Job Description

MISSION: We offer visitors to the Yellowstone area an opportunity to observe, understand and ultimately appreciate grizzly bears, gray wolves and related wildlife.  

POSITION: The Board will support the work of Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center (GWDC) and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by GWDC executive director (ED), the Board-CEO relationship is a partnership, and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected.

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone is seeking dedicated individuals to join its Board of Directors, with terms beginning January 1, 2027.

Specific Board Member responsibilities include:

  • Leadership, governance and oversight
  • Serving as a trusted advisor to the ED as she/he develops and implements the GWDC strategic plan
  • Reviewing the GWDC performance and effectiveness through financials and directors reports
  • Approving the GWDC annual agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities
  • Contributing to an annual performance evaluation of the ED
  • Assisting the ED and board chair in identifying and recruiting other Board Members
  • Partnering with the ED and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are carried out
  • Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments as needed
  • Representing the GWDC to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization
  • Ensuring the GWDC commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities the GWDC serves

 

FUNDRAISING: The GWDC Board Members will consider the GWDC a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that the GWDC can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, the GWDC expects to have 100 percent of Board Members make an annual contribution that is within their means, and may be monetary or in kind.

BOARD TERMS / PARTICIPATION: The GWDC Board Members will serve a three-year term and be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Board meetings will be held May, August and December and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings. Interim meetings may be called and held virtually as special assignments and issues arise.

QUALIFICATIONS: This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the GWDC mission and who has a track record of leadership. Selected Board Members will have achieved expertise  in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. Their accomplishments will allow them to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members.

Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

  • A commitment to and understanding of the GWDC beneficiaries, preferably based on experience
  • Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and building consensus among diverse individuals
  • Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of the animals residing at the center.

Service on GWDC Board of Directors is without remuneration, except for administrative support, travel, and accommodation costs in relation to Board Members’ duties.

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone is seeking dedicated individuals to join its Board of Directors, with terms beginning January 1, 2027.

The GWDC is an AZA-accredited, not-for-profit, wildlife park and educational facility dedicated to providing visitors to the Yellowstone area an opportunity to observe, understand and appreciate grizzly bears, gray wolves and related wildlife. All the animals at the Center had to be removed from the wild for various reasons. These animals have a second chance at the Center. Their stories help share a valuable lesson of how humans can take proper steps to ensure they stay forever wild. The core of our effort is to empower visitors with knowledge about grizzlies, wolves and related wildlife through educational programs and a visual understanding of the Yellowstone Ecosystem. A variety of interpretive programs and activities for all ages are available throughout the day. Visitors can spend their time watching these fascinating animals interact in their outdoor habitats while Naturalists facilitate learning and appreciation through informal contacts in the animal viewing areas offering a unique, fun and memorable educational experience. More than three-quarters of the Center's budget goes directly toward animal care and educational programming for over 200,000 visitors each year.

BOARD POSITION DETAILS:

Focus: a volunteer board focused primarily on governance, financial stability, and furthering the Center’s mission.

Term length: 3 years (positions begin January 1, 2027)

Minimum of 3 board meetings per year, held at the GWDC in West Yellowstone or via Zoom

Our bylaws allow for 5 to 9 board members. We currently have 6, and with several members completing their terms in December 2026, we anticipate 3-4 openings for 2027

We're looking for a diverse group of candidates, including backgrounds in nonprofit finance, conservation, marketing, and fundraising, though all who care about wildlife and conservation are welcome to apply

A great opportunity to support wildlife conservation and education in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

LEADERSHIP UPDATES:

As part of an exciting chapter for the GWDC, our Executive Director will be retiring in March 2027, and a search process is already well underway to identify the Center's next leader. New board members will play an important role in supporting this transition and shaping what comes next.

Interested?

We will review applications on a rolling basis, with new board members selected and voted on in December 2026. Interested candidates should submit their application and resume to [email protected] by October 30, 2026.

If you have questions, please contact Board President Tim Manley [email protected]  or Vice President Christine Paige [email protected] with GWDC board recruitment in the subject.

Details

 

Application