Associate Director for Board Operations and Special Projects

Department

Secretary of the University: Staff

About the Department

Founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller, the University of Chicago is one of the world’s leading universities and widely known for its research eminence, its excellent faculty, graduate programs that rank at or near the top of their respective fields, a consistently strong and increasingly diverse student body, and impressive, constantly improved fundraising and endowment growth. The University is located primarily in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. It comprises an undergraduate college, graduate programs and interdisciplinary committees organized into four divisions (Physical, Biological and Social Sciences, and Humanities), six professional schools (Business, Divinity, Law, Medicine, Public Policy, and Social Work Policy and Practice, Molecular Engineering), the nursery-12 Laboratory Schools, three campuses of the University of Chicago charter school, a school of continuing education, and a medical center. With facilities in downtown Chicago, Bangladesh, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Luxor, New Delhi, and Paris, and academic partnerships in all corners of the globe, the University of Chicago is an institution of considerable reach.

The University, under provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Statutes, is governed by a Board of Trustees. Members of the Board provide oversight and input regarding the University’s large-scale programmatic goals and its financial and physical resources, and by advocating for the University locally, nationally, and throughout the world.

The Office of the Secretary of the University has primary responsibility for supporting the governance of the University. The office supports the work of the Board of Trustees, including its triannual meetings, annual retreats, publications, directories, committee staffing, and orientation for new Trustees. The office also staffs and coordinates the work of other boards including the Medical Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Laboratory Schools, and the Advisory Councils of 14 academic units. The Office of the Secretary partners closely with other departments and units, including Alumni Relations & Development, Communications, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Events and Ceremonies, the Office of Legal Counsel, and the CFO’s office.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, the Associate Director for Board Operations and Special Projects is responsible for management and implementation of board activities related to the work of the Laboratory Schools Board of Directors and coordinating various aspects of the work of the Marine Biological Laboratory Board, the Advisory Council program, the Court Theatre Board, and the Smart Museum Board, and the University Board of Trustees. The Associate Director provides leadership of the Laboratory Schools Board and attends and staffs various meetings of the other boards, their committees, and Advisory Councils. The Associate Director also assists in planning and implementation of board events and board-related activities and manages special projects at the direction of the Vice President and Secretary of the University.

Responsibilities

• Ensures effective leadership and implementation of board governance and activities related to the Laboratory Schools Board of Directors.

• Develops and oversees production of board materials for the Laboratory Schools Board of Directors and assists with the development and production of the materials for other boards and councils managed by the Office of the Secretary of the University.

• Monitor, maintain, and update digital databases, websites, directories, and document archives.

• Assists with the management, planning and implementation of the University Advisory Councils Program, including Advisory Councils staff meetings, and the Advisory Councils Chairs meetings hosted by the President.

• Oversees the agenda setting process for the Laboratory Schools Board of Directors, with a particular focus on governance matters, and assists with the agenda setting process for the Marine Biological Laboratory.  

• Attends and staffs meetings of the Marine Biological Laboratory Board, Laboratory Schools Board of Directors. This includes planning meeting logistics, taking minutes, ensuring the chairs of boards and committees are prepared, and other related tasks. 

• Ensure board members and other leaders are well prepared for meetings by creating executive briefings, talking points, and annotated agendas.

• Attends and works closely with the rest of the Office of the Secretary to implement tri-annual meetings of the University Board of Trustees.

• Manages Trustee engagement with students and works closely with the Office of Campus and Student Li