Board Liaison (CWF)

The California Wellness Foundation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Professional development

Matching gifts

Mission-driven workplace

Job summary

The California Wellness Foundation is seeking a Board Liaison to work closely with the Board of Directors, Board Committees, Advisory Bodies and the President/CEO. The role ensures governance matters are handled smoothly and will manage four annual Board meetings plus multiple committee meetings, reporting to the President/CEO and legal counsel.

With 5+ years in executive support or nonprofit governance, you will lead documentation, policy coordination, and event planning, while safeguarding

Qualifications

• 5+ years in executive officer/board support, program administration, nonprofit governance, or major event planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication, analytical, planning, and discretion.
• Ability to travel within California and occasional travel to Oakland.
• High integrity and ability to handle confidential information.
• Proactive, strategic thinker with project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Governance: coordinate board orientation, sign materials, prepare board materials, coordinate with departments, track documents.
• Board Support: manage calendars, travel logistics, minutes, and communications; oversee board materials and vendors.
• Executive Administration: support CEO desk, draft internal memos, manage correspondence, assist capacity planning and dashboards; coordinate cross‑department initiatives.

Skills

Executive support

Board governance

Project management

Event planning

Records management

Travel readiness

Job description

The California Wellness Foundation is seeking a Board Liaisonto work closely with the Board of Directors ("Board"), Board Committees, Advisory Bodies and the President/CEO (to whom it directly reports), ensuring that all governance matters are handled smoothly and effectively.This role offers an excellent opportunity to participate in the operations and governance of a major private foundation.The Board Liaison serves as the primary point of contact for the eleven-member Board and will support Board and the Executive Management Committee (EMC) as a strategic thinker and project manager. Will be responsible for design and implementation of four annual Board meetings, at least eleven Committee meetings annually and other events as needed, ensuring that objectives are clear and the Board and President are well prepared. As a corporate officer, the Board Liaison has high visibility to the President/CEO, the Board, the EMC, Board Secretary, and Legal Counsel. Will attend to sensitive matters, decision-making processes, and documentation of outcomes in support of Board activities. The role has a strategic focus and regularly exercises considerable discretion and independent judgment in the performance of duties. Additionally, this position will spend about one-third of its time supporting the CEO as back-up to her Executive Assistant.

DetailedResponsibilities

Governance

• Actively participates in coordinating the orientation of new Board Members, officers and Committee Chairs.
• Signs required Board and Committee materials as a corporate officer of the Foundation
• Ensures the timely preparation, publishing and distribution of materials (e.g. requests, agenda, schedules, grant docket, notices, resolutions, etc.) for the Board and Board Committee meetings, utilizing Diligent. Coordinates with other departments to provide approved content.
• Works with the Board and EMC to review policies. Works with staff, legal counsel and Board committee chairs to prepare required documents relating to the effective operations of Board and Committee meetings. Composes and/or records resolutions, charter revisions and bylaw revisions in coordination with legal counsel. Tracks documents prepared or reviewed by legal counsel.
• Organizes, maintains, tracks and safeguards all files related to the Board and the Foundation’s governance, including, but not limited to, Board meeting and Committee minutes, litigation, resolutions, ordinances, agenda, historical board information, approved policies and activities, in accordance with bylaws, procedures and record retention policies. Ensures these materials are available internally and externally as appropriate.
• Conducts research and analyzes documents and prepares recommendations related to Board and Executive office activities. Initiates changes to Board of Director policies, procedures and the Board Manual as required or requested.
• Supports research on best practices in philanthropic governance.

