MDA Overview:
At MDA, we believe our biggest asset is our combination of different backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines united to form one high-performing team. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, we ensure that we all have access to the opportunities, relationships, and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive. What we do starts with our people and the neuromuscular disease community we serve. As America’s largest voluntary health organization covering research, healthcare, and advocacy for people with neuromuscular diseases, MDA is leading the way in improving the quality of life for those living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and dozens of related disorders – many first discovered and diagnosed by MDA supported scientists and clinicians.
Position Description:
The Associate Director, Executive Leadership serves as the primary operational partner to the President & CEO, ensuring the Executive Office operates efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with organizational priorities. This position combines executive-level administrative support, Board governance coordination, executive communications, and project management to enable the CEO to focus on leading the organization and advancing MDA's mission.
This role is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Executive Office, coordinating Board of Directors’ activities, facilitating executive meetings, and driving execution of strategic initiatives sponsored by the CEO. The Associate Director anticipates needs, exercises exceptional judgment and discretion, and develops efficient processes that improve organizational effectiveness while providing a high level of service to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
Responsibilities:
Executive Office Leadership
- Manage the President & CEO's complex calendar, ensuring priorities are aligned with organizational goals and competing demands are balanced effectively.
- Coordinate all President & CEO's travel arrangements, including transportation, lodging, itineraries, meeting logistics, and expense reporting.
- Organize and manage the CEO's email and correspondence, identifying priorities, drafting responses when appropriate, and ensuring timely follow-up.
- Prepare executive briefings, presentations, reports, correspondence, and meeting materials.
- Anticipate the CEO's needs by proactively identifying potential conflicts, gathering information, and resolving issues before they arise.
- Serve as a trusted liaison between the CEO and executive leadership, staff, Board members, donors, volunteers, and external partners while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
Board Governance & Executive Support
- Serve as the primary administrative liaison to the Board of Directors.
- Coordinate all Board and committee meetings, including annual meeting calendars, logistics, travel arrangements, agendas, presentation materials, and supporting documentation.
- Partner with executive leadership to develop Board and committee agendas that align with governance priorities.
- Prepare first drafts of Board and committee meeting minutes and ensure timely distribution and follow-up.
- Maintain Board governance records, resolutions, committee rosters, and other official documentation.
- Coordinate annual Board onboarding, orientation materials, governance documentation, and required acknowledgements.
- Track Board action items and ensure timely completion of follow-up activities.
Executive Leadership Coordination
- Coordinate Executive Leadership Team meetings and organizational planning sessions.
- Prepare agendas, meeting materials, and summaries while monitoring follow-up actions and assigned deliverables.
- Facilitate communication and coordination across executive leadership to ensure organizational priorities remain on schedule.
- Develop systems and processes that improve communication, organization, and operational effectiveness within the Executive Office.
Strategic Project Coordination
- Coordinate cross-functional projects and organizational initiatives sponsored by the President & CEO.
- Develop project plans, timelines, milestones, and status reporting tools to ensure successful execution.
- Monitor progress across departments, identify potential risks or delays, and communicate recommendations to leadership.
- Support implementation of organizational initiatives by coordinating meetings, tracking deliverables, and maintaining project documentation.
- Identify opportunities to improve Executive Office operations through process improvements and technology solutions.
Executive Office Administration
- Manage Executive Office operating expenses, invoices, contracts, subscriptions, and administrative processes.
- Maintain confidential executive records and organizational documentation.
- Coordinate special events, executive meetings, Board functions, and leadership retreats.
- Perform additional duties and special projects that support the President & CEO and Executive Office.
Other duties as assigned.
Salary Range: This position's salary range is $95,000-$105,000.
Location: This is a remote position with occasional travel requirements. Candidates must be available to begin their workday at 9:00 a.m. ET, regardless of their location or time zone, to support collaboration across the organization.
Qualifications:
Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible experience supporting senior executives or C-suite leadership.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating executive-level meetings, calendars, travel, and communications.
- Experience supporting Boards of Directors, executive committees, or governance functions.
- Proven project management experience involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration technologies.
Preferred
- Experience supporting a President, CEO, or Executive Director.
- Experience working within a nonprofit organization.
- Experience coordinating Board governance activities.
- Experience coordinating complex meetings and events, including arranging travel, lodging, meeting spaces, catering, materials, and schedules for Board of Directors or executive-level meetings.
- Project management certification or equivalent experience.
MDA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
