Executive Director of Governance

This job is open until filled. Resumes will be reviewed ongoing as received

Meet the Executive Director of Governance. 

Are you an executive leader with board building experience who loves working with volunteers at a high level? Do you have the industriousness of a program director with the influence savvy of an Executive? Do you know how to scale programs as well as network and leverage complex communities? 

If this is you, read on. 

The Executive Director of Governance is a new position in our YMCA. Its constituency covers the 200 policy and advisory board members spread over 8 boards in our YMCA. In close partnership with 7 Branch Executive Directors and reporting to the CEO, the Executive Director of Governance will focus exclusively on governance. All the things you learned about at “Volunteerism 101”, but never seem to find the time to get to, when you’re responsible for a full-time bricks and mortar operation: Complex meeting schedules, charts of work, committee structure, the role of volunteer leadership, identifying the right community stakeholders to match the unique needs of each Y branch; coordinating all those one-on-one meetings with community leaders and partnering with Branch Executives to ensure the post-meeting actions and follow-ups don’t fall through the cracks. 

• We are serious about governance at the YMCA of Snohomish County.
• This is a Y that has doubled in size since 2020 (through COVID); $23MM in 2020, 2026 budget $48MM.
• We take expansion seriously. In less than four years we went from concept to execution of our first ever overnight camp. We call it YMCA Camp Casey.
• We opened a brand new licensed ELC in 2025 and are in the process of opening another in 2026. 
• We are serious about developing leaders at every life stage. Watch this brief video about our program continuum.    
• We are a beloved and well-connected YMCA with a direct relationship through members, program participants, donors and volunteers, with 1:6 individuals who call Snohomish County home.
• Everything we do is in service to building future changemakers; for us this includes adult changemakers as well.

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Governance holds subject matter expertise in organizational governance. It is critical that the organization has strong governance and community impact. We do this with the integral advisory support of our Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, eight branch boards and their committees. This executive is a trusted advisor and partner to the CEO, ensuring that the boards’ development activities, community connections, and organizational initiatives are well integrated, strategically aligned, and effectively advanced.

Reporting directly to the President/CEO, this position also works in close collaboration with the CEO’s Senior Leadership Team—to align board engagement and strategic initiatives with the organization’s day to day business challenges, current projects and our programs with the company’s long-term growth, fundraising and impact goals.

Our Mission and Culture
Our mission is to inspire, nurture and strengthen culturally vibrant communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We exhibit our values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: We are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: We value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: We believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: We support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: Above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent experience required; such as YMCA branch executive director and/or advanced degree in nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, or related field preferred
• Minimum of three years’ experience in assisting a CEO
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit governance, board relations, community engagement or executive-level strategy
• Demonstrated experience working with Boards of Directors/Trustees and senior executives
• Strong strategic thinking, facilitation, and relationship-building skills
• Embody sensitivity, working with individuals of diverse socio-economic backrounds, cognitive and physical abilities as well as individuals of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
• Fluency in English and a second language, preferred
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to interact with individuals at all levels, including positive interaction with staff and community leaders; able to lead teams
• High degree of discretion, judgment, and confidentiality
• A self-starter with a self-motivating attitude
• Works independently, has excellent organizational, time management and decision-making skills, and the flexibility to manage and change priorities as required - must meet absolute deadlines
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Power Point
• YUSA Team Leader or Multi-Team or Branch Leader Certification, preferred
• Transportation to and from locations – meetings, trainings, etc.

