Now Hiring: General Manager

Applications open until Mid-June

Job Overview:

Seattle Chinese Garden: General Manager

The Seattle Chinese Garden Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. Its mission is to showcase the rich heritage of Chinese arts and culture to our visitors by building, operating, and sustaining a Sichuan style Chinese Garden that serves as a bridge of friendship between our region and Chinese people around the world. The Seattle Chinese Garden is located at the north end of South Seattle College in West Seattle, high on a plateau overlooking the Seattle harbor. It is a collaborative project with the Municipality of Chongqing, Seattle's Chinese sister city.

The Seattle Chinese Garden is a 4.3-acre site. A few of the planned structures have been built including the Song Mei Pavilion and the Knowing the Spring Courtyard. The next planned project is the Teahouse on Lotus Pond. More information about the Garden and future plans may be found at www.seattlechinesegarden.org. The Chinese Garden is also the site of the Astra Lumina multimedia immersive experience held for four months, from late October or early November through March. This evening light and sound show is held four days per week and attracts thousands of people each week to the Garden site, greatly raising the awareness and visibility of the Chinese Garden and creating new opportunities to engage the community with the Chinese Garden.

This position is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Board of Directors.

The General Manager collaborates with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, community partners, and supporters to:

  • Assist the Board to raise funds for the annual operations of the Chinese Garden

  • Assist the Board and fundraising consultant in raising funds for the capital campaign for the Teahouse on Lotus Pond.

  • Assist the board in hosting potential donors/grantors to the capital campaign.

  • Manage the Chinese Garden's day-to-day operations.

  • Oversee the hosting of the Astra Lumina Show and the Chinese Garden's cycle of annual festivals and events.

  • Manage the work of the part-time office coordinator including the maintenance of fundraising and financial records.

  • Recruit and train volunteers and docents.

  • Plan and manage the Chinese Garden's social media presence.

  • Support the activities of the board and its committees.

  • Maintain relationships with the Seattle College System and South Seattle College.

  • Cultivate and expand relationships with stakeholders and potential stakeholders in the following communities: garden and horticultural; people of Chinese heritage; people interested in Chinese art and architecture; businesses and residents of West Seattle; businesses interested in doing business with China and other countries with Chinese heritage; and those interested in cultural tourism.

The General Manger position is a full-time exempt position reporting to the Board President and the Board of Directors. The members of the Board currently consists of eleven people with diverse background in strategic planning, fundraising, events and programs, planning and delivery of capital projects, finance and budgeting, architecture, horticulture, and gardening.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

  • Experienced administrator with 5-7 years of experience as a nonprofit manager in a professional and/or volunteer capacity.

  • Experience recruiting, training, managing, and mentoring volunteers.

  • Strong budgeting, financial management, and recordkeeping skills.

  • Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.

COMPETENCIES

  • Excellent oral and written English language skills

  • Ability to understand, relate to, and work with people of diverse backgrounds, especially with the Seattle area's many different Chinese communities.

  • Excellent information skills, including Microsoft Office, mail merges, Excel JavaScript, Mailchimp, graphics skills (InDesign) desirable.

  • Ease in representing the Chinese garden to the public at our many festivals and events.

  • Ability to work independently, but to know when to check in with relevant committee chairs and other board members.

  • Familiarity with hosting and interacting with international guests and supporters.

  • Fluency in oral and written Chinese preferred, preferably in both Mandarin and Cantonese.

INTERESTS/PASSIONS

  • Interests in Chinese arts and culture, and in gardens and horticulture strongly preferred.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Employment Status: Full-time, Exempt.

Salary: $85,000 annual salary

Medical: Negotiable

20 days of vacation per year; up to 5 sick days per year, 9 paid holidays per year.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

  • Flexible schedule

  • Paid time off

Schedule:

  • Monday to Friday

  • Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

  • Seattle, WA 98106 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

  • Seattle, WA 98106: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person