Job Description

Director of Operations & Board Relations

 

 

Mission

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

 

Summary/Objective

The Director of Operations and Board Relations is part of the President’s office. They work closely with the President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to support programs and initiatives and overall daily operations of the Center. This position also manages and supports Board relations and leads the planning and execution of Board meetings and events.

 

Responsibilities

1) Support the priorities of the President’s office and help manage the daily operations of the office including but not limited to:

• Support the President, COO and CSO drafting internal messaging/communications.
• Lead strategic discussions amongst senior management related to the Center’s participation in events, conferences.
• Work with Director of Strategic Events and Protocol to support and implement Center wide events both on and off campus.
• Coordinate Education programs across the Center as needed.
• Oversee two Office Coordinators who provide travel, reimbursement, and credit card reconciliation support to the President’s office, supports and manages Visiting groups, high level visitors, campus tour program, back up support for office supplies and mail room oversight; manage and coordinate President, COO and CSO’s calendar, draft official correspondence and documents as required, coordinate education programs (as needed), and provide administrative support for Board management.
• Manage center wide projects and programs as needed.

2) Serve as liaison between the President and the Board of Directors with responsibility for the preparation of Board materials, meeting logistics, and communications.

• Coordinate with the Board Chair, President, COO, CSO and CPO in preparation for Committee and Board meetings.
• Support administrative duties such as:
  • Scheduling committee and ad hoc meetings as necessary.
  • Compiling meeting notes and other Board materials into Board Books before each meeting
  • Editing Board minutes.
  • Maintaining official Board records in hard copy and electronically.
• Coordinate with the Director of Strategic Events & Protocol to select Board meeting venues that provide an effective and engaging experience for Board members.
  • Select venues at least one year in advance.
  • Ensure remote participation at meetings is effective and productive.
• Responsible for managing Board meetings from start to finish, including working with the President and Board Chair to develop the Board Meeting program.
  • Maintain computer-based systems to support the Board and Emeritus Groups including current and historical data.
    on directors, director candidate cultivation records and other data as appropriate.
  • Develop and maintain a Board Portal for board information and communications.
  • Together with the President and CPO, support the design and implementation of proactive stewardship strategies to connect Board and Emeritus members with meaningful engagement opportunities.

3) Monitor the implementation of the Strategic Plan

• Support the development of performance dashboards for Woodwell leadership (detailed) and the Board (higher level, less detailed). This will include:
  • Working closely with Senior Management Team members responsible for respective goals and strategies (work with COO to identify who is ‘responsible’).
  • Identifying realistic timelines to meet deliverables.
  • Monitoring progress made on performance indicators (reporting up to President COO and CSO) if any issues or challenges in meeting the deadlines).
• Work with program scientists and staff to support the implementation of strategic plans for the Center’s Departments and Strategic Initiatives, including working with Department and SI Leads on:
  • Articulating the theories of change and key strategies.
  • Identifying the distinct phases, components and timelines for each Strategic Initiative (SI).
  • Developing consistent staffing approaches/plans (e.g., establishment of Project Manager roles for each SI).
  • Working with the COO and VP of Finance on SI budgets.
  • Providing dotted line oversight and mentoring to the Project Managers for each SI.
  • Coordinating with Development staff on developing funding case statements for the SIs to ensure alignment with Implementation Plans.
• Help design and manage the organization-wide annual planning process that advances the Strategic Plan and priorities of the Center.

4) Assist the President, COO and CSO on other strategic projects as directed.

• Responsible for other related duties as directed by the President, COO and CSO.
• Directly report into the COO.

 

Required Qualifications and Experience

• BA or BS degree.
• 5-7 years’ experience in board governance or in a development office.
• Understanding of administrative and governance structure of a non-profit organization.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, high emotional intelligence.
• Strategic thinking and implementation skills.
• Research and Analytical abilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and develop a team environment.
• Ability to conceptualize the larger picture.
• Willingness to handle large and small details, often at the same time.
• Absolute confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion.

 

Physical Requirements

In the office:

• Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds.
• Ability to communicate.
• Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items.
• Ability to use phone and computers.
• Repetitive movements.
• Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event.

Work Environment
The functions of this role are conducted in an office environment.

Compensation and Hours of Work

• This role is paid on a salary basis. Starting minimum salary is $125,000.00.
• Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek. However, this is a salaried position. Therefore, the individual is expected to work as required to complete the duties of the position. This may mean weekend hours and/or hours beyond 40 per week.
• Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.

 

Location

Hybrid Woodwell Climate Research Center Campus, Falmouth (2-3 days per week in office)

Application Instructions

To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references as a single PDF to our career’s portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Please type DOBR on all correspondence.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.

*Please mention you saw this ad on AcademicJobs.*

Apply Now