Board Liaison

National Aquarium; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Aquarium in Baltimore seeks a Board Liaison to serve as the principal link between NA boards and the Executive Office. You will ensure governance processes, meeting materials, and records are accurate and timely to support effective decision-making.

Reporting to the VP, Strategy, you will coordinate onboarding, educate board members, and manage board-wide communications, ensuring confidentiality and high service standards across committees and engagements.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–8 years supporting governing boards or senior volunteer leadership
• Experience with governance by-laws, minutes, resolutions, and committee charters
• Familiarity with board portal or governance management software

Responsibilities

• Accountable for full production cycle of board meetings: scheduling, logistics, agenda development, materials prep, and board portal administration
• Manage board committees relations, scheduling, materials, and communications
• Own annual board and committee calendar and long-range agenda planning
• Align board activities with strategic planning and performance reporting cycles
• Oversee onboarding, education, and engagement programs for board members
• Maintain governance records, minutes, resolutions, bylaws, and policy documentation
• Support board engagement in philanthropy through collaboration with fundraising teams
• Ensure timely and accurate governance communications and disclosures
• Manage budget for board-related activities and events

Skills

Board governance

Meeting management

Onboarding & education

Confidentiality & discretion

Governance documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, communications, nonprofit management, or related field

Tools

Board portal software (BoardEffect, Diligent, OnBoard)

CRM systems

Job description

Candler
410-576-8532
111 Market Pl
Suite 800
Baltimore, MD 21202, USA

Description

Posting Date: November 2026

Job Department: Strategy

Schedule: Full Time

Job Type: On-site/Hybrid

Location: Candler 111 Market Pl Suite 800 Baltimore MD 21202

JOB SUMMARY:

The National Aquarium is seeking a Board Liaison to serve as the principal point of connection between the Boards of National Aquarium, Inc. and the National Aquarium Foundation, the Board Chair(s), and the Executive Office. The Board Liaison is accountable for the integrity of the governance cycle - meeting production, materials, records and follow-through - and for ensuring that Directors have what they need, when they need it, to govern well.

Beyond meeting administration, the Board Liaison manages Board Member onboarding and continuing education, owns the long-range Board and Committee agenda calendar, and tracks Board commitments and action items through to completion. The Board Liaison partners with the Executive Office, the Leadership Team and Philanthropy to advance Board engagement and Board-led philanthropy efforts.

Reporting to the VP, Strategy, the Board Liaison works in direct partnership with the President & CEO and the Board Chair(s) and maintains standing direct access to both on governance matters. This position works cross-functionally and exercises significant discretion and independent judgment in matters of governance and confidentiality.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Board Governance & Meeting Management: Accountable for the full production cycle of NA, Inc. and NAF Board meetings: scheduling, logistics, agenda development in partnership with the CEO and Board Chair(s), preparation and distribution of meeting materials, and administration of the Board portal. Executes on the multi-year Board plan, manages quarterly reporting of progress (i.e. strategy, financials etc.) and organizes inputs into the CEO report for the Board Briefing.
• Board Committee Relationship Management: Accountable for managing Board Committee relations by coordinating meetings with full logistical responsibility, materials preparation and communication management. Manages yearly scheduling and planning for Committee meetings respective to the Board meeting production cycle. Provides direct support for Executive and Compensation Committees. Consistently conveys a responsive, service orientated posture to internal and external constituencies.
• Long-Range Agenda & Cycle Planning: Owns the annual Board and Committee calendar and the long-range agenda planning process, sequencing governance business - audit, budget approval, officer elections, policy review, strategic plan checkpoints - so that decisions reach the Board with adequate lead time and appropriate preparation.
• Governance & Strategy Integration: Aligns the Board and Committee agenda calendar with the organization’s strategic planning, operational plan and performance reporting cycles, so that Board decisions are informed by current strategy and Board oversight of progress is continuous rather than episodic. Works with the Strategy team to translate strategic and performance content into Board-ready materials, and carries Board input back into the planning cycle.
• Onboarding, Education & Engagement: Manages logistics for Board recruitment, onboarding and orientation, and maintains a continuing education program that builds Board fluency in the Aquarium’s mission, financial model and strategic priorities. Administers annual conflict-of-interest disclosures and Board and Committee self-evaluations. Manages and reports on Board meeting attendance and engagement.
• Governance Records & Compliance: Accountable for the accuracy, completeness and secure retention of governance records, including minutes, resolutions, written consents, bylaws, committee charters and Board policies. Ensures Board practice is consistent with the bylaws and with recognized governance standards, and maintains documentation required for audit and regulatory filings.
• Board Engagement in Philanthropy: Partners with Philanthropy Stewardship Manager to support the Board’s role as ambassadors and frontline fundraisers, including preparing Directors for cultivation and solicitation activity, tracking Board giving and engagement commitments, and coordinating Board participation in campaign and donor events.
• Board Activity Project Management: Accountable for ensuring Board-related activities (meetings, retreats, special events, etc.) and services are delivered efficiently and effectively, ensuring tasks are completed, partnering with VP, Strategy and CEO to determine ongoing priorities, evaluating effectiveness of processes and tools, and making enhancements within scope. Tracks Board and Committee action items through to closure.
• Communication: Serves as the primary day-to-day point of contact for Board Members, responding with discretion, accuracy and speed. Drafts correspondence, reports, presentations and governance documents for the Executive Office and Board Chair(s) that reflect our commitment to quality, accuracy and clarity in communication.
• Budget Accountability: Responsible for managing the budget for Board and Committee activity, including meeting, retreat and Director engagement expenses. Makes budget recommendations for Board-related project accounts.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Working knowledge of nonprofit governance practice, fiduciary duty and bylaws administration
• Exceptional discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential and politically sensitive matters
• Consistent focus on anticipatory and proactive support
• Excellent communication abilities, including outstanding written, articulation and listening skills
• Highly adept at complex, multi-stakeholder scheduling and long-range calendar management
• Strong relationship management experience and skill with senior volunteers and executives
• Expert technical knowledge in full utilization of information management, including board portal software
• Strong ability to assess needs, manage projects and drive follow-through
• Exceptional organizational skills with close attention to detail
• Support company mission.
• Adhere to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 5 and up to 8 years relevant experience, including a minimum of 3 years supporting a governing board, board committees, or senior volunteer leadership
• Demonstrated working knowledge of nonprofit or corporate governance practice; familiarity with bylaws, minutes, resolutions and committee charters
• Experience with board portal or governance management software (e.g. BoardEffect, Diligent, OnBoard); experience working with CRMs, specific knowledge of Salesforce a plus
• Strong technical skills, expert-level knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Able to work effectively within an awareness of political sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Strong ability to prioritize and make independent decisions regarding Board and governance priorities; ability to understand context and a big picture thinker.
• Availability to support Board meetings, retreats and events that fall outside standard business hours.

TOTAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION

Salary range ($58,660-$71,399 Annual). National Aquarium provides an excellent benefits package, including four weeks paid time off, and six paid floating holidays and up to four weeks of paid family leave. Employees are eligible for health care (single and family) after 30 days of full-time work. Conservation day leave and 401(k) plan with employer match available.

About the National Aquarium

Established in 1981, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. The Aquarium’s award-winning habitats are home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. We are proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and exceed industry standards in all aspects of animal care and welfare.

More than 1.2 million people visit the Aquarium each year to experience our immersive exhibits, and we reach far more through our science-based education programs and hands-on field conservation work.The National Aquarium is one of the top three aquariums in the United States and the largest paid cultural attraction in Maryland.

Our Mission and Goals

The Aquarium’s mission-to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet-begins within the walls of its buildings, but it does not end there. The Aquarium protects, enhances and restores natural resources through education and engagement, habitat restoration, animal rescue and sustainable business practices, with its conservation work guided by three overarching goals-to combat climate change, save wildlife and habitats, and stop plastic pollution.

Our Values

At the National Aquarium, our core values form the basis for our beliefs about our organization, our colleagues and ourselves, and serve as the framework to guide our behaviors and actions to achieve our mission.

Connection: We take the time to build lasting connections with each other, our guests, the animals in our care and the nature that surrounds us. We communicate clearly and collaborate readily within and across teams. We engage thoughtfully with our partners. We practice shared accountability.

Curiosity: We center learning and growth in all that we do. Our people are empowered to explore new approaches. We support taking risks. We value diverse perspectives and bold ideas. We embrace change.

Optimism: We celebrate the power of positive moments and shared experiences. We seek out opportunities to have fun. We reconnect with our purpose through sharing successes with our colleagues.

Service: We are in service to each other, our guests and our communities. We make intentional decisions and actions for the benefit of the people and animals within our organization.

Wellbeing: We ensure our people and animals have what they need mentally and physically to thrive. We are committed to improving the wellbeing of communities and sharing the healing power of natural for all.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice

National Aquarium values an inclusive and diverse environment for all employees, volunteers, and interns. Our goal is to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a candidate pool representative of the variety of communities we serve. With a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, the Aquarium is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and promotes an environment free from all discrimination and harassment.

In the selection and retention of employees, volunteers, and interns, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social, or ethnic origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical, mental, or sensory disability, sex (including pregnancy or childbirth), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, arrest record, family or caregiver status, HIV status, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Our organization is dedicated to this policy with respect to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, training, promotions, performance management, and separation, and general treatment during time of employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.