Assistant Manager, Board Relations

Brooklyn Museum; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) savings plan

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Free admission to NYC museums

Discount for staff in Museum shops

Job summary

The Brooklyn Museum seeks an Assistant Manager of Board Relations to enhance engagement with the Board of Trustees. This role requires exceptional organizational and communication skills to ensure seamless interactions between Trustees and Museum leadership.

Responsibilities include managing Board communications, planning events, and supporting donor engagement strategies while fostering long-term relationships to aid the Museum's mission.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of increasing administrative experience supporting senior staff or executives.
• Experience engaging with high-level donors and institutional stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Development and best donor engagement practices.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison between Museum leadership and the Board of Trustees.
• Engage with Trustees, donors, government officials, and other key stakeholders.
• Manage Board communications, correspondence, and key deadlines.
• Coordinate Board-related events, including orientations and private dinners.
• Provide concierge-level support to Trustees and prospects.

Skills

Administrative support

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Discretion

Problem-solving

Donor engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Tessitura

Job description

The Brooklyn Museum is a world-renowned cultural institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing art, history, and heritage. Our mission is to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act. Our vision is to serve as an institution where art is a powerful force for personal transformation and social change.Celebrating our differences and learning about our diverse communities through our collections, exhibitions, and programming is the core of who we are and what we do.

We are committed to creating and cultivating a community of talented, passionate people who are inspired to make the Museum an important hub of community activity and a great global destination. Our staff have the opportunity to grow their professional skills and work collaboratively with colleagues they admire and respect. Read more about our story here .

About the role

The Assistant Manager of Board Relations partners with the Director of Board Relations and Special Events to cultivate and strengthen engagement with the Museum’s Board of Trustees, the institution’s most important philanthropic and governance constituency. Serving as a key liaison among Trustees, Museum leadership, and internal teams, this role helps deliver a seamless and highly personalized Trustee experience through strategic communications, stewardship, recognition, events, travel coordination and more.

Acting as a trusted relationship manager, the Assistant Manager ensures Trustees remain informed, connected, and actively engaged in advancing the Museum’s mission. The role oversees the planning and execution of Board-related activities, including logistics, communications, and documentation, while collaborating across departments to support donor engagement strategies. Through exceptional attention to detail, discretion, and service, the Assistant Manager helps foster meaningful Trustee relationships that strengthen long-term philanthropic support.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison between Museum leadership and the Board of Trustees, providing responsive, solutions-oriented support and ensuring timely follow-through on Trustee inquiries and requests.
• Engage with Trustees, donors, government officials, and other key Museum stakeholders with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Manage Board and Trustee communications, correspondence, and key deadlines: including invitations, newsletters, briefings, acknowledgments, and personalized outreach; maintain and coordinate updates to the Board Handbook to ensure information remains accurate, current, and accessible.
• Develop and implement individualized engagement and stewardship strategies aligned with Trustees’ interests, philanthropic priorities, and involvement with the Museum.
• Track Trustee participation across Board events, giving, and Museum programs to inform stewardship strategies, identify engagement opportunities, and guide strategic planning.
• Coordinate Board-related events, including orientations, retreats, meetings, private dinners, and social functions, with a focus on hospitality, precision, and discretion.
• Provide concierge-level support to Trustees and prospects by facilitating special access to exhibitions, art fairs, programs, and tailored Museum experiences.
• Plan domestic and international travel for Trustees, donors, and prospects, including air and ground transportation, accommodations, itineraries, reservations, and special requests while delivering a premium experience within established budgets.
• Manage Museum Trustees’ annual giving activity—including dues, patron programs, and gala participation—and coordinate timely, personalized gift reminders and acknowledgments in collaboration with the Development Operations team.
• Collaborate across Development and with the Director’s Office to plan and execute Board and committee meetings, including staffing, hospitality, room preparation, and logistics.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of Board interactions, preferences, participation, and donor engagement activity in Tessitura.
• Monitor departmental budgets, prepare projections, track and reconcile expenses, and support the cost-effective management of resources.
• Identify and implement improvements to Board Relations systems, workflows, templates, and protocols to increase accuracy, efficiency, and consistency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3-5 years of increasing administrative experience supporting senior staff or executives
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Tessitura, and Ramp, or similar systems
• Experience engaging with high-level donors and institutional stakeholders
• Strong understanding of Development and best donor engagement practices
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong judgment, and problem-solving abilities
• Exceptional organizational skills and high degree of discretion
• Passion for the Museum’s nonprofit mission and innovative programming
• Commitment to a diversity of backgrounds and voices

Department: Development

Reports to: Director of Board Relations & Special Events

Position type: Full-time

Union status: Union – UAW Local 2110

FLSA status: Non-exempt

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm, with some weekend and evening hours required for key events and travel

The Museum provides competitive compensation along with generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Individual benefit offerings may vary based on position type and union status.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan and Pension Plan
• Generous paid time off, including annual vacation leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) & Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for eligible pre-tax health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses
• Employee Assistant Program
• Free admission to various NYC museums and cultural institutions
• Early access to Museum exhibitions
• Invitations to staff-only programs, tours, and on-site engagement events
• Opportunities to participate in community initiatives and Museum programs
• 40% discount for staff in Museum shops
• All positions are based in Brooklyn, New York, with some eligible for a hybrid work schedule (three days on-site / two days remote)