Board Relations Manager

Isabella-Stewart-Gardner-Museum; Boston (MA); Presencial; USD 85.000 - 115.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA seeks a Board Relations Manager reporting to the Chief Development Officer to support governance, engagement, and communications with Trustees, Life Trustees, and Board Advisors. In partnership with the Director and board leadership, you will develop board education programs, prepare governance materials, and draft strategic talking points, reports, and FAQs.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree, 5–7 years of nonprofit experience, exceptional

Formación

• Bachelor's degree and 5–7 years’ museum or nonprofit experience.
• Strong organizational and calendaring skills.
• Experience building and overseeing administrative processes and systems.
• Adept project manager.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups.
• Diplomacy, discretion, and confidentiality in handling information.
• Ability to articulate museum initiatives and capital projects.
• Commitment to mission and Renewing the Promise Strategic Plan.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
• Willingness to work evenings/weekends as needed.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

Responsabilidades

• Schedule Board and committee meetings and manage calendars.
• Prepare meeting packets, agendas, reports, and collaborate with staff to ensure timely materials.
• Draft and distribute minutes for Board and Governance Committee meetings; track assignments.
• Maintain Board Directory, Handbook, and recordkeeping for all Board materials.
• Serve as primary resource for questions about by-laws and governance policies.
• Develop agenda and education program for Board meetings and trustees/advisors.
• Draft and edit Board reports, presentations, correspondence, talking points, FAQs.
• Support Governance Committee, Buildings and Grounds, Collections and Conservation, and other task forces.
• Collaborate with Development to maintain a governance prospect pipeline and annual engagement plans.
• Create orientations for new Trustees and Advisors.
• Coordinate with Board leadership; prepare briefings for President and leaders.
• Track annual Board goals; handle special projects as they arise.
• Support Board Travel Program and governance-related events.

Conocimientos

Organizational skills

Project management

Written communication

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Diplomacy

Confidentiality

Multicultural sensitivity

Attention to detail

Flexibility

Educación

Bachelor's degree

Herramientas

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Descripción del empleo

Description

Department: Development

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

Classification: Exempt, full-time with benefits

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and working closely with the Norma Jean Calderwood Director of the Museum, the Board Relations Manager is a key contributor to the Museum's governance function. The Manager provides administrative, operational, and strategic support for all Board-related activities, partnering closely with the Museum's Trustees, Life Trustees, and Board of Advisors to foster meaningful engagement with the Museum's mission, governance, and one another. In consultation with the Director and Board leadership, the Manager develops and coordinates a board education program that equips Trustees and Advisors with the knowledge and perspective needed to lead a 21st century museum effectively. The Manager also serves as a strategic writing partner to the Director, preparing Board reports, presentations, correspondence, talking points, FAQs, and other governance-related communications.

This search is supported by Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group, LLC.

Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities

Administrative

• Scheduling for all Board meeting events, committee meetings, etc.
• Material preparation: Responsible for all Board- and committee-related materials, including preparing meeting packets, drafting agenda, generating reports, including working with other staff leads (Development, Collections, Buildings and Grounds, etc.) to ensure a high standard and timely materials.
• Minutes/documentation: Write minutes of Board meetings and Governance Committee meetings and prepare reports. Track and communicate committee assignments.
• Board-related materials and recordkeeping: Update and maintain Board Directory and Board Handbook; Board listings; ensure accurate and timely electronic and paper recordkeeping of all Board-related files/materials, etc.
• Serve as the primary resource for questions related to Board by-laws and governance policies.

Board Relations

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with members of the Museum's governing boards, developing an understanding of their interests, expertise, and areas of commitment to the Museum.
• Help develop agenda and program for Board meetings (four Trustee meetings, two Advisor meetings and other special meetings) as part of an overall curriculum for the boards.
• Research local and national trends affecting museums and the cultural sector to inform Board education, identify relevant topics, and research prospective speakers and subject matter experts.
• Help develop and implement communication strategies to ensure Board education and engagement.
• Draft and edit Board reports, presentations, correspondence, talking points, FAQs, and other governance-related communications on behalf of the Director of the Museum.
• Help staff Governance Committee and provide support for Buildings and Grounds, Collections and Conservation, Compensation, and Security committees, and any Board-related task forces, as needed.
• Working closely with leadership from the Development department, help support a robust pipeline of governance prospects that aligns with Museum priorities; help develop and support annual plans for Board and governance prospect engagement; manage governance slate and rotations.
• Develop and execute orientations for new Trustees and Advisors.
• Serve as a liaison with the Board President, Chair of Governance Committee, and Co-Chairs of the Board of Advisors.
• Prepare strategic talking points and briefings for the Board President and other members of the volunteer leadership.
• Track and manage annual Board goals.
• Take on special projects as they arise.

Stewardship

• Support all aspects of the Board Travel Program in partnership with the Chief Development Officer, including working with outside tour operators and the curatorial staff.
• Work closely with the Development department in support of key Board-focused events as needed.
• Actively participate in Museum events, including on evenings and weekends.
• Manage the Board recognition program.
• Conduct special tours of the Museum (Trustee and Advisors), VIP tours, and other special requests.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5-7 years’ prior museum or relevant non-profit experience, including volunteer management and/or alumni/ae relations.
• Very strong organizational and calendaring skills.
• Demonstrated experience building and overseeing administrative processes and systems.
• Adept project manager.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives, and to work effectively in multicultural and multigenerational settings.
• Supremely skilled at operating with diplomacy, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Capacity to articulate key components of the Museum’s collections, programmatic, and capital initiatives.
• Commitment to the Museum’s mission and goals of its Renewing the Promise Strategic Plan.
• Strategic thinker.
• Very proficient with Google Workspace and other productivity software, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to juggle multiple initiatives and shift priorities as necessary with positivity.
• Results-driven.
• Commitment to the principles and spirit of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the Museum’s core values.
• Previous museum and/or non-profit experience is desirable.
• Ability to work occasional nights and/or weekends as needed.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.