Director of Board Operations, Board of Trustees Office - UT System Administration

Director of Board Operations, Board of Trusts Office - UT System Administration

Knoxville, TN, United States

The Director of Board Operations provides senior-level leadership and strategic coordination for all operational, administrative, and logistical functions that support the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees. Reporting to the Board Secretary and Special Counsel, the Director ensures the seamless execution of board and committee meetings, retreats, and special events, and upholds the highest standards of governance, transparency, and service.
This role requires exceptional judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-profile environment with trustees, senior executives, and external stakeholders.

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Requires occasional evening, weekend, and overnight travel for Board meetings and related events across UT campuses.

Strategic Governance and Board Administration

• Partner with the Board Secretary to develop annual meeting schedules, agendas, and long-range governance calendars aligned with statutory and strategic priorities.
• Lead and oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and its standing committees.
• Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timely distribution of all board materials and meeting documentation in accordance with statutory and other requirements.
• Manage official actions, follow-up assignments, and commitments arising from Board and committee meetings, ensuring accountability and timely resolution.
• Support the Board Secretary in maintaining bylaws, charters, and governance policies.
• Conduct research and benchmarking on governance best practices in higher education, corporate, and public-sector boards to inform continuous improvement in UT Board operations.
• Maintain institutional memory by reviewing and referencing prior board actions, resolutions, and policy decisions to ensure historical consistency and informed recommendations.
• Prepare comparative analyses of board governance structures and practices across peer institutions to support periodic Board effectiveness reviews.

Trustee Engagement and Support

• Serve as a central point of contact for trustees, managing general inquiries, routine communications, travel coordination, and meeting participation.
• Assist with trustee onboarding, orientation, and continuing education programs.
• Maintain trustee records, appointment documentation, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and biographies.
• Facilitate trustee access to university information and ensure effective communication with senior administration.
• Develop and facilitate board member questionnaires, surveys, and other assessment and reporting tools.
• Build and sustain effective relationships with the UT System President’s Office, senior leadership team, and campus and institute leaders to coordinate materials and ensure alignment with systemwide priorities.
• Collaborate across functional areas, including communications, government relations, and legal to ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality submissions to the Board.
• Develop planning guides and other documents to assist committee liaisons, board support team members, and others regarding meeting planning, protocols, and other expectations.

Special Events and Meeting Logistics

• Oversee planning and execution of all Board-related events, including retreats and special sessions, ensuring alignment with institutional image, event protocols, and hospitality standards.
• Direct logistical coordination for in-person, hybrid, and virtual meetings, including partnering with communications, special events, and public safety teams at both system and campus level.
• Lead AV and IT coordination for Board meetings and events, ensuring high-quality live streaming, recordings, and other technical support.
• Manage vendor relationships related to event execution, audiovisual technology, and transcription or recording services.

Records Management and Archives

• Oversee official recordkeeping, digital filing, and archival processes for Board materials in compliance with state and…