Board Liaison

National Aquarium•Baltimore, MD

6d•$58,660 - $71,399

About The Position

The National Aquarium is seeking a Board Liaison to serve as the principal connection between the Boards of National Aquarium, Inc. and the National Aquarium Foundation, the Board Chairs, and the Executive Office. The role is accountable for the integrity of the governance cycle, including meeting production, materials, records, and follow-through, and ensures Directors receive what they need to govern effectively. The Board Liaison manages Board Member onboarding and continuing education, owns the long-range Board and Committee agenda calendar, and tracks Board commitments and action items through completion. The position partners with the Executive Office, Leadership Team, Strategy, and Philanthropy to advance Board engagement and Board-led philanthropy. Reporting to the VP, Strategy, the Liaison works directly with the President & CEO and Board Chairs and has standing direct access to them on governance matters. The role works cross-functionally and requires significant discretion and independent judgment regarding governance and confidential matters. Responsibilities include producing Board and Committee meetings; managing committee relationships and schedules; planning long-range agendas aligned with organizational strategy and performance cycles; coordinating onboarding, education, disclosures, evaluations, attendance, and engagement; maintaining secure and accurate governance records; supporting Board participation in philanthropy; overseeing Board-related projects, budgets, communications, and action-item follow-through. The role also supports Board meetings, retreats, and events that may occur outside standard business hours. This is a full-time position listed as on-site/hybrid in Baltimore, Maryland. The annual salary range is $58,660–$71,399. The National Aquarium offers four weeks of paid time off, six paid floating holidays, up to four weeks of paid family leave, health care eligibility after 30 days of full-time work, conservation day leave, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

Requirements

Five to eight years of relevant experience, including at least three years supporting a governing board, board committees, or senior volunteer leadership.
Demonstrated working knowledge of nonprofit or corporate governance practice, including familiarity with bylaws, minutes, resolutions, and committee charters.
Experience with board portal or governance management software, such as BoardEffect, Diligent, or OnBoard.
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 broader picture.
Availability to support Board meetings, retreats, and events outside standard business hours.
Working knowledge of nonprofit governance practice, fiduciary duty, and bylaws administration.
Exceptional discretion and sound judgment in confidential and politically sensitive matters.
Excellent written, verbal, articulation, and listening skills.
Skill in complex, multi-stakeholder scheduling and long-range calendar management.
Strong relationship management skills with senior volunteers and executives.
Expert technical knowledge in information management, including board portal software.
Ability to assess needs, manage projects, and drive follow-through.
Exceptional organizational skills and close attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with CRMs; specific knowledge of Salesforce is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage the full production cycle for National Aquarium, Inc. and National Aquarium Foundation Board meetings, including scheduling, logistics, agenda development, preparation and distribution of materials, and Board portal administration.
Execute the multi-year Board plan, manage quarterly progress reporting, and organize inputs into the CEO report for the Board Briefing.
Coordinate Board Committee meetings, including logistics, materials, communications, yearly scheduling, and planning; provide direct support to the Executive and Compensation Committees.
Own the annual Board and Committee calendar and long-range agenda planning, sequencing governance business to ensure decisions are appropriately prepared and presented with adequate lead time.
Align Board and Committee agendas with strategic planning, operational plans, and performance reporting; work with the Strategy team to prepare Board-ready content and carry Board input into planning.
Manage Board recruitment and onboarding logistics, orientation, continuing education, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and Board and Committee self-evaluations.
Track 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; maintain documentation for audits and regulatory filings.
Support Board members as ambassadors and fundraisers by preparing them for cultivation and solicitation activity, tracking giving and engagement commitments, and coordinating participation in campaigns and donor events.
Manage Board-related activities and projects, including meetings, retreats, and special events; determine priorities with the VP, Strategy and CEO, evaluate and improve processes and tools, and track 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 Chairs.
Manage the budget for Board and Committee activities and make recommendations for Board-related project accounts.
Support Board meetings, retreats, and events that may fall outside standard business hours.
Support the organization’s mission, follow organizational and departmental policies and procedures, and perform other duties as assigned or required.