Director of Board Operations

University of the District of Columbia•Washington, DC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Board Operations supports the Office of the President by providing strategic leadership and administrative oversight of the governance operations of the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees. Reporting directly to the President, this position serves as the primary liaison among the President, Board Chair, Trustees, University leadership, and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure the effective administration of Board business and institutional governance. The Director leads Board operations by directing governance processes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and Board policies, coordinating Trustee communications and development, managing official Board records and resources, and advising the President on governance matters and Board priorities. As part of the Office of the President, this role advances the University's mission by promoting effective governance, informed decision-making, transparency, accountability, and strong collaboration between the Board of Trustees and University leadership. The President provides direction in terms of broadly defined goals, priorities, and governance responsibilities. The incumbent is responsible for independently planning, coordinating, and executing the work necessary to ensure effective Board operations. The Director is expected to exercise significant initiative, discretion, and sound judgment in managing Board matters and must anticipate the operational and informational needs of the President, Board Chair, Trustees, and Board committees. The position requires exceptional attention to detail, organizational discipline, responsiveness, and timely follow-through. The incumbent has access to highly confidential and sensitive information involving institutional strategy, personnel, legal matters, governance, finances, and other matters of institutional significance. The highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, judgment, and integrity are required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required
Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible administrative, governance, executive support, or leadership experience in higher education, government, public administration, or another complex organization.
Experience managing complex meetings, executive communications, official records, budgets, high-level projects, and sensitive institutional matters.
Demonstrated knowledge of board governance, executive administration, and organizational operations.
Exceptional organizational, project-management, and attention-to-detail skills.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare and review executive-level correspondence, reports, minutes, resolutions, presentations, and briefing materials.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and political acumen in handling sensitive and confidential matters.
Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with Trustees, senior executives, government officials, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
Knowledge of public-sector governance, transparency, public meeting, compliance, and records-management requirements.
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, bylaws, regulations, and legal requirements.
Demonstrated skills in budget administration and fiscal management.
Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, identify emerging issues, solve problems, and ensure timely follow-through.
Demonstrated ability to think strategically and anticipate governance, operational, and organizational needs.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Law, Political Science, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
Demonstrated experience supporting a governing board, executive leadership team, public body, or comparable senior-level governance structure.
Knowledge of District of Columbia government, higher education governance, or public-sector board operations.

Responsibilities

Direct the administration and coordination of Board of Trustees operations by managing the annual governance calendar, Board and committee meetings, agendas, materials, meeting logistics, records, and follow-up activities to ensure effective governance and informed institutional decision-making.
Serve as the primary liaison between the Board of Trustees and University leadership by facilitating communication among the President, Board Chair, Trustees, Cabinet members, and University offices, coordinating timely responses to Board inquiries, and ensuring the effective flow of governance information.
Direct the development, review, distribution, and maintenance of official Board governance documents by coordinating agendas, resolutions, reports, presentations, briefing materials, meeting minutes, and other records, while ensuring their accuracy, accessibility, and compliance with applicable recordkeeping requirements.
Ensure compliance with Board bylaws, governance policies, public meeting requirements, records management standards, and applicable federal and District of Columbia laws by regularly monitoring governance practices, coordinating with the Office of General Counsel and other University offices, and implementing procedural improvements as needed.
Coordinate Board governance administration by developing and maintaining systems to track Board actions, directives, recurring approvals, institutional commitments, elections, evaluations, compliance obligations, and other governance activities requiring follow-up by University leadership.
Lead Board engagement and governance development by coordinating onboarding and orientation for new Trustees and regularly supporting Board education, retreats, workshops, conferences, and other activities that strengthen governance effectiveness and Trustee engagement.
Administer the operational resources supporting the Board of Trustees by managing the Board operating budget, monitoring expenditures, coordinating travel and professional development, and ensuring the efficient administration of Board-related business operations.
Advise and support the President on Board governance matters by preparing executive-level reports, briefings, presentations, and correspondence, identifying emerging governance issues, and providing strategic guidance regarding Trustee engagement, pending Board actions, and institutional priorities.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and operational needs of the Office of the President and the University.