Wild Animal Initiative seeks new board members

July 14, 2020

Wild Animal Initiative is seeking a new board member! Please see below for details, and let us know by July 22nd if you’re interested in helping us out.

Note: all board members are volunteers, and no monetary compensation is offered. 

What does the board do?

The Wild Animal Initiative Board is responsible for overseeing the long-term governance of the organization. The two major responsibilities of board members are to hire the Executive Director and approve financial decisions. Board members also provide feedback on the strategic plan of the organization, while the Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of those strategic plans.  Occasionally, the board might weigh in on day-to-day operational issues that might affect the long-term health of the organization, or the Executive Director may seek guidance on particular issues. 

The Board also serves as a check on the power of the Executive Director. As a public institution, Wild Animal Initiative is not owned. However, as we have staff reporting to the Executive Director, the role needs outside oversight. Staff at Wild Animal Initiative are encouraged to speak to Board Members at any time, and if they have issues at work they do not believe they can address with the Executive Director, they are able to go to the board to address them.

What does a board member do?

The Board is made up of two classes of members — directors and officers. The officers are the president, treasurer, and secretary. Directors are simply non-officer members, and their main obligations are to attend a 1 hour board meeting every two months, and review the relevant information sent out before the meeting. There are also occasionally ad-hoc meetings for special topics. In general, board members spend around 1-3 hours a month helping out.

What qualities are you looking for?

We are looking for someone with a strong commitment to the welfare of wild animals and a good understanding of the animal advocacy, policy, or research landscape. We would also particularly welcome candidates with expertise that could help advise the Executive Director, including experience in relevant sciences, nonprofit operations, and financial and legal services.

How can I apply? 

If you are interested in serving Wild Animal Initiative as a board member, please send a letter of interest to info@wildanimalinitiative.org by July 22nd. The letter should describe (1) why you are interested in the position and (2) any relevant skills you think you would bring to the board. If you would like, please feel free to submit a resume, although this is optional.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to the email above!