2024-181 Manager, Board Relations

POSITION TITLE: Manager, Board Relations

DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: Executive Office

REPORTS TO: Chief of Staff

STATUS: Full Time, Exempt 

LOCATION: Washington, D.C.

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY

Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

POSITION SUMMARY

Ocean Conservancy seeks an optimistic, solutions-oriented relationship-builder with impressive project management and communication skills. The Manager, Board Relations is a key position within the Executive Office and plays an important role in overseeing the day-to-day and overall operations of the Board of Directors. In conjunction with the Executive Office of the CEO, senior development team members, this position helps create and execute Ocean Conservancy’s strategic vision for Board optimization and growth. This position will play a crucial role in the project management, administration and implementation of the institution’s board and leadership-level priorities.

The ideal candidate brings a high level of emotional intelligence, the ability to build and maintain relationships across internal staff departments and with Board members, and the finesse to ensure key objectives are met. They are adept at problem solving and flexibly adapt to changing contexts.

This position reports to the Chief of Staff and partners closely with the Director of Executive Communications and Special Assistant to the CEO. As a member of the Executive Team, the Manager, Board Relations plays a crucial role in connecting workstreams internally and with the Board. The position is based in Washington, D.C. with travel throughout the year for West Coast Board and staff meetings, as well as travel to other locations dependent on Board-related activities including meetings, retreats and other events, as well as preparatory site visits.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Board Activities

• In partnership with the Executive Office, manages planning and all logistics for in-person/virtual Board meetings and related dinners and events, including retreats.
• Travels to and staff all in-person Board meetings, events and excursions, including identifying potential venues, interviewing travel companies, arranging agendas and itineraries.
• Project-manages the board book in advance of each board meeting, in partnership with the Special Assistant to the CEO.
• Staffs and manages all board committees (Executive, Governance, Development, Finance, Ad Hoc, Audit), including developing agendas, recording minutes, tracking key deliverables, etc.
• Board Communications
• Updates, manages and helps deploy annual board communications strategy, incorporating key requirements and messaging related to governance, development and program efforts.
• Partners with the Director of Executive Communications and other team members to identify and activate opportunities for Board members to connect with our conservation mission.
• Drafts communications for the Board on behalf of the CEO and the Executive Office.
• Board Relationships and Development
• Supports effective executive-portfolio management by tracking and recording interactions between board members and executive team leaders, including CEO.
• Collaborates with the Executive Office and the senior leaders to cultivate strong individual relationships with Board members and their staffs.
• Builds relationships and communicates directly with the Board.
• Board Governance
• Manages all Board governance work.
• Ensures effective board recruitment: Project-manages the established recruitment process, research candidates and delegates the scheduling of calls and meetings to the Development Assistant.
• Refreshes and support new-director onboarding and orientation, including scheduling, developing agenda and materials, while coordinating with staff and Board leadership.
• Manages the transition of directors to emeritus status, including tracking terms and end dates, executing the exit process, honoring retiring directors.
• Ensures adherence and necessary updates to the Board By-Laws.

Staff Support

• Supports the Chief of Staff in managing the Board budget.
• Supports the Executive Office with other duties as assigned.
• Participates in and prepares agendas for monthly Board Update meetings.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ QUALIFICATIONS/ EXPERIENCE