Associate Director - Board Operations

About the Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Board Secretary, the Associate Director of Board Operations and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees is responsible for 1) providing organization and leadership for activities and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and its committees and 2) assisting with the strategic direction for Advancement’s Community Engagement Initiative. The Associate Director must be able to:

• Develop and maintain a board relations manual, board calendars, and a repository of all board documents.
• Develop and create innovate ways to engage university stakeholders with an emphasis on Trustees’ relationships, Implement relationship and engagement strategies.
• Develop working knowledge of Salesforce and ensure activity is accurate and up to date in order to inform relationship strategies.
• Provide support for all Northeastern University board activities as assigned and develop understanding of governance rules and regulations for all national and international entities.
• Initiate and provide project management for the creation and/or improvement of relationship management and business processes; monitor and evaluate operational effectiveness and effect changes required for improvement.
• Support all activities of the Board Secretary, including autonomously implementing short- and long-range organizational goals, objectives, and operating procedures.
• Coordinate logistics for board meetings including technology, remote communications, and materials.
• Communicate and coordinate with board members for ad hoc/special meetings and assist in development of communications to the board, including dashboard updates.
• Manage OnBoard secure portal, including providing training to users and assisting with accessibility and functionality problems experienced by users.
• Manage regulatory and policy requirements (annual trustee Conflict of Interest disclosure, ITAR filings, FCC filings, Signature Authority Delegations)
• Draft, circulate, and maintain minutes of board and committee meetings and other university governance documents.
• Coordinate with staff across the university on developing board materials.
• Develop and deploy strategic benchmarks and KPIs within a multi-year plan to measure success in ways that demonstrate positive impact on staff, alumni, and the global university system and its surrounding communities.
• Attend Board and committee meetings to provide procedural, governance, and operational support.
• Maintain strict confidentiality.

• Bachelor’s degree required and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Significant demonstrated experience with project management, organization, documentation, process development, communications, and presentations.
• Strong technology skills are critical.
• Must have clear and concise writing ability, a process orientation, exemplary customer service skills and orientation, and impeccable attention to detail.
• Must be able to exercise absolute discretion and good judgement when dealing with confidential and sensitive material.
• Demonstrated ability to manage an intense workload and produce quality results in a fast-paced environment.
• Possess the skills necessary for building relationships with external (trustees, donors, prospects) and internal constituents (senior administration, deans, faculty, staff, students) and be highly professional and collaborative in approach.
• Ability to travel and a flexible schedule on occasion are required.
• The successful candidate will be an innovative, strategic and results-oriented leader with a broad vision for the importance of relationship management in achieving division and institutional success and
• excellence. They must be adept at facilitating difficult discussions, shepherding change, creating and strengthening partnerships, and aligning an array of efforts across the division and within the context of the greater university.
• Demonstrated interest and ability as a collaborator and relationship builder, with strong interpersonal skills and ability to build coalitions and collaborative working relationships with a broad range of individuals and groups, including senior administration, to achieve results.

Board Relations; Project Management; Process Documentation and Maintenance; Communication

• Develop and create innovate ways to engage university stakeholders with an emphasis on Trustees’ relationships, and engagement strategies. Develop working knowledge of Salesforce and ensure activity is accurate and up to date in order to inform relationship strategies.
• Provide support for all Northeastern University board activities as assigned and develop understanding of governance rules and regulations for all national and international entities.
• Initiate and provide project management for the creation and/or improvement of business processes; monitor and evaluate operational effectiveness and effect changes required for improvement.
• Support all activities of the Board Secretary including autonomously implementing short- and long-term organizational goals, objectives, and operating procedures
• Develop and maintain a board relations manual, board calendars, and a repository of all board documents Coordinate all logistics for board meetings including technology, remote communications, and materials
• Communicate and coordinate with board members for ad hoc/special meetings; assist in development of communications to board, including dashboard updates. Manage OnBoard secure portal including providing training to users and assisting with accessibility and functionality problems experienced by users
• Draft, circulate, and maintain minutes of board and committee meetings and other university governance documents Coordinate with staff across the university on developing board materials
• Support implementation of Board priorities, strategic initiatives, governance goals, and special projects.
• Maintain systems to track Board actions, directives, assignments, and implementation progress.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, and status updates regarding Board actions and strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure timely follow-through on Board-approved actions and projects.
• Assist in evaluating governance processes and recommending improvements that increase effectiveness, transparency, and accountability.
• Manage regulatory and policy requirements (annual trustee Conflict of Interest disclosure, ITAR filings, FCC filings, Signature Authority Delegations)

Trustees’ Emeriti Program Management

• Manage and support at all activities and events involving Trustees' Emeriti program.
• Develop and create innovate ways to engage Trustees’ Emeriti with an emphasis on relationships,  and engagement strategies. Develop working knowledge of Salesforce and ensure activity is accurate and up to date in order to inform relationship strategies.

Office Management

• Hire, orient, and train one administrative professional staff member, temporary employee, or student intern, as needed. Provide guidance, feedback, coaching, and mentoring to direct report and lead by professional example to promote their professional and personal development. Daily management of direct report including goal setting and performance evaluation.
• Manage department budget and reconcile expenses.

Compliance Program Support

• Serve as backup to guide and advise Board Secretary on compliance program matters within the Advancement Division.
• Be willing to collaborate with Advancement team members and create a working knowledge of compliance-related matters and their impact on philanthropic initiatives.  
• Support the implementation of strategic initiatives. Partner with stakeholders and internal and external constituencies to ensure programming supports the divisions and university’s values and strategic goals.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Recognize that the nature of the work is dynamic and be flexible in accepting other responsibilities that further the mission and vision of the university when needed.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.