Board Support

• Oversees the Board and Board Committee calendars; helps determine and plan the frequency of meetings. Manages complex calendars and coordinates travel arrangements, logistics for meetings, conferences, retreats and site visits for Board members. Takes notes and summarizes key points discussed at these events.
• Oversees the preparation of expense reports for Board members and approves them in accordance with policy.
• Attends and schedules telephone calls and Board meetings, as required or requested, and records and approves official minutes, items discussed, and decisions made. Oversees logistics and materials, prescreens and relays incoming calls and messages.
• Overseescontractors, vendors and consultants supporting a wide range of Board activities.
• Plans and manages events and logistics for Board-related events, including the annual Board retreat, venue, meals, travel, etc.
• Coordinates internal and external presentations and speakers for Board-related events.
• Analyzes and tracks information and follow-up items utilizing various databases and spreadsheets; generates applicable reports and documents.

Executive Administration

• Coordinates with the Executive Assistant to the CEO, building a strong team in the executive office.
• Operates with a clear understanding of the breadth of projects within the President’s purview.
• Manages the correspondence between the President/CEO, Board and other parties including EMC and staff.
• Processes grantmaking related to proposed Presidential grants and monitors related inquiries.
• Drafts internal memos on behalf of the President and prepares external meeting reports.
• Helps the President develop, manage, and track the organizational capacity plan for strategic direction, assembling various dashboards and analyses and coordinating the foundation-wide goals process.
• Works on strategic initiatives with the EMC to codify quarterly planning and operationalize long term vision for improved coordination across all departments.
• Ensures alignment among stakeholders and helps problem-solve and create engagement, cooperation and hospitality around cross-program and special projects.
• Maintains a cooperative working relationship with Board, President/CEO, Foundation staff, Grantees, and members of the public.
• 5+ years’ professional experience in one or more of the following functional areas:
  • Executive officer/Board of Directors support
  • Program administration and/or project management
  • Operations or governance of nonprofit organizations
  • Major event planning and coordination
• Highly developed personal interaction/communications skills (written and verbal).
• Results/action-oriented work style; strong strategic, analytical, planning and problem-solving skills; able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly proficient with office technology and a variety of business applications.
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, and trust; ability to handle highly confidential information.
• Intuitive mindset, creative aptitude, and effective use of discretion and independent judgment; able to look beyond the assigned task and consider tangential and collateral connections, problems, opportunities and possibilities.
• Ability to travel periodically throughout the year to our Oakland office, to visit sites for the annual Board retreat, and to convenings. Travel is typically within the state of California.

The California Wellness Foundation

The California Wellness Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 1992 with a mission to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California. As one of the largest health-focused foundations in California, with over $900 million in assets, Cal Wellness is a nationally recognized leader for its strategic core operating support for grantees; public policy grantmaking; and a focus on violence as a public health issue. It is Cal Wellness’ desire to promote equity and level the playing field so that everyone has access to good-paying jobs, healthy and safe neighborhoods, and quality health care services. The Foundation’s current Advancing Wellness grantmaking strategy includes three interrelated portfolios: Bridging the Gaps in Access and Quality Care, Promoting Healthy and Safe Neighborhoods and Expanding Education and Employment Pathways. Since its founding, Cal Wellness has awarded nearly 9,000 grants totaling more than $1 billion.

In 2017, Cal Wellness celebrated its 25th anniversary. As the Foundation looks to the future, it is pursuing new and innovative strategies beyond its core grantmaking to advance its mission, including implementation of new technology systems, development of its public affairs capacity and establishing mission- and program-related investment portfolios.

Cal Wellness has a diverse staff and Board and continues to enhance its deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, both internally and externally. The Foundation’s work underscores a belief that wellness requires social justice, a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and sustained efforts to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent access to health care, education, employment and safety.

For this position, the selected candidates starting salary may range from $85K to $102K, commensurate with skills and experience. Highlights from our benefit package include: a variety of health plans, a generous 401(k) retirement savings plan, paid time off, professional development and educational opportunities, matching gifts, and the opportunity to work at a mission and values driven organization.

The California Wellness Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse candidate pool.

The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to limit the scope of potential work assignments. This is only a summary of the typical functions of the job and duties may differ from those as outlined above.