Application Form s1

Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP)

APPLICATION FORM

DESCRIPTION The goal of the Executive Leadership Development Program is to develop executive talent and leadership for individuals who demonstrate the ability and interest to advance to the role of Director within an AZA accredited zoo or aquarium within the next five years.

The focus of the Executive Leadership Development Program is on the development of the executive competencies, or the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to be most effective in the role of Director. The competency model emphasizes three tiers of competencies to include: 1. Executive Leadership Behaviors, which define the heart and values of an effective leader and the leadership approach to Inspire, Model, Challenge, Enable, Encourage others to deliver on the mission of the Institution. 2. Executive Focus, which define the skills and knowledge needed to sustain a viable institution, be an effective executive participant in AZA forums and advance the mission. 3. Executive Oversight for Zoo/Aquarium Operations, which define the skills and knowledge needed to provide executive oversight for the operations at the Institutional level.

Each ELDP participant will work closely with his/her Director and an assigned executive mentor to identify their top development priorities and create an individualized development plan (IDP) to address these priorities. Elements of the IDP will include a variety of experiences to include: Job Shadow, Observation, Site Visits at their institution, other AZA accredited institutions, or other community organizations, etc. Action Learning Teams on which they will be assigned to work on a critical priority facing AZA and the zoo and aquarium members. Conversations with Z/A Executives scheduled throughout the year; these informal sessions will enable existing executives and other industry professionals to share leadership insights and transfer institutional knowledge on a variety of topics. Executive Leadership Coaching to help participants identify development priorities and strategies for working on these priorities and understanding the differentiating factors of executive leadership.

1 Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP)

General Program Commitments Program participants will be required to devote a significant amount of personal and professional time to his/her individual development throughout their program experience. Program participants are accountable for driving their own development and will be responsible for scheduling regular time with their Director and assigned executive mentor to develop, review and update their individual development plans to address that will accelerate their development. Program participants will actively reflect and keep notes to document what they are learning, what they could be doing differently, and how to apply new learnings to other situations. To make the most out of the program each participant needs to be proactive and look for challenging assignments to lead or to increase their level of responsibility such as…  Starting something new, or moving an effort in a different direction  Fixing a troubled operation or process  Taking on a larger budget, lead more people, or manage different functions  Seeking out high risk/reward efforts – tight deadlines, multiple channels to work through, political sensitivity  Taking on projects or issues that require you to influence or interface with external groups outside of the institution  Stepping up to lead without authority, influence peers, senior leaders, or other people that do not report to you. Throughout the program, the participants in partnership with their Director will assess their ability to take on work with which the Director is currently involved.

Structured Program Commitments Participants will participate in a 360-Degree Leadership Behavior Assessment at the start of the program where their direct reports, peers, and Director will rate their current demonstration of specific leadership behaviors. Over a 13-month period the participants will attend ‘in-person’ ELDP work sessions as well as individual and group coaching sessions that will be scheduled during the AZA conferences and meetings planned in January, March, May, September and January of the following year. Participants will be responsible for their expenses required to travel to the conference sites. Participation in the remaining conference is encouraged, but is not mandatory. Participants will be assigned to an Action Learning Team; will meet via phone and web- conferencing on a regular basis for a six-month period with other assigned participants to address a key priority facing AZA and the zoo and aquarium members. Participants will be paired with another ELDP Participant as a peer-feedback partner. Throughout the program, they will develop a relationship that will offer peer feedback, a sounding board and the opportunity to share challenges, experiences and knowledge. Quarterly check-in meetings will be planned to include the participant, their Director and their executive mentor to reflect on program progress and agree on IDP action plan for the next quarter.

REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for this program a candidate should: Be currently employed at an AZA Institution on a fulltime, paid basis in a senior management role. Have served in a senior management role for a minimum of 5 years at an AZA institution or other comparable and complex organization(s). Be a current AZA individual member at the Professional Fellow level. Have the support of his/her Director to participate in this program. Demonstrate the ability and interest to advance to the most senior leadership roles within an AZA accredited Zoo or Aquarium within the next 5 years. Over a thirteen-month period be willing and able to devote a significant amount of personal and professional time to his/her individual development through both group and individual leadership exercises, work sessions, on-the-job training experiences, and self-reflection.

