Director, Strategic Engagement and Board Relations, National Laboratories

Department

SING National Laboratories

About the Department

The University of Chicago Office for National Laboratories broadly oversees the national laboratory board and contract management functions.

Job Summary

This role leads the planning, development, and implementation of University objectives, long-range and strategic plans, and identifies the University’s strengths and weaknesses. Identifies new external partners to advance strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develops strategy to further UChicago’s leadership of and value added to the DOE national laboratories under its purview.
• Conceives, executes, and provides strategic oversight of a leadership series offered to the national laboratories.
• Leads the strategy and development of communications to the DOE to promote UChicago’s value-add to Argonne and Fermilab, provides budget-related updates, and shares board governance activity.
• Develops and maintains relationships with senior laboratory leaders at Argonne and Fermilab with respect to management & oversight of laboratory as well as board matters. Leads strategic planning and governance effectiveness discussions with same.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with a working group of STEM professionals at the laboratories and UChicago to cross-collaborate and strategically integrate across initiatives, including regional outreach.
• Oversees the creation of a new partnership between Argonne and UChicago Charter School to promote STEM activities and careers and help develop interest in and pipelines for the national laboratories.
• Supports AVP National Laboratories/Secretary of Board with respect to executing a restructured governance model including recruiting and onboarding board and committee members and strategic planning of new committee and board topics and themes.
• Collaborates with the Office of the President on board-related activity involving the President including briefings, logistics, and communications.
• Performs board gap analysis and provides strategic recommendations related to board membership. Leads the preparation of associated nominating committee-related material such as term sheet, board gap analysis, candidate biographies, Nominating Committee agenda preparation, etc.
• Leads execution of board, and when appropriate UChicago, related initiatives, strategy, operations, meetings, matters and events; ongoing responsibility for board and national laboratory management (including, but expanded beyond, Board meeting management).
• Develops strategy with respect to planning, scheduling, planning and execution of board related engagement, matters, meetings, events, communications, and outreach.
• Initiates and performs ongoing outreach to all board members and other stakeholders as representative of Board Relations office (written, telephonic and in person).
• Oversees and leads logistics and operational matters for multiple in-person and virtual board meetings, multiple telephonic/virtual board meetings (and exchanges), multiple committee meetings and all board-related strategy sessions, reviews and events.
• Oversees all board-related web portals and other communication strategies; primary and/or support administrator for SharePoint, BoardVantage and Basecamp dashboard and for transition to new board web portals.
• Manages board related documentation (term sheets, committee membership, project documentation, contact information, COIs, non-disclosure agreements, etc.).
• Develops advance material for board meetings, committee meetings, and other board related matters and meetings, including detailed preparation of all Board Books, board folders, and related board materials for both in person and telephonic meetings.
• Develops board-related metrics, term sheets, tracking documents, project documentation and related board materials in support to Board Chair, Deputy Chair, General and Associate General Counsel and Secretary of Board.
• Designs, directs, and oversees strategic assessments and Board directed reviews or strategy sessions (both operational and scientific) and activities, including defining objective, setting strategy, developing charge/agenda, coordinating with internal/external stakeholders, identifying committee membership, managing committee interface (pre and post review), executing review and ensuring appropriate follow up. Active participation in such review and follow up activities.
• Leads oversight of, preparation for, project management of, and attendance at Board of Governors Award Ceremony, from setting initial strategic plan through management of each award selection, outreach to Laboratory and board, in-depth preparation for ceremony, oversight of talking points, and execution of event (12-month cycle).
• Supports Bo