Principal, Corporate Governance & Board Engagement

American Cancer Society, Inc.; Atlanta (GA); Remote; USD 138,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Principal, Corporate Governance and Board Engagement at the American Cancer Society leads the day-to-day governance for the Boards of Directors, developing materials, coordinating meetings, and serving as primary governance resource. This is a 100% remote, individual-contributor role requiring strong governance experience and collaboration with executives, legal, and development teams.

The role emphasizes board planning, compliance monitoring, and maintaining governance records, with a focus

Qualifications

• 7+ years of nonprofit governance, corporate secretary functions, or board relations.
• Working knowledge of fiduciary duties, IRS rules for tax-exempt organizations.
• Experience with board portal systems (e.g., Boardvantage) and governance best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead Board and committee meeting planning and execution, calendars, agendas, minutes, and action tracking.
• Support corporate secretary function and maintain official records and filings.
• Coordinate board nominations, education, orientation, and director assessments.
• Collaborate with the CEO Office, Development, and other departments to ensure cohesive Director experience.

Skills

Governance leadership

Board relations

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Executive collaboration

Policy development

Project management

Education

BA/BS from an accredited college or university

Tools

Boardvantage

Job description

At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better serve our communities. The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

The Principal, Corporate Governance and Board Engagement manages the corporate governance matters of the American Cancer Society Boards of Directors. This role leads the organization’s day-to-day governance activities. This includes working collaboratively to develop Board materials and communications, executing effective Board and Committee meetings, serving as the primary point person for the corporate secretary function of the American Cancer Society, ensuring governance best practices and processes, and supporting directors in their leadership and volunteer roles. The Principal partners with the Office of the CEO and the Development Department on non-governance related Board engagement (stewardship, event participation, fundraising engagement), to ensure directors experience one coordinated Board relationship. This is an individual-contributor role: the Principal carries no direct reports and instead relies on close, effective collaboration with the other members of the Governance team, the Executive Team, and Board Committee Program leads to successfully execute governance excellence. **This role is 100% remote**

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead Board and committee meeting planning and execution, including developing annual calendars and work plans aligned with fiscal, strategic, and governance requirements (compensation approvals, Form 990 review, etc.); sequencing required actions and approvals; developing agendas; coordinating with executive leaders and committee liaisons; overseeing meeting materials, invitations, attendance, and quorum tracking; preparing chair briefings, scripts, and talking points; finalizing minutes and maintaining attendance records; tracking action items and follow-up; and managing director surveys, unanimous written consents, and other Board communications.
• 40% Partner with the Senior Director, Corporate Governance and Legal Strategy on governance and compliance matters to ensure compliance with Bylaws, Committee Charters, Board policies and resolutions, and fiduciary requirements; monitor governance best practices and advise the Board and management on governance matters; serve as a primary governance resource for Directors and management; administer the Conflicts of Interest Policy and annual Director disclosure process; and maintain accurate governance information and required disclosures across ACS Connects, cancer.org, the IRS, Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and other accreditation organizations.
• 30% Support the Corporate Secretary function and maintain official corporate records, including governing documents, minutes, Board resolutions and policies, Director service and terms, committee assignments, and historical records; manage corporate filings, certifications, and attestations, including Certificates of Good Standing, Powers of Attorney, Delegations of Authority, Incumbency Certificates, document and Board action certifications, the Corporate Seal, and officer signatures; ensure compliance with officer appointment, signature, and compensation approval requirements; and provide governance support to ACS affiliates and related entities, including ACS CAN and BrightEdge.
• 15% Provide engagement and support in partnership with the Governance team and Governance and Nominating Committee with Board nominations, including maintaining skills and term-limit matrices, tracking the candidate pipeline, and coordinating interviews, background checks, and references; support committee assignments and officer, Board chair, and committee chair succession planning; coordinate Board education, orientation, training, and Board, committee, and director assessments; oversee Director onboarding and offboarding; and partner with the Office of the CEO, Development, and other departments to coordinate non-governance Board engagement, including stewardship, events, and fundraising, ensuring a cohesive Director experience.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

(Required): B.A. or B.S. from accredited college or university 7+ years of experience in nonprofit governance, corporate secretary functions, or board relations, ideally within a large, complex, or multi-entity nonprofit. Working knowledge of nonprofit fiduciary duties, Board governance best practices, and IRS rules relevant to tax-exempt organizations. Experience managing board and committee meeting cycles, materials, minutes, and board portal systems (e.g., Boardvantage). Excellent judgment and discretion handling confidential, sensitive, and legally significant matters. Strong relationship-management skills with executives, senior staff, and legal counsel. Exceptional organizational skills and comfort managing multiple concurrent calendars, committees, and deadlines. (Preferred): Board Governance credentialed, direct experience supporting a Corporate Secretary or active membership in a board governance organization Experience supporting governance across affiliated or multi-entity structures (e.g., a 501(c)(3) and an affiliated 501(c)(4)).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

Knowledge of organizational governance, compliance, and operating practices Working knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and cost control Demonstrated executive-level judgment, decision-making, and analytical skills Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to effectively engage senior leaders and volunteers Proven ability to organize, prioritize, and deliver results in a fast-paced, complex environment Ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment in sensitive and politically nuanced situations Experience developing and implementing policies, strategies, and process improvement Effective project management and problem-resolution skills Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and relationship-building capability

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Travel required approximately 10% or more.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

No or very limited physical effort required. No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

The starting rate is $138,000-$150,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits.

We are a proud equal opportunity employer. At the American Cancer Society, our employees are the soul of our lifesaving mission to save lives. Our employment opportunities are as diverse as our people and include every discipline found in other business enterprises. As an organization, we adhere to a set of core values that help inform all our decisions. But what really sets us apart is that the work we do has global impact -- and every passionate, dedicated American Cancer Society team member contributes to each groundbreaking achievement we make.