Description:
We have an opening for a Director of Board Relations to provide support for all aspects related to Board of Trustees engagement and institutional alignment and assist the Director’s Office with the coordination of Board-related activities. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director will support volunteer leadership and senior museum staff and work in partnership with the Pritzker Director, Deputy Director, Chief Development Officer (CDO), and Assistant to the CDO and Board to coordinate and plan Board-related materials and communications, meetings, and events. The Director of Board Relations also serves as an essential liaison to the Development department and closely monitors Trustee engagement, giving, and participation in events, programs, and initiatives. To be successful in this role, you must:
Board Relations and Strategy:
- Work in partnership with Director’s Office and Development department to develop a holistic strategy related to Trustee engagement and participation.
- Support and ensure the maximum effectiveness of the Pritzker Director, Deputy Director, and CDO.
- Work to provide effective access to the Director and CDO, ensuring meetings are productive and effective and documenting necessary follow-up action items. Serves as liaison from Trustees to the Pritzker Director and Division Heads in the administration of requests.
- Serve as strategic advisor to the Pritzker Director and Division Heads on all board related concerns.
- Maintain a high-level of engagement with all Trustees and Advisors and coordinate a regular calendar of communication with Trustees from both the Pritzker Director and CDO, including newsletters, invitations, and all electronic and written correspondence as well as general museum news. Monitor communications from other departments to ensure consistency of messaging and relevancy to institutional and Director/Board priorities and initiatives.
- Responsible for setting and scheduling all board and Committee meeting dates before May 1 of each preceding Fiscal Year, internal and external coordination, drafting and routing agendas, minutes and other materials and logistics, ensuring a highly professional and clear communication to all Trustees.
- Partner with Board and Division Heads to develop Board of Trustees meeting agendas to align Board decision-making and duties with institutional priorities.
- Review materials in consideration of the Board’s perspective to anticipate Trustee inquiries and needs in advance.
- Regularly document the progress and evolution of the Board, ensuring that historical information is accurate and understandable and can provide perspective and guidance in relation to past and future Trustees.
Campaigns, Development, and Governance:
- Work on all governance functions. Maintain strong working knowledge of governance best practices and current issues affecting non-profit organizations and the art and culture industry to inform priorities for Board education and training.
- Work closely with the CDO as the liaison and key strategist to the Board Governance and Nominating Committee, including maintaining a catalogue of Board competencies and gaps to fill, tracking term limits, and renewal cycles for Board members, Officers, and leaders.
- Support the Pritzker Director and CDO and work in conjunction with the Board Chair and Chair of Board Governance and Nominating Committee in developing new Trustee solicitation strategies and orchestrating new member orientations and other engagement activities for Board members and Division Heads.
- Assist Board and Division Heads in all museum activities as needed, providing support for proposals, reports, planning, and strategy. Work with Division Heads to ensure Trustee initiatives are on target to meet deliverables.
- Responsible for documentation of Board of Trustee activities, information, and research in donor database or in narrative form to retain archival information relevant to the history of the MCA.
- Attend campaign meetings and Campaign Cochair meetings providing strategic counsel, support for meeting planning, and background on donors as needed.