Board Liaison

National Aquarium • Baltimore, MD

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Aquarium is seeking a Board Liaison to serve as the principal connection among the Boards of National Aquarium, Inc. and the National Aquarium Foundation, the Board Chair(s), and the Executive Office. The role is accountable for the governance cycle, including meeting production, materials, records, follow-through, Board member onboarding and continuing education, long-range Board and Committee agenda planning, and tracking commitments and action items through completion. The Board Liaison also partners with the Executive Office, Leadership Team, and Philanthropy to advance Board engagement and Board-led philanthropy.

Reporting to the VP, Strategy, the Board Liaison works directly with the President & CEO and Board Chair(s), with standing direct access to both on governance matters. The role works cross-functionally and exercises significant discretion and independent judgment in matters of governance and confidentiality.

The National Aquarium is a Baltimore-based nonprofit whose mission is to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for the ocean planet. The organization’s conservation work focuses on combating climate change, saving wildlife and habitats, and stopping plastic pollution. The Aquarium describes its values as Connection, Curiosity, Optimism, Service, and Wellbeing, and states its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Requirements

• Five to eight years of relevant experience, including at least three years supporting a governing board, Board committees, or senior volunteer leadership.
• Working knowledge of nonprofit or corporate governance practices, including familiarity with bylaws, minutes, resolutions, and committee charters.
• Experience with Board portal or governance management software.
• Strong technical skills and expert-level knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Ability to work effectively with political sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Ability to prioritize and make independent decisions regarding Board and governance priorities, understand context, and think about the big picture.
• Availability to support Board meetings, retreats, and events outside standard business hours.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with CRMs; specific knowledge of Salesforce is a plus.
• Experience with BoardEffect, Diligent, or OnBoard.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full production cycle of National Aquarium, Inc. and National Aquarium Foundation Board meetings, including scheduling, logistics, agenda development with the CEO and Board Chair(s), preparation and distribution of materials, and administration of the Board portal.
• Execute the multi-year Board plan, manage quarterly progress reporting, and organize inputs for the CEO’s Board Briefing report.
• Manage Board Committee relationships, including meeting logistics, materials, communications, annual scheduling, and planning aligned with the Board meeting cycle.
• Provide direct support to the Executive and Compensation Committees and maintain a responsive, service-oriented approach with internal and external constituencies.
• Own the annual Board and Committee calendar and long-range agenda planning, sequencing governance matters such as audits, budget approvals, officer elections, policy reviews, and strategic plan checkpoints.
• Align Board and Committee agendas with strategic planning, operational plans, and performance reporting; work with the Strategy team to prepare Board-ready materials and return Board input to the planning cycle.
• Manage Board recruitment, onboarding, and orientation logistics, and maintain a continuing education program on the Aquarium’s mission, financial model, and strategic priorities.
• Administer annual conflict-of-interest disclosures and Board and Committee self-evaluations, and manage and report Board meeting attendance and engagement.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and secure governance records, including minutes, resolutions, written consents, bylaws, committee charters, and Board policies; support consistency with bylaws and recognized governance standards and maintain documentation for audits and regulatory filings.
• Partner with the Philanthropy Stewardship Manager to support Directors as ambassadors and fundraisers, including preparing them for cultivation and solicitation, tracking giving and engagement commitments, and coordinating participation in campaign and donor events.
• Manage delivery of Board-related meetings, retreats, special events, and services; coordinate priorities with the VP, Strategy and CEO; evaluate and improve processes and tools; and track Board and Committee action items through closure.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for Board Members and draft correspondence, reports, presentations, and governance documents for the Executive Office and Board Chair(s).
• Manage the budget for Board and Committee activities, including meetings, retreats, and Director engagement expenses, and make recommendations for Board-related project accounts.
• Support the Aquarium’s mission, follow organizational and departmental policies and procedures, and perform other duties as assigned or required.

Benefits

• Four weeks of paid time off.
• Six paid floating holidays.
• Up to four weeks of paid family leave.
• Health care coverage for single and family plans after 30 days of full-time work.
• Conservation day leave.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level