The Governance Officer is a member of AIUSA’s Executive Office team, reporting to the Executive Director (ED). The Governance Officer provides programmatic support and counsel to the Board of Directors (Board), offering staff support to their committees and working groups and ensuring the effectiveness of their work. S/he works closely with the Chair and the ED to keep them informed of relevant issues and important developments, to ensure that time-sensitive issues are prioritized, and to promote better coordination and effective decision-making. The Governance Officer also provides staffing for Board meetings and events including the Annual General Membership meeting to ensure that the Board carries out the legal and ethical duties of its role in accordance with AIUSA’s values and standards.
This position handles confidential and sensitive matters and is not covered under the collective bargaining agreement.
- Provides advice and support to the Chair and the ED and acts as the official staff liaison to all board committees and working groups, ensuring that they can perform their responsibilities effectively; staffs all Board meetings and events to effectively advance the Board’s goals; manages all consultant projects related to Board initiatives
- Supports the Board’s work on strategic planning and evaluation, ensuring Board leadership of and engagement in planning efforts and working with the Chief Strategy Officer on planning and reporting processes
- Supports international engagement by the Board and the organization, including developing strategy and preparing for international exchanges with other Amnesty sections and the annual Global Assembly
- Prepares quarterly board mailings, drafts agendas for Board meetings and retreats, and ensures Board members are apprised of key organizational developments
- Prepares and monitors budget for the Board; ensures that grant programs including SIF and Hannah Grunwald are effective and accountable for the organization’s expenditures
- Manage Board correspondence and communication
- Oversee the AIUSA Archives project, ensuring that Board documents and decisions are properly recorded and stored
- Lead on special projects for the organization and perform other duties as requested by the ED and the Chair
- Excellent project management, calendar management, and organizational skills
- Demonstrated poise, diplomacy, tact and good judgment; respect and maintain confidentiality
- Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously; flexibility and energy to balance competing agendas and adjust to changing priorities
- Ability to interact and engage with diverse constituencies of Amnesty’s membership
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including written, oral and presentation
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Proficient in MS Office, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint; familiar with different communications platforms. Ability to update web pages a plus.
Knowledge and Education
- Five to seven years of relevant experience required, including experience working with a board of directors and/ or a senior management team
- Experience with member organizations and/or international non-profits preferred