Director, Executive & Governance Operations

American Lung Association • Chicago, IL

7d • $85,000 - $95,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The American Lung Association has an excellent opportunity for a Director, Executive & Governance Operations. Working as a member of the Executive Office department, you will join an outstanding group of professionals dedicated to our mission: to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through research, education, and advocacy.

The Director of Executive & Governance Operations is a senior operational role responsible for managing operational and governance support functions of the President & CEO, National Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team.  Reporting to the Chief Inclusion, Engagement & Governance Officer, this role ensures disciplined execution, continuity and accuracy across Board processes and enterprise operations.  This role also serves as project manager for the annual work plan and key strategic initiatives, ensuring coordinated execution, progress tracking, and alignment with organizational priorities, while overseeing all associated financial, contractual, and logistical responsibilities.

Location: The position is located at the American Lung Association’s Chicago, Illinois office and will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Relevant professional certification (e.g., PMP, CMP, CAE) a plus.
• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive experience in executive operations, board governance, project management, or enterprise administrative leadership.
• Demonstrated experience supporting C‑suite executives, Boards of Directors, and senior leadership teams, preferably within a national nonprofit or complex, matrixed organization.
• Proven experience managing Board governance processes, including meeting planning, agendas, minutes, portals, compliance tracking, and bylaw‑driven requirements.
• Experience organizing large‑scale meetings, conferences, and events, including vendor procurement, contract negotiation, budget management, and on‑site execution.
• Experience producing executive updates: status reports, progress summaries, decision logs, and briefing memos for executive audiences.
• Experience managing operational budgets and expenses, with accountability for financial stewardship, compliance, and internal controls.
• Ability to travel 4-5 times per year as needed.
• Ability to lift approximately 25 lbs. (supplies).
• Consistent with its mission, the American Lung Association maintains a smoke-free workplace; all employees must abstain from tobacco use in any form, including vaping.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Chief Inclusion, Engagement & Governance Officer (CIEGO) to finalize board meeting agendas, annotated agendas, materials and minutes. Manage the Board portal and ensure timely posting of materials in accordance with Board donation guidelines and the organizational Bylaws.
• Manage, monitor, track and report individual contributions in accordance with board donation guidelines; accounting for any related discrepancies and reconciliations.
• Manage, monitor and track annual conflict of interest forms ensuring 100% compliance.
• Partner with board committee leads to oversee the annual processes to update committee charges, goals and membership, ensuring compliance with committee composition requirements as outlined within the Bylaws.
• Manage corporate governance records, including resolutions, annual conflict of interest forms, the corporate seal, and signature tracking.
• Track governance calendars, compliance items, and annual documentation requirements.
• Orient board members to the travel program and process board reimbursements and travel donations.
• Manage the administrative operations of the CEO, including the CEO’s calendar, travel, AMEX expenses and executive correspondence to ensure the CEO’s priorities and schedule are well coordinated.
• Provide input to the budgets for the Executive Office and the National Board of Directors, supporting planning, financial oversight and accountability.
• Oversee the organization’s corporate credit card program, including coordination with American Express to resolve issues, managing cards for new and departing staff, and monitoring adherence to organizational policies.
• Direct all national meeting operations on behalf of executive leadership and in partnership with senior leadership, creating and maintaining an annual meeting calendar.
• Assess meeting needs and budgetary considerations to efficiently and effectively plan, project manage and implement all meeting logistics for regional and national meetings, conferences and workshops.
• Oversee hotel and restaurant procurement and accounts payable processes to include cultivating relationships with hospitality managers, soliciting bids, and negotiating and executing contracts pursuing rates and terms that protect the financial health of the organization and minimizes risk; and processing related invoices.
• Direct all meeting registration operations for regional and national meetings and events to include creating, launching and monitoring registration processes and collecting related fees.
• Partner with hospitality managers to ensure high quality execution of the terms of the contract and specifications for hotel and meeting rooms, onsite events and meals.
• Maintain current knowledge of event planning standards and trends by participating in on-line seminars, consulting with other professionals and reading trade publications.
• Develop and socialize official staff and non-staff travel policy and procedures, implementing mechanisms for compliance to include tracking, securing and storing signed acknowledgements; and monitoring monthly travel reports and resolving issues related to non-compliance.
• Manage daily operation of travel program, providing authorized lists, obtaining budget codes and handling problems as necessary, and reviewing, coding and processing monthly credit card bill for airline travel.
• Partner with the CIEGO to develop status updates, summaries, dashboards, and progress reports for the CEO, ELT, and governance leaders.
• Ensure alignment across planning calendars, governance timelines, and executive reporting cycles.
• Collaborate with the CIEGO to support timely updates and provide assistance with revisions and refinements as needed.
• Direct all annual volunteer and staff recognition program operations in partnership with the Executive Leadership Team to include overseeing nomination solicitation and review processes, confirming and onboarding reviewers, directing the scoring and selection processes, and supporting all related communications.
• Create and implement annual awards ceremony in partnership with board and staff leaders to include the event program and run of show, awardee preparations, event materials and logistics, awards and certificates, and travel.

Benefits

• Paid Leave - 10 vacation days in the first year (15 days thereafter), 2 personal days and 15 sick days per year, as well as 12 company-paid holidays per year. We also offer Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees.
• Insurance - Employees (and their eligible dependents) can enroll in our medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as voluntary plans for critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity, short-term disability and supplemental life/AD&D insurance. Employees will be enrolled in company-paid life/AD&D and long-term disability Insurance coverage.
• Retirement Plan - Eligible employees can participate in our 401(k) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, which offers matching employer contributions (up to 4%) and year-end discretionary non-elective contributions.

What This Job Offers

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