Board Openings
Once a year a few board positions become available. Here's your chance to impact our community from a higher level.
We're looking for creative industry professionals with bright ideas who are ready to serve.
We support our board with budget, travel to conferences, visibility at events, and more.
We create real impact, but we want your work to be achievable, rewarding, and fun.
All positions have a baseline level of commitment. If you've got the stuff it's what you already do.
These Director-level positions require a commitment to the board year ending June 30, 2024. Each Director will be responsible for building and maintaining a strong committee to help facilitate all committee goals and objectives.
We insist on maintaining a diverse board of directors and encourage all creative industry professionals to apply.
If you're ready for a rewarding challenge, check out the open roles below and apply.
Board Member Responsibilities
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Must be an AAF Seattle Member in good-standing, either as an individual or through your company’s corporate membership.
Understand and support the policies, initiatives and programs of AAF Seattle.
Awareness of District and National initiatives, as reported on by the AAF Seattle President and/or Vice President.
Actively assist in resolving problems, meeting needs or answering concerns facing any board member or committee.
Actively participate in AAF Seattle content creation via website, newsletter and LinkedIn channels.
Continually recruit, inform and retain volunteers to support the club goals and growth of the AAF Seattle membership.
Attends at least three-quarters of all scheduled monthly board meetings. Per our club’s by-laws, if you fail to meet certain criteria around this, you may be asked to step down from your board position. If you are unable to attend, you are responsible notifying the President in advance of the meeting, and submit a written report to be entered into the official board meeting minutes. You may also arrange for a representative from your committee to attend in your place.
Attend at least 75% of all scheduled events each year.
Attend annual club board retreat, generally taking place late summer/early fall.
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As Board Members of a 501(c)(6) Non-Profit, we have a legal responsibility to the local club, our district and the national organization. The following guidelines are recommended for non-profit organizations to reduce liability.
Attend board meetings regularly.
Be familiar with AAF Seattle’s by-laws and annual goals, objectives and programs.
Make sure the club keeps a written, permanent record of all board minutes.
Be certain to fulfill all aspects of non-profit and tax exempt status.
Exercise general supervision over AAF Seattle’s affairs.
Be familiar with the budget, budget process and financial health of the club, assuring the club maintains good credit and financial standing (as reported on by the club’s Treasurer).
Insist on meaningful board meetings with full disclosure of operating results.
Require the club to engage competent legal counsel, when necessary.
Require committees to report activities and achievements at board meetings.
Know the directors and officers of the club.
Adopt and follow sound business policies and practices.
Avoid conflicts of interest.
Monitor the community and professional image of the club.
Review the organization’s insurance program.
Question policies and practices that you don’t understand or cause concern.
Vice President
Basic responsibilities:
Adhering to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Function as the number 2 in charge of the club
Assist the President in their work
Step into presidential role if President is unavailable
Qualifications:
Interest in eventual succession to the role of President
Knowledge of club operations
Knowledge of AAF purpose and agenda
Reliability as a leader
Firsthand creative industry familiarity
SECRETARY / TREASURER
Basic responsibilities:
Adhering to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Responsible for taking minutes during board meetings and sending minutes for approval.
The treasurer shall supervise, under the control of the board of directors, the general finances of the club.
Work with the president and executive director to create an annual operating budget.
Assist other board members in financial duties pertaining to the club programs.
General financial management of the club operations alongside the club Executive Director.
Responsible for managing check-in tables at meetings/events.
Qualifications:
Experience in financial management, accounting, or a related field.
Familiarity with budgeting, financial reporting, and investment strategies
Meticulous, detail-oriented, and well-organized.
High ethical standards, transparency, and a commitment to the organization's best interests.
Membership Director
Basic responsibilities:
Adhere to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Establish and manage membership benefits
Interact with members
Manage the membership database
Work with Comms chair on new member outreach campaigns
Recruit and manage committee members
Work with Sponsorship chair on benefit offerings
Qualifications:
Familiarity with basic data management
Interest in community interaction
Creative problem solver
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Basic responsibilities:
Adhere to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Establish and manage the club’s communications strategy
Interact with all our audiences
Manage the club’s communications channels, website, and social media
Work with the Membership chair on new member outreach campaigns
Recruit and manage committee members
Work with other chairs on program communications and promotions
Qualifications:
Experience in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong understanding of various digital media platforms, social media, and content management systems
Familiarity with Squarespace, Canva and email marketing platforms
Interest in community/audience interaction
Graphic design skills are not required but preferred
Creative problem solver
Events Director
Basic responsibilities:
Adhering to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Manage all details of club-hosted events including cadence, content, talent, venue, amenities
Recruit and manage committee members
Work with Sponsor and Comms chairs to secure success
Qualifications:
Familiarity with running IRL events
Ability to scout locations and vendors
Ability to coordinate execute an event timeline
GovernMent Affairs Director
Basic responsibilities:
Adhering to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Helping AAF Seattle serve as an information center and catalyst for Seattle’s creative services community
Interacting with key, relevant stakeholders in local and national government roles
Liaising with key, relevant stakeholders in the local creative services community
Coming up with relevant ideas to present to both audiences
Managing a committee to help you do all of this
Qualifications:
Interest in civic relationships
Interest in Seattle’s creative services community
American Advertising Awards Chair or Co-Chair
Basic responsibilities:
Adhering to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Planning for the annual awards submission and judging processes
Planning for the annual awards gala
Managing a committee to help you with details
Qualifications:
Interest in providing a way for creatives to be recognized for their work at a local, district, and national level
Knowledge of the full range of details in running a campaign to solicit participation
Knowledge of the full range of details involved in hosting live and virtual events for a professional audience
Willingness to learn what you don’t know and run with it
Sponsorship Director
Basic responsibilities:
Adhering to all general Board of Director responsibilities
Locating, winning, and maintaining sponsors for the club and events
Managing a committee to help you with details
Qualifications:
Sales or accounts background, or an ability to work new business
Diversity Director
Basic responsibilities:
Establish and maintain club agenda for diversity initiatives
Advocate and ensure DEI+B standards are evangelized and maintained
Act as community liaison for local industry
Set agenda for annual diversity-focused event and work with Events chair to make it happen
Qualifications:
Authentic commitment to diversity in our industry
Ability to speak truth to power - you are protected here
Familiarity with current state of DEI+B narratives
Patience to work with a lagging industry yet the impatience to demand real change sooner than it’s ready for it
Education Director
Basic responsibilities:
Establish relationships with local educational institutions to create awareness of a path to AAF and a professional career in our industry
Create awareness of the student competition at the American Advertising Awards
Advocate and be a local resource for the National Student Advertising Competition
Qualifications:
Interest in reaching and helping students
Familiarity with local educational organizations
Understanding of creative services as a professional career
The board will approve applicants for the 2024-25 board year at each monthly meeting until all positions are filled.
If you want to apply for any remaining role, click the Apply button below to complete our application form.