Associate Director - Board Operations

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

24d•$76,335 - $107,824•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Board Secretary, the Associate Director of Board Operations and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees is responsible for providing organization and leadership for activities and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and its committees, and assisting with the strategic direction for Advancement’s Community Engagement Initiative. The Associate Director must be able to develop and maintain a board relations manual, board calendars, and a repository of all board documents. They will develop and create innovative ways to engage university stakeholders with an emphasis on Trustees’ relationships and implement relationship and engagement strategies. A working knowledge of Salesforce is required to ensure activity is accurate and up to date to inform relationship strategies. The role provides support for all Northeastern University board activities as assigned and develops an understanding of governance rules and regulations for all national and international entities. The Associate Director will initiate and provide project management for the creation and/or improvement of relationship management and business processes, monitor and evaluate operational effectiveness, and effect changes required for improvement. They will support all activities of the Board Secretary, including autonomously implementing short- and long-range organizational goals, objectives, and operating procedures. This role coordinates logistics for board meetings including technology, remote communications, and materials. They will communicate and coordinate with board members for ad hoc/special meetings and assist in the development of communications to the board, including dashboard updates. The Associate Director manages the OnBoard secure portal, including providing training to users and assisting with accessibility and functionality problems. They manage regulatory and policy requirements such as annual trustee Conflict of Interest disclosure, ITAR filings, FCC filings, and Signature Authority Delegations. The role involves drafting, circulating, and maintaining minutes of board and committee meetings and other university governance documents. The Associate Director coordinates with staff across the university on developing board materials and develops and deploys strategic benchmarks and KPIs within a multi-year plan to measure success. They attend Board and committee meetings to provide procedural, governance, and operational support and must maintain strict confidentiality.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
Significant demonstrated experience with project management, organization, documentation, process development, communications, and presentations.
Strong technology skills are critical.
Must have clear and concise writing ability, a process orientation, exemplary customer service skills and orientation, and impeccable attention to detail.
Must be able to exercise absolute discretion and good judgement when dealing with confidential and sensitive material.
Demonstrated ability to manage an intense workload and produce quality results in a fast-paced environment.
Possess the skills necessary for building relationships with external (trustees, donors, prospects) and internal constituents (senior administration, deans, faculty, staff, students) and be highly professional and collaborative in approach.
Ability to travel and a flexible schedule on occasion are required.
The successful candidate will be an innovative, strategic and results-oriented leader with a broad vision for the importance of relationship management in achieving division and institutional success and excellence.
They must be adept at facilitating difficult discussions, shepherding change, creating and strengthening partnerships, and aligning an array of efforts across the division and within the context of the greater university.
Demonstrated interest and ability as a collaborator and relationship builder, with strong interpersonal skills and ability to build coalitions and collaborative working relationships with a broad range of individuals and groups, including senior administration, to achieve results.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a board relations manual, board calendars, and a repository of all board documents.
Develop and create innovative ways to engage university stakeholders with an emphasis on Trustees’ relationships, and implement relationship and engagement strategies.
Develop working knowledge of Salesforce and ensure activity is accurate and up to date in order to inform relationship strategies.
Provide support for all Northeastern University board activities as assigned and develop understanding of governance rules and regulations for all national and international entities.
Initiate and provide project management for the creation and/or improvement of business processes; monitor and evaluate operational effectiveness and effect changes required for improvement.
Support all activities of the Board Secretary including autonomously implementing short- and long-term organizational goals, objectives, and operating procedures.
Develop and maintain a board relations manual, board calendars, and a repository of all board documents.
Coordinate all logistics for board meetings including technology, remote communications, and materials.
Communicate and coordinate with board members for ad hoc/special meetings; assist in development of communications to board, including dashboard updates.
Manage OnBoard secure portal including providing training to users and assisting with accessibility and functionality problems experienced by users.
Draft, circulate, and maintain minutes of board and committee meetings and other university governance documents.
Coordinate with staff across the university on developing board materials.
Support implementation of Board priorities, strategic initiatives, governance goals, and special projects.
Maintain systems to track Board actions, directives, assignments, and implementation progress.
Prepare reports, dashboards, and status updates regarding Board actions and strategic initiatives.
Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure timely follow-through on Board-approved actions and projects.
Assist in evaluating governance processes and recommending improvements that increase effectiveness, transparency, and accountability.
Manage regulatory and policy requirements (annual trustee Conflict of Interest disclosure, ITAR filings, FCC filings, Signature Authority Delegations).
Manage and support at all activities and events involving Trustees' Emeriti program.
Develop and create innovative ways to engage Trustees’ Emeriti with an emphasis on relationships, and engagement strategies.
Develop working knowledge of Salesforce and ensure activity is accurate and up to date in order to inform relationship strategies.
Hire, orient, and train one administrative professional staff member, temporary employee, or student intern, as needed.
Provide guidance, feedback, coaching, and mentoring to direct report and lead by professional example to promote their professional and personal development.
Daily management of direct report including goal setting and performance evaluation.
Manage department budget and reconcile expenses.
Serve as backup to guide and advise Board Secretary on compliance program matters within the Advancement Division.
Be willing to collaborate with Advancement team members and create a working knowledge of compliance-related matters and their impact on philanthropic initiatives.
Support the implementation of strategic initiatives.
Partner with stakeholders and internal and external constituencies to ensure programming supports the divisions and university’s values and strategic goals.
Recognize that the nature of the work is dynamic and be flexible in accepting other responsibilities that further the mission and vision of the university when needed.