ABOUT GULF OF TOMORROW
Gulf of Tomorrow (GOT) was created to address a persistent gap. Some of the Gulf of Mexico’s most consequential environmental challenges - such as nutrient pollution, habitat loss, oil and gas extraction impacts, overfishing, and climate change - remain unresolved, not because solutions do not exist, but because they require sustained coordination, long-term commitment, and the ability to work across systems that are not naturally aligned.
The Gulf is one of the most ecologically rich and economically vital regions in the world. It supports fisheries, coastal economies, energy production, and communities across the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. At the same time, the Gulf faces mounting pressure from population growth and increasing human pressure on the Gulf.
GOT focuses on addressing root causes rather than isolated symptoms. Its approach brings together local knowledge, science, businesses, policy, and market-based tools to identify where progress is possible and how to achieve it. GOT will concentrate its efforts on a limited number of priorities, applying sustained effort to produce measurable outcomes over time. Success will be evaluated through specific, quantifiable environmental and stakeholder engagement metrics, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.
This work spans national boundaries. Effective solutions must reflect the distinct political, cultural, and institutional realities of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. GOT will connect efforts across these contexts, advancing collaboration without assuming uniformity and enabling progress where fragmentation has historically limited it. As an early-stage organization, Gulf of Tomorrow's founding CEO will define its structure, priorities, and partnerships.
Gulf of Tomorrow will build a complementary leadership team, including:
- Fundraising leadership to drive philanthropic growth
- Regional program leadership for initiatives in Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S.
- Expertise in conservation, science, and policy
What cannot be delegated is the ability to navigate complexity, build trust across diverse stakeholders, and determine where GOT should focus to achieve meaningful results.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Founding Chief Executive Officer will lead the creation and development of Gulf of Tomorrow. They will establish GOT’s direction, structure, and external presence. This role requires balancing strategy and execution, defining a focused strategy anchored in one to three core priorities that can drive meaningful impact across the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, while reflecting a clear trinational commitment, and demonstrating the ability to manage strategic initiatives forward from concept to implementation. The CEO will build relationships across the Gulf region, stand up internal systems, and serve as the organization’s primary external representative, cultivating credibility with funders, partners, and stakeholders by making them feel valued, engaged, and influential in shaping the work.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is an opportunity to build a focused organization designed to make measurable progress on important environmental challenges that have resisted resolution. The Founding CEO will define how Gulf of Tomorrow contributes within a landscape where many organizations are active, but efforts are often fragmented or time-bound. The organization is positioned to bring continuity, alignment, and forward movement, helping translate shared interest into coordinated action and results.
A central part of the role will be selecting and advancing one to three priority areas where progress is achievable. These efforts may draw on a range of approaches, including local knowledge, scientific insight, policy development, market-based incentives, and regulatory or legal pathways, depending on what will be most effective in practice. The CEO will also shape how the organization operates, establishing a model that connects institutions, disciplines, and geographies to support execution, not just alignment. This includes determining where collaboration will accelerate progress and where independent action is required.
Gulf of Tomorrow is launching with early financial commitments, a start-up board committed to tri-national development, and initial interest from funding partners. The CEO will build on this foundation, expand relationships, strengthen the case for investment, and position the organization for long-term sustainability, including a future endowment.
This role is well-suited for a leader motivated to build something that delivers results, an organization defined by focus, follow-through, and the ability to convert opportunity into measurable progress. We are excited to find a leader who cares deeply for the Gulf of Mexico and has a personal commitment to environmental stewardship, with a clear sense that this work represents a meaningful and motivating career fit. Given the start-up opportunity and challenge, we seek a leader with the resilience to sustain long-term efforts, strong communication abilities, and a clear sense of purpose and drive.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Organizational Leadership & Strategy - Partner with the GOT Board of Directors to define and refine GOT’s strategic direction and operating approach.
- Establish structure, governance, and internal processes.
- Set priorities and determine where the organization can have the greatest impact.
- Ensure clarity of purpose internally and externally.
Cross-Border Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement - Build and maintain relationships across the U.S. Gulf States, Mexico, and Cuba
- Navigate differing political, cultural, and institutional contexts.
- Engage stakeholders across government, science, industry, and communities.
- Adjust approach based on audience, incentives, and environment.
Team Building & Organizational Development - Assess organizational needs and shape complementary roles around the CEO’s strengths to ensure all critical capabilities are in place.
- Build, structure, and lead a high-performing leadership team, potentially including program leaders across Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S., as well as development, communications, and operational functions.
- Build a team capable of operating independently across functions and geographies.
- Establish expectations, accountability, and a strong internal culture.
External Leadership & Partnerships - Serve as the primary external representative of GOT.
- Establish credibility with funders, partners, and regional stakeholders.
- Develop partnerships that lead to coordinated action and tangible outcomes.
- Position GOT effectively within the broader environmental landscape.
Funding & Growth - In partnership with the Chief Development Officer, engage directly with philanthropic partners and funding institutions.
- Articulate a clear and compelling case for investment.
- Translate strategy into fundable initiatives and demonstrate progress.
Execution & Early Impact - Identify and prioritize initial focus areas
- Translate strategy into actionable plans
- Deliver early progress that demonstrates the organization’s value.
QUALIFICATIONS - Bilingual in Spanish and English is required.
- 10-15 years of experience advancing Gulf or marine conservation efforts, integrating both ecological and human dimensions.
- Demonstrated experience in leadership roles, including experience building and hiring high-performing teams and working with a board.
- Demonstrated ability to work across multiple disciplines, countries, cultures, and stakeholder groups
- Proven experience building or leading organizations, initiatives, or programs.
- Strong track record navigating complex political, regulatory, or cross-sector environments.
- Ability to establish credibility and build trust with diverse external stakeholders.
- Experience operating effectively in environments with ambiguity and limited infrastructure.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate complexity into clear priorities and action.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to adapt across audiences.
DESIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE - Experience working in international or cross-border contexts, ideally in the Gulf region or similar environments.
- Familiarity with environmental, conservation, and human communities around the Gulf of Mexico.
- Experience engaging with philanthropy, major donors, or institutional funders.
- Exposure to public policy, regulatory systems, or government engagement.
- Experience working across sectors, including nonprofit, government, academia, or private industry.
- Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, public policy, international relations, law, or business) preferred.
Direct experience leading fundraising, policy, or conservation functions is not required; however, the CEO should have meaningful exposure to these areas and the ability to effectively lead, partner with, and support experts in each domain.
COMPENSATION The anticipated starting salary will be $225,000–$275,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Gulf of Tomorrow is prepared to consider additional compensation elements. The salary for this role reflects the organization’s current stage and is expected to evolve as Gulf of Tomorrow grows and the role expands with the organization.
BENEFITS Gulf of Tomorrow is committed to providing a competitive benefits package, including health and dental coverage for employees and their families, retirement benefits with employer match, and paid leave.
LOCATION The CEO must be based in or willing to relocate to the Gulf region within the US or Mexico, with a strong commitment to being present and engaged across the communities and partners served by GOT.
TO APPLY Gulf of Tomorrow has retained the services of
ThinkingAhead Executive Search. Interested candidates should submit a resume and expression of interest to:
Kay Linder, Partner
ThinkingAhead Executive Search
KLinder@thinkingahead.com
Jessica Martinez, Partner
ThinkingAhead Executive Search
JMartinez@thinkingahead.com
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT Gulf of Tomorrow is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The organization is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by law.