Director of Cooperative Stewardship & Governance

Organic Valley • LaFarge, WI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Cooperative Stewardship and Governance serves as a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors, executive leadership team, and member-leaders, ensuring the cooperative’s governance ecosystem effectively supports long-term organizational success. This role strengthens board effectiveness, member-owner engagement, leadership alignment, and governance transparency by translating complex strategic and operational issues into actionable insights that enable informed decision-making and sustain member trust. As a key steward of governance excellence, this role fosters alignment among member-owners, board directors, and staff and member leadership, strengthens governance structures and processes, develops future member-leader capacity, and serves as a bridge between governance bodies and management. Success is reflected in a highly engaged and informed Board, trusted leadership relationships, effective governance practices, and a culture of accountability, stewardship, and member-owner confidence in their cooperative.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, organizational leadership, governance, cooperative studies, communications, public administration, or a related field required; equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in cooperative governance, board effectiveness, and governance systems.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience with the ability to align governance practices, organizational strategy, and member-owner interests.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex operational, financial, strategic, and organizational information into clear governance insights and recommendations.
• Outstanding communication, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills across board, executive, employee, and member-owner audiences.
• Proven ability to influence without direct authority, build consensus, and foster alignment among diverse stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking, organizational awareness, and enterprise-level perspective.
• Experience leading teams that demonstrate strong cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrated judgment, discretion, and credibility in managing sensitive, confidential, and high-impact matters.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and build trust during periods of organizational change or complex decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Establish in collaboration with the CROPP Board our governance strategy, stewardship priorities, Board support expectations.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board of Directors on governance priorities, member-owner engagement in governance, and organizational alignment between the operational and governing functions of the cooperative.
• Advise and support board directors, committees, and member-leaders in fulfilling governance responsibilities.
• Partner with executive leadership and the board to anticipate governance risks, emerging issues, and stakeholder concerns, minimizing organizational surprises and strengthening decision readiness.
• Provide strategic leadership in the design and evolution of governance structures, decision-right frameworks, and board committee models.
• Act as the Governance Committee manager.
• Direct the development, interpretation, and maintenance of member policies, standards, bylaws, and related governing documents.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve governance systems, processes, elections, committee operations, and governance reporting to enhance effectiveness and accountability.
• Ensure flow of information between governance bodies and the business.
• Lead the development and execution of the cooperative’s governance strategy to strengthen trust, transparency, and long-term member-owner commitment.
• Oversee governance communications, ensuring complex business, operational, and strategic matters are translated into clear, credible, and accessible information for member-owner and employee audiences.
• Support employee understanding of cooperative governance through educational programming, communication resources, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• Participate in Pools Senior Leadership Team meetings, attend regional meetings and other Pools Department events to ensure strong connectivity to member perspective.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with domestic and international cooperatives, governance networks, industry associations, and governance thought leaders.
• Lead member-leader onboarding, education, succession planning, and ongoing development programs in conjunction with appropriate member committees to strengthen governance capabilities and board readiness.
• Lead and develop teams responsible for governance operations, communications, leadership development, and governance support functions.
• Monitor emerging governance, board effectiveness, member engagement, and cooperative leadership trends to inform organizational practices.
• Facilitate governance continuity and knowledge transfer during leadership, board, or committee transitions.
• Ensure ongoing improvement to CROPP’s historical document archival system.
• Represent the cooperative at industry, governance, and member leadership forums and events.
• Perform other duties and strategic initiatives as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Insurance - Choice of plans for you and your family, including some that can be paired with an HSA (which CROPP contributes to on your behalf)
• Supplemental insurances: we offer accidental insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• Time Off – 136 hours in the 1st year of employment prorated by start date. Plus 9 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday to use at will.
• 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave – For all gendered partners in childbirth or adoption.
• Vision & Dental Insurance – Free annual eye exam, discounts on glasses/contacts, flexible dental network, adult ortho.
• 401k – We match 100% up to the first 3% of an employee’s contribution, and then 50% for 3.1%-5.0% of employee contributions.
• Free services at five local Neighborhood Family Clinics.
• Tuition Reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per year to support continuing higher education.
• Life Insurance - $50,000 policy funded by CROPP for each employee. Supplemental voluntary coverage available for employees, spouses, and children.
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability/AD&D Insurance - $50,000 of life insurance coverage of $50,000 of AD&D coverage funded by CROPP for each employee.
• Employee Assistance Program - Free and Confidential for employees, spouses, and dependents.
• Free onsite fitness centers available 24/7
• Free biometric screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure) and health coaching.
• Financial advisors and seminars
• Annual $360 Lifestyle Spending Account
• Flexible Scheduling
• On-site all-organic cafeterias

What This Job Offers

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