SELECTION CRITERIA Selection is based on demonstration and evidence of the following criteria: A commitment to leadership and/or service to AZA (i.e. serving on AZA committees, leading animal programs, instructing in professional development courses)and/or to related professional associations or community organizations (i.e. committee service, presentations/publications, service awards, etc.). Progressive levels of leadership experiences An ability to affect change in the candidate’s institution and/or the zoo & aquarium movement An ability to balance business acumen and the advancement of the mission of zoos and aquariums A commitment to ethics and integrity A commitment to advancing their facility’s diversity and inclusion initiatives in their hiring practices, the services and experiences they provide their visitors and the way that they do business in their communities. Motivation and strong executive support to participate in the AZA Executive Leadership Development Program An ability to passionately articulate a concept or vision to a wide range of audiences

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Applicants may only submit one application per cycle. Only two applicants from an institution may apply per cycle. Applications are evaluated and recipients are chosen by the ELDP Executive Selection Committee. Top candidates will be scheduled for a phone interview before selections are made. Top candidates for consideration will represent a diversity of background and experiences, ideology, institution size, geographic location.

PROGRAM COSTS Tuition for the full 13 months of the ELDP is $2750 per participant. This cost covers all program materials, in-person work sessions, the 360-degree Leadership Behavior Assessment, Meyers Briggs Type Indicator Assessment and Overview, several individual and group executive coaching sessions throughout the program, virtual conversations with executive leaders and other industry professionals and the on-going support provided by the program leadership. Participants will also incur the costs to travel to the five in-person program work sessions scheduled to take place at AZA’s Directors’ Policy Conferences, Mid-Year Meeting, Congressional Fly-in, and Annual Conference, as well as other potential site visits or conferences that would support the individual development plans. The additional registration cost of attending these AZA conferences would only be due if the participant stays additional time to participant in other conference sessions and events.

SUBMISSION PROCESS Please save completed application with the updated file name to begin with your last name, “YourLastNameELDPApp2018” and email completed the application along with your resume to [email protected] with the subject line “ELDP Application [Last Name]”. Recommendation forms may be sent with the application or submitted separately.

DEADLINE AZA must receive all completed application materials and the Recommendation Form(s) for each applicant by July 15, 2017. Selected participants will be notified in September.

QUESTIONS Contact Kris Vehrs at [email protected] or 301.244.3329

CONTACT INFORMATION Last Name: First Name: AZA Membership Number: Professional Title: Department: Zoo/Aquarium/Institution: Business Address: City: State: Zip Code: Work Phone: ext: Fax: E-mail: Home Address: City: State: Zip Code: Cell Phone:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Attach an updated resume with completed application.

PERSONAL STATEMENT Based on the selection criteria, explain why you are a strong candidate for this program and have the ability to advance into the director role. Describe how you anticipate this program will help you achieve your professional goals, and how you have already demonstrated professional leadership and a commitment to the advancement of the zoo and aquarium movement. (Max. 500 words)

RECOMMENDATION FORM Two recommendations must be submitted for each applicant using the Executive Recommendation Form. One must come from the applicant’s current director and the other should come from the director of another AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium.

The Executive Recommendation Forms will be kept confidential and once complete may be sent via email from the Director to [email protected].

I have requested that the person(s) listed below submit the Director Recommendation Form for this application directly to [email protected] by July 15, 2017.

CURRENT ZOO/AQUARIUM DIRECTOR Name: Institution: Title: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Work Phone: Ext: Email:

OTHER DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION (OPTIONAL*) Name: Institution: Title: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Work Phone: Ext: Email:

* Reminder: If the applicant’s Director is a current member of the ELDP Executive Selection Committee, the applicant will be required to ask a Zoo/Aquarium Director from another AZA accredited institution to complete the Recommendation Form.

APPLICANT SIGNATURE I hereby verify that all of the above information is truthful and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Name: Signature:

Date Submitted (MM/DD/YY):