collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Personal Competencies- Has personal drive and integrity; exemplary levels of professionalism, probity, and resilience.
- Has a reputation for leading by example and has excellent judgment of people and situations.
Location and Compensation
The position is based in New York, New York. The estimated travel requirement for this position is 20-25%. The base salary for this position is approximately $450,000. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be determined based on various factors In addition to offering competitive benefits, WCS participates in the Cultural Institutions Retirement System (CIRS), providing employees with a generous and secure retirement plan to support their long-term financial wellbeing.
How to Apply
WCS has retained Russell Reynolds Associates for this search. Interested candidates should contact WCS_SVP@russellreynolds.com with a résumé and a brief expression of interest. All inquiries will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.
