Senior Board & Councils Relations Manager

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 250 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Senior Board & Councils Relations Manager position.  Reporting to the VP, Head of Principal Giving, this role at the serves as a key internal liaison, ensuring cohesive, timely, and effective communication with and engagement of the Foundation’s:

• Board of Directors: members advance the mission of The Michael J. Fox Foundation and provide oversight and governance
• Leadership Council: members are advisors and ambassadors to the Foundation, providing leadership, financial support and strategic insight about how we can more effectively advance progress toward a cure 
• Patient Council: a formal channel to get input from Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and the broader Parkinson's community and advises the Foundation on many fronts

This position serves as a hub for these groups of Foundation “insiders,” coordinating communications and strategy for Board and Councils activities. This position facilitates collaboration and alignment across internal business units to unify communication streams on governance-related topics, state-of-the-field research updates and philanthropy-related opportunities.

This position may be hybrid-flex with the opportunity to work out of the Foundation’s office in New York City or based remotely within the U.S.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Coordinate communications with the Office of the CEO, Board and Council members, and Philanthropy Relationship Managers, ensuring timely updates and information flow
• Create and manage a communications calendar, recommend and draft meeting materials, correspondence and ensure cohesive information sharing across all meetings
• Work with the VP, Head of Principal Giving on an updated charter and slate of activation opportunities for the Leadership Council
• Track RSVPs and follow-up items from Board and Council meetings, ensuring that all stakeholders are well informed and can provide best-in-class service
• Ensure that the CEO, Chief Development Officer and Philanthropic Relationship Managers have materials and information needed for Board and Councils meetings and one-on-one interactions with Board and Council members
• Work with the Office of the CEO and Chief Development Officer to develop and manage a Board and Council member onboarding and orientation plan. Refresh and maintain orientation materials
• Document a pipeline of Board and Council candidates. Support the nominating committees to identify, surface and manage prospecting opportunities
• Partner with the Individual Giving and Special Events teams on fundraising and cultivation/stewardship events throughout the year

Qualifications and Skills:

• Relevant experience working with senior-level executives and board members, in board relations or executive communications capacity
• Ability to exercise a high level of professionalism, discretion, diplomacy and judgment, as well as handle sensitive and confidential information
• Detail-oriented and organized; ability to effectively balance competing priorities and adapt to shifting demands in a dynamic environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• A strong team player with excellent diplomatic skills
• A problem-solver when the answers aren’t always obvious
• Advanced skills in all Microsoft programs, including PowerPoint, Word and Excel
• Working knowledge of Boardvantage and CRM / Salesforce is preferred

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $85,000 - $105,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
• Competitive dental and vision plans
• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employer paid life and disability insurance
• 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4
• Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.  We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done. 

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. 

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.