June 11, 2020

As of the last board meeting on July 8, 2020, we have shifted our focus away from finding a Board President to recruiting new board members. Read more here.

Our fabulous board president is going to law school, and while she will continue to support Wild Animal Initiative as a board member, she will no longer have time to lead the board. We are therefore seeking a new board president to take on the challenge!

Please get in touch if you’d be interested in serving on our board. Please note that 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 the board president do?

The Board is made up of two classes of members — directors and officers. The President is the leading officer of the Board. In addition to the normal responsibilities of directors, the President is expected to hold and facilitate board meetings. That requires an additional time commitment — generally, the president participates in a 1 hour meeting with the Executive Director every month, and is responsible for organizing the board meetings every other month.  Including time spent on other duties and meeting preparation, the total time commitment is around 6 hours per month. 

What qualities are you looking for?

We are looking for someone with excellent time management and organizational skills, and a strong commitment to the welfare of wild animals. We would also particularly welcome candidates with expertise that could help advise the Executive Director, including experience in accounting, law, or nonprofit operations. 

How can I apply? 

If you are interested in serving Wild Animal Initiative as board president, please send a letter of interest to info@wildanimalinitiative.org. 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!