Director, Governance and Executive Operations
About The Position
At USA for UNHCR, our people are the driving force behind our mission of delivering hope and opportunity to refugees worldwide. We're not just a workplace - we're a vibrant community of passionate, forward-thinking professionals committed to making a real difference. If you thrive in a dynamic, transparent, and data-driven environment, and want your career to directly impact lives across the globe, we invite you to join us! SUMMARY The Director, Governance and Executive Operations is responsible for the operational integrity of USA for UNHCR's board governance and the systems that enable executive-level decision-making. This is a tech-adept, systems-oriented role that exists to make board engagement easier and more efficient for the CEO and Executive Leadership Group (ELG). The Director leads the design and administration of board governance systems with a mandate to replace complexity with simplicity. The role is grounded in sense-making: translating governance requirements into rational, well-administered processes that support fiduciary duty without adding friction. The Director partners closely with the ELG to deliver board materials, manage governance operations, and bring executive decisions through to execution. The role supervises the Senior Executive Coordinator and oversees the integrated functioning of the Executive Office.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- 14+ year of progressive experience directly managing nonprofit board governance operations, including board and committee administration, governance documentation, board materials, minutes, compliance tracking, fiduciary process support, and board management systems.
- Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit board governance standards and fiduciary responsibilities
- Demonstrated tech adeptness with board management systems and standard executive collaboration tools
- Track record of building, simplifying, or improving governance and operational systems
- People management experience, with the ability to lead, develop, and support a direct report
- Strong written and verbal communication, with consistent ability to simplify complex information
- High discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential governance and executive matters
- Strong project management discipline and ability to operate across functions
- Experience supporting CEO and Executive operations in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization
- Experience auditing or rebuilding governance platforms or operating systems
Responsibilities
- Lead the operational lifecycle of the Board and its committees, including agenda coordination, materials production, meeting logistics, minutes, and action follow-through
- Own administration of the board management system and ensure all charters, bylaws, policies, committee materials, and governance documentation are current, accurate, and well-organized
- Audit and continuously improve board systems to reduce complexity and eliminate redundancy
- Prepare the CEO and ELG for board engagements with anticipatory thinking and decision-ready materials
- Track governance compliance, including attendance, conflict-of-interest disclosures, term tracking, and fiduciary process integrity
- Serve as the primary operational point of contact for board members on logistical and process matters
- Design and operate the systems that support ELG-level execution, including decision logs, project tracking, and follow-through accountability
- Partner with the ELG on meeting design, pre-reads, agendas, and cadence so executive time is used effectively
- Coordinate organizational calendar planning across board meetings, ELG meetings, all-staff meetings, and major milestones
- Maintain Executive Office documentation, version control, and institutional records
- Provide direct supervision and development of the Senior Executive Coordinator, including coordination of Executive Office logistics and in-person Board meeting execution
- Support the VP, Strategy and Impact in operationalizing 2030 strategy execution through milestone tracking and progress reporting
- Translate ELG decisions into clear execution plans with defined owners and timelines
Benefits
- Comprehensive health coverage, including employer-paid employee medical options (traditional and HSA plans)
- Flexible savings accounts, including FSA and HSA
- Industry-leading 401(k) match
- Lifestyle Spending Account to support your wellness
- Mental and financial wellness resources
- Paid time off, including a paid winter break and sabbatical leave at key milestones
- Volunteer Time-Off to support your community engagement
- Professional development support
- Access to tools like Headspace for mindfulness and mental health
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