Organizational Governance

• Responsible for partnering with the President/CEO in organizing and supporting the stewardship of Board of Trustees’ governance structure, Branch Board leadership and Strategic Planning 
• Leads the development and implementation of comprehensive board engagement strategies for the Board of Trustees and branch boards
• Serves as a trusted thinking partner with the President/CEO. Keep 30/60/90/120-day lead calendar over Board of Trustee functions including: Meetings, Socials and Events
• Maintains and anticipates annual calendars for all board and Executive Committee meetings; prepares and distributes agendas, materials and minutes
• Plans, coordinates and facilitates Board Leadership Academy, along with Board Chair, providing sessions to enhance governance effectiveness and mission alignment
• Tracks and reports on board and community member engagement, including volunteer hours, committee participation, and philanthropic activity
• Maintains all necessary databases/files to manage board activity including calendaring and digital communication
• Executes or delegates for execution all administrative functions of the office of the President/CEO including recruiting necessary organizational resources to accomplish key functions
• Partners closely with Marketing/Communication and Office of Financial Development to ensure Trustees and stakeholders are communicated with frequently about the current state and strategic direction of the organization 

Executive Collaboration & Strategic Alignment

• Partner with the President/CEO to identify and prioritize key issues, projects, and initiatives for board and executive-level discussion
• Work closely with executive leadership/senior vice presidents, (COO, CFO, CDO, CHRO and SVP of Island County and Camp Services), to connect ongoing initiatives and business challenges and needs with board development opportunities
• Provide the President/CEO with regular briefings on board and community engagement trends, issues, and opportunities 

Community Engagement & Fundraising Support

• Serve as a strategic connector between the organization and community leaders, stakeholders, and partners
• Identify and cultivate community relationships that support organizational growth and fundraising opportunities
• Coordinate community meetings and engagements for the President/CEO and ensure timely follow-up and relationship management 

Organizational Leadership & Support

• Serve as a key advisor to the President/CEO on governance best practices and organizational alignment
• Ensure that all board-related activities are aligned with the organization’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities
• Develop and manage systems to track engagement, measure outcomes, and improve board effectiveness
• Co-leads the Volunteerism Advancement Team along with the Association Office Director of Family/Volunteer Advancement 

Core Competencies

• Strategic Connector: Skilled at linking people, projects, and priorities to maximize impact
• Governance Expertise: Deep understanding of nonprofit board development, governance, and leadership
• Executive Presence: Ability to partner effectively with executive leadership and community leaders
• Organizational Agility: Anticipates needs, aligns resources, and ensures execution against strategic goals
• Mission-Driven Leadership: Passion for advancing the mission and enhancing organizational growth through board and community engagement

Cause-Driven Leadership® Competencies

Community: Ensures community engagement; promotes the global nature of the Y.

Influence: Is recognized as an inspirational community leader who navigates complex political and social circles with ease

Relationships: Initiates the development of relationships with influential leaders to impact and strengthen the community

Project Management: Creates a culture to deliver organization-wide results to achieve objectives

Change Capacity: Effectively drives change by leveraging resources and creating alignment to expand organizational opportunities

Quality Results: Determines benchmarks and ensures appropriate leadership to meet objectives

Y Culture

• Build relationships with a diverse membership base in culturally responsive ways, connect members with one another and to the YMCA
• Exhibit Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility
• Complete required training and certifications within established guidelines

Embrace Team Leader Core Competencies:

• Developing Self & Others
• Change Leadership
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making
• Program/Project Management

Mission Advancement 

• Models and teaches the Y’s values
• Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to improving lives
• Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition
• Cultivates relationships to support fundraising 

Collaboration 

• Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives
• Builds relationships to create small communities
• Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict
• Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience
• Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance and support 

Operational Effectiveness  

• Provides others with frameworks for making decisions
• Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities
• Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of team
• Effectively creates and manages budgets
• Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress   

Personal Growth 

• Shares new insights
• Facilitates change; models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change
• Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance  
• Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology 

Physical and Mental Demands:  The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  

Physical Demands: 

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve non-routine and complex problems; may use math and mathematical reasoning; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work under intensive deadlines with frequent interruptions; and interact with members, staff, volunteers, and others encountered in the course of work, some of whom may be dissatisfied individuals.

Working Conditions:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically, interaction with others is busy, constant and occasionally interruptive. Work may be demanding at times. May require ability to work irregular hours. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job descriptions represent a general outline of job duties, functions and qualifications. They are not intended to be comprehensive in nature. In addition, jobs evolve over time and therefore their description may not reflect the precise nature of the position at a given point in time.