Board Development

Board Vice President or Chair-Elect Job Description Example

Purpose: This position is not required but is often preferred and included in an organization’s bylaws. The Vice President/Chair and the President/Chair-Elect positions are often filled by the same person when there is planned succession. This practice ensures continuity of leadership within the board and for the organization as a whole. The bylaws and Board Succession Plan should clearly articulate this duality of roles, if applicable. The authority for this role is granted only by the full board.

The Vice President/Chair or President/Chair-Elect must be familiar with the board’s various projects and the work of its committees, should they be required to assume the duties of president unexpectedly or in a shared model of leadership.

In an unstaffed organization, this position could also assume a more significant unpaid staff role to disperse the responsibilities across the board.

Duties and Responsibilities (at a minimum) – regardless of whether there is staff or no staff

Attend all board meetings

Work closely with the board president/chair to become familiar with the duties and responsibilities of the board president’s position

Fill the unexpired term of a board president who resigns or otherwise moves off the board

Contribute to the work of the board without dominating or over-influencing – remember, all board members are equal in their voice regardless of title or tenure

Foster a positive and welcoming culture

Focus on the full participation of every board member

Sign approved board minutes in the absence of the secretary, president, and treasurer

Optional: Serve as the chair or serve on the board development committee

If Chair-Elect: Assume the office of board president when the current president’s term expires

Additional duties for organizations without staff and those with staff:

Organization without staff	Organization with staff (that can serve in this way)
Take on an unpaid staff role to balance the distribution of tasks and oversight	Develop rapport and a positive working relationship with the CEO/executive director and board president