Senior Manager, Board Governance and Operations

Brooklyn Museum•New York, NY

4h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Board Governance and Operations is a strategic member of the Board Relations team and advisor and operational owner for the work of the Board of Trustees, its Executive Committee, and committees. As the Brooklyn Museum ambitiously grows its fundraising alongside a transition in Board leadership, this role exists to ensure that the Board, the institution’s most significant donors and ambassadors, is well-governed, organized, and positioned to lead. The Senior Manager is a trusted thought partner to the Museum Director, the Cabinet of senior leadership, and Board officers, advising on governance and meeting strategy, anticipating leadership’s needs, and exercising independent judgment on sensitive and confidential matters. The role owns the governance and operational infrastructure behind a growing, increasingly active Board, setting the systems, strategy, and standards that make the Trustee experience seamless.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
7+ years of progressively responsible experience in Board administration, executive operations, development operations, or governance/legal support
Demonstrated ability to work independently in a leadership-facing role, owning complex, high-stakes processes end to end, anticipating needs before they are raised, and exercising judgment with accuracy and discretion
Direct experience working with senior leadership, Board members, or other high-level external stakeholders with strong judgment in sensitive situations
Working knowledge of nonprofit Board operations, committee structures, and governance-related processes
Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage overlapping deadlines and competing priorities in a dynamic, high-visibility environment
A systems-oriented approach, with the ability to build structure, improve workflows, and sustain effective operations over time
High level of discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive and confidential information
Strong writing, editing, and executive-facing communication skills
Excellent attention to detail and follow-through, and the judgment to know what rises to leadership and what to resolve independently
Ability to work effectively and credibly with senior leadership, Trustees, and colleagues across the organization
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

Experience in a museum, cultural institution, higher education setting, or other mission-driven nonprofit environment preferred
experience with Tessitura and Board portals or similar resource platforms is a plus

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor to the Director and Board leadership, providing confidential strategic support on governance, executive leadership matters, organizational priorities, and sensitive Board deliberations requiring the exercise of independent judgment and discretion
Set the annual calendar for the Board and all committees, including schedules and timelines, convening a monthly stakeholder meeting to keep Board priorities and deadlines on track
Architect and maintain the systems and data that underpin Board governance, Trustee terms and class elections, committee assignments, officer roles, appointments, leadership transitions, attendance, and other governance data, using them to inform planning and Trustee engagement strategy
Own the quality and strategic coherence of all Board and committee meeting materials end to end: directing inputs from senior colleagues across departments so that every agenda, pre-read, and presentation reflects the institution’s best thinking and strategy
Shape the messaging that drives Board decision-making: craft the talking points, scripts, and remarks, including the co-chair report and materials for other presenters, that frame key messages to support productive discussion, build alignment, and move Trustees toward action
Lead the implementation and ongoing maintenance of a centralized Board portal, inclusive of onboarding Trustees and staff and the Development standard operating procedures
Partner with the General Counsel to manage confidential governance, legal, employment, and labor-related matters before the Board, maintaining privileged communications, overseeing required disclosures, and ensuring compliance while identifying and mitigating institutional risk
Partner with the Board Relations team on the planning and execution of the annual Board retreat and other Board meetings, including scheduling, material and content coordination, and managing day-of details
Regularly access, prepare, and safeguard highly confidential Board materials, including executive personnel matters, legal advice, governance deliberations, strategic initiatives, and other sensitive information that is not available to bargaining unit employees, exercising independent judgment and absolute discretion

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
401(k) Savings Plan and Pension Plan
Generous paid time off, including annual vacation leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
Short-term and long-term disability coverage
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) & Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for eligible pre-tax health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses
Employee Assistant Program
Free admission to various NYC museums and cultural institutions
Early access to Museum exhibitions
Invitations to staff-only programs, tours, and on-site engagement events
Opportunities to participate in community initiatives and Museum programs
40% discount for staff in Museum shops
20% discount at Museum café