Principal, Corporate Governance & Board Engagement

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

Job summary

American Cancer Society is seeking a seasoned governance professional to lead board and committee operations in a fully remote role. You will oversee calendars, minutes, disclosures, and director onboarding, while partnering with executive leaders to ensure fiduciary compliance and strong governance across ACS and affiliated entities.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and 7+ years in nonprofit governance, with experience managing board portals such as Boardvantage, and excellent

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university.
• 7+ years of nonprofit governance or board relations experience.
• Knowledge of fiduciary duties and IRS rules for tax-exempt orgs.
• Experience managing board/committee cycles and board portals (Boardvantage).
• Excellent judgment and discretion handling confidential matters.
• Strong relationship-management with executives, senior staff, and legal counsel.
• Excellent organizational skills managing multiple calendars and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute board and committee meetings.
• Maintain governance records and official documents.
• Coordinate approvals, charters, and fiduciary disclosures.
• Support Director onboarding and offboarding.
• Coordinate governance communications and elections.
• Assist with Board education and assessments.
• Ensure compliance with bylaws and policies.

Skills

Board governance

Relationship management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Discretion/confidentiality

Leadership

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Boardvantage

Job description

At the American Cancer Society, we'reworking to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteersare 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.

**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. 15%

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.