Executive management, c-suite and board roles
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Supply Chain, Director, Executive Director, Nonexecutive Director, Country Director, Regional Director, Business Advisor, Trustee, Board Member, Board Director, Board Chair
To a certain extent executive management and board roles in the NFP sector are very similar to the same kind of jobs in other sectors. This makes it a good category of jobs for transitioning into from other sectors, since the skills and experience required are not necessarily subject-specific (although some degree of subject knowledge or awareness of the NFP sector is usually required).
Business acumen is a non-negotiable for executive management roles, and the ability to drive an organisation toward sustainable success and impact. Highly rewarding, and usually lucrative (e.g. CEO roles are often $120K+), these roles are not advertised frequently, especially for larger organisations such as INGOs, multilaterals, bilaterals and IGOs, but when a position does become available the competition is high. They require a high degree of professional integrity, results-oriented planning and strategic thinking, as well as technical skills and deep knowledge and expertise. Years of management/leadership experience in senior roles, not necessarily from within the NFP sector, are usually required to be successful in obtaining a NFP executive management position.
Board roles
Board roles involve being part of the governing body of an organisation and helping make key strategic decisions for the organisation to fulfil its mission, including financial, legal and operative. Sometimes board members will be appointed as a ‘trustee’ or ‘councillor’, and new members are always there to add unique insight and value.
This means that not all board roles require specific qualifications or experience, although particular capabilities are often sought after depending on the vacancy. Some roles have other specific requirements, for example calling for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or youth representation. Board roles in small community organisations are more ‘hands on’ and may require board members to undertake a number of different duties including both administrative and governance tasks, whereas board roles in large NFP organisations are usually purely governance-based.
Unsurprisingly, board roles in smaller organisations are easier to land without much professional/board experience. Generally, board roles are not remunerated and are taken on a voluntary basis, and some of these positions are traditionally filled by parents or founders of a charity or trust set up in memory of their children. However, some board positions are salaried (especially in the case of Board Director roles in larger organisations). Regardless, board roles are excellent positions from which to gain experience and skill to apply to other (paid) roles in the NFP sector.
Relevant experience may include:
- For executive management roles: usually a master’s in a relevant topic or in a technical area such as NGO management or finance (depending on the role); plus 5+ years (often 10+ for larger organisations) of relevant professional experience in senior management roles (ideally but not always in NFP sector), plus usually a background in or strong understanding of the organisation’s focus area or field and in some cases also field-based work (for example for Country Director roles)

- For board roles: ideally experience in corporate/organisational governance (several years for board positions in large organisations), often also other voluntary or paid experience in a NFP organisation and interest in or experience of the focus area or field
Duties may include:
- For executive management roles: providing strategic direction to the organisation, making operational decisions, designing and overseeing a budget and business plan, representing the organisation publicly, managing and leading staff and board members, soliciting major gifts and developing fundraising plans, building effective relationships with stakeholders, building internal capacity of organisation, day to day management of the organisation including campaigns, research and advocacy activities, coordinating country activities (for Country Director/Regional Director roles in INGOs)

- For board roles: helping determine and steer the organisation’s mission, executing a strategic vision and plan, upholding legal requirements, helping ensure financial viability e.g. through fundraising and setting a budget, appointing leader(s) e.g. CEO, ensuring adequate resourcing, promoting the organisation’s public image
Skills may include:
- For executive management roles: business acumen and financial management skills, leadership, excellent communication skills, strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, team management, decision-making, ability to deliver client/customer-focussed services
- For board roles: board knowledge and understanding, business acumen, leadership (for directors), often specific capabilities for some roles (e.g. governance, legal, accounting, media, entrepreneurship), good communication skills
