Board Relations & Strategic Initiatives

POSITION: Board Relations & Strategic Initiatives Coordinator

REPORTS TO: Managing Director

DEPARTMENT: Executive Office

STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $50,000

ABOUT CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE

Founded in 1915, Cleveland Play House (CPH) is America’s first professional regional theatre and a nationally recognized cultural institution. Throughout its history, CPH has launched groundbreaking new work, produced celebrated classics and contemporary plays, and served as a vital artistic home for generations of artists and audiences.

As Cleveland Play House enters a transformative new chapter, the organization is building on its legacy while embracing new opportunities for artistic excellence, community impact, and long-term sustainability. The Board Relations & Strategic Initiatives Coordinator will play an important role in supporting organizational leadership, strengthening governance practices, and helping ensure key institutional priorities move efficiently from planning to implementation.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Board Relations & Strategic Initiatives Coordinator provides high-level administrative, project management, and coordination support to the Managing Director and organizational leadership. This position supports board governance activities, executive priorities, advocacy initiatives, and organizational projects by coordinating communications, preparing materials, tracking implementation efforts, and ensuring timely follow-through on key priorities.

Working across departments and with external stakeholders, the Coordinator helps organize complex initiatives, maintain project momentum, facilitate communication, and support effective decision-making processes. The position serves as a central point of coordination for a variety of board, executive, and organizational activities, helping ensure that important details, deadlines, and commitments are managed effectively.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Board Relations and Governance Support

• Coordinate logistics and materials for Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Governance Committee, and other board-related meetings.
• Prepare meeting agendas, packets, minutes, reports, and supporting materials.
• Maintain board records, governance documents, trustee rosters, and organizational files.
• Support trustee onboarding, orientation, and ongoing engagement activities.
• Coordinate board communications and assist with trustee outreach and follow-up.
• Maintain annual governance calendars and key board deadlines.

Executive Support and Coordination

• Provide administrative and project coordination support to the Managing Director.
• Prepare briefing materials, reports, presentations, and meeting documents.
• Coordinate executive correspondence, scheduling, and follow-up activities as assigned.
• Track action items, commitments, and deadlines related to executive priorities.
• Support the preparation of organizational communications and presentations.

Strategic Initiative Support

• Coordinate implementation activities related to organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Track project timelines, deliverables, responsibilities, and milestones.
•  Facilitate communication and information-sharing among departments, consultants, volunteers, and external stakeholders.
• Monitor project progress and help identify items requiring additional follow-up or leadership attention.
• Support planning, logistics, documentation, and implementation efforts for assigned projects.

Advocacy and External Affairs Support

• Provide coordination and administrative support for advocacy, civic engagement, and public policy-related activities.
• Assist with stakeholder communications, outreach, scheduling, and follow-up.
• Track advocacy-related priorities, meetings, and action items.
• Support relationship-building activities with community, civic, educational, and governmental partners as assigned.

Organizational Coordination

• Maintain project trackers, planning documents, calendars, and organizational records.
• Coordinate information gathering and document preparation across departments.
• Assist with consultant, vendor, and partner coordination as assigned.
• Help ensure accurate documentation and effective communication related to organizational initiatives.
• Support special projects and organizational priorities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years of professional experience in administration, project coordination, nonprofit management, higher education, governance support, communications, or related fields.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects simultaneously.
• Strong project management and coordination abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other common business software platforms.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting boards, committees, executives, or senior leadership.
• Experience in nonprofit, arts and culture, higher education, public service, or mission-driven organizations.
• Familiarity with governance practices and board administration.
• Experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the Cleveland nonprofit, civic, or cultural landscape.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Benefits package includes group health insurance to which CPH contributes a portion of the employee’s premium, group dental and vision plans. Paid vacation, company and discretionary holidays as well as the opportunity to participate in a 401 (K) plan. Parking is available at employee’s cost.

Cleveland Play House is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive

consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin,

disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or

expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Employment in this position requires the clear result of a criminal background check and, from time

to time during your employment, CPH may require you to obtain a new background check.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should upload a cover letter and resume as one combined document. Apply directly or submit your application directly to rfink@clevelandplayhouse.com.

For additional information on Cleveland Play House, visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com

Salary : $50,000