MGA Board Position Descriptions
The officers of the MGA Board are the MGA Board Chair, the MGA Board Chair-Elect, the Past MGA Board Chair, and the MGA Treasurer. They serve as voting members of the MGA Board and the MGA Operations Committee. The MGA Secretary is an ex-officio Officer without vote on the MGA Board and the MGA Operations Committee.
The MGA Assembly selects Vice Chairs for a term of one year. A Vice Chair is then eligible to be re-appointed for up to two additional one-year terms, not to exceed 3 years total service in this position. Vice Chairs fulfill the responsibilities described below and report to the MGA Board on their Committees' activities.
All positions are expected to attend all meetings of the MGA Board and the MGA Operations Committee, to be informed on the issues, and to participate in the discussions.
View detailed position descriptions, including time commitment (PDF, 224 KB)
Responsibilities and skills for each MGA Board position follow.
Vice President-Member and Geographic Activities/MGA Board Chair
The Vice President – Member and Geographic Activities / MGA Board Chair (MGA VP / Board Chair), VP-Elect / Board Chair-Elect, and Past VP / Past Board Chair will serve one year terms.
Responsibilities of the VP-MGA / MGA Board Chair
- Serves as Chair of the Member and Geographic Activities Board
- Serves as a Corporate Officer of IEEE
- Serves as member of the IEEE Board of Director, as Vice President-Member and Geographic Activities
- Serves as member of the MGA Operations Committee
- Serves ex officio on all MGA committees except N&A, and participates as required
- Works with the Managing Director of the MGA Department and MGA staff to provide advice and support on all regional and geographic unit operations and projects; member and customer services; membership development; member application, admission, and advancement; and young professional and student activities, etc. Be informed about matters of concern for the effective operation of the Department.
- Provides advice and guidance for MGA committees. Be informed about internal and external matters of concern with respect to these committees.
- Provide a review of policy and other matters brought by other organizational units to the IEEE Board with respect to MGA areas of interest
- In conjunction with the Managing Director, Member and Geographic Activities, VP-Elect, and Past-VP, develop a long range strategy for MGA
- In conjunction with the Managing Director, Member and Geographic Activities, VP-Elect, and Past-VP, develop a project priorities list to implement the MGA strategy
- Works with Regional Directors and geographic organizational units on behalf of the IEEE, where necessary or appropriate
- Oversees MGA financial operations. Works with the Managing Director, Member and Geographic Activities, where appropriate to coordinate the financial operation of the department
- Assists in the development of agendas for MGA Board and MGA Operations Committee meetings
- Identifies, encourages, nominates, and mentors candidates for higher volunteer positions within IEEE
- Makes such appointments to MGA committees as may be appropriate, such as ad hoc committees, MGA representatives to other Boards and Committees, etc.
- Must be able to commit a significant amount of time to the position
The VP-MGA / MGA Board Chair will have just completed a one-year term as MGA VP-Elect / Chair-Elect.
Responsibilities of the MGA VP-Elect / Board Chair-Elect
- Serve as Chair-Elect of the MGA Board
- Report administratively to the MGA Board Chair. Act for MGA Board Chair in the absence of, or at the request of, the MGA Board Chair
- In conjunction with the Managing Director – MGA, MGA Board Chair, and Past MGA Board Chair, develop a long range strategy for MGA and a project priorities list to implement the MGA strategy
- Carry out other tasks assigned by the MGA Board or the MGA Board Chair, as appropriate
- Serve as volunteer champion for MGA activities/ projects/ initiatives that aren't assigned to a specific MGA committee
- Represent IEEE on matters involving member and geographic activities and services, and when requested, on behalf of the MGA Board Chair
- Work with Region Directors and geographic organizational units on behalf of IEEE, where necessary or appropriate, and delegated by the MGA Board Chair
- Serve in an advisory and learning role regarding MGA financial operations
- Bring appropriate committee items to the attention of the responsible MGA committee or MGA Board
- Provide an analysis of policy and other matters brought by other organizational units to MGA Board Chair and MGA Board with respect to MGA areas of interest; for MGA Board Chair to bring to the IEEE Board of Directors
- Chair meetings of the MGA Operations Committee and assist in the development of agendas for MGA Board and MGA Operations Committee meetings
- Report administratively to the MGA Board Chair. Act for MGA Board Chair in the absence of, or at the request of, the MGA Board Chair
- In conjunction with the Managing Director – MGA, MGA Board Chair, and MGA Board Chair-Elect, develop a long range strategy for MGA and a project priorities list to implement the MGA strategy
- Serve as Chair of the MGA Strategic Direction and Environmental Assessment Committee
- Shall normally serve as Chair of the MGA Nominations and Appointments (N&A) Committee. In accordance with the committee charter, preside over meetings of the MGA N&A Committee, report MGA N&A activities to the MGA Board, and oversee the MGA N&A process
- Serve as a member of the IEEE N&A Committee
- Carry out other tasks assigned by the MGA Board or the MGA Board Chair as appropriate
- Serve as volunteer champion for MGA activities/ projects/ initiatives that aren't assigned to a specific MGA committee
- Represent IEEE on matters involving member and geographic activities and services, and when requested, on behalf of the MGA Board Chair
- Serve in an advisory role regarding MGA financial operations
- Bring appropriate committee items to the attention of the responsible MGA committee or MGA Board
- Serve as a member of the MGA Operations Committee
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MGA Treasurer
The MGA Treasurer shall be appointed by the MGA Assembly and serve as the Chief Financial Officer of MGA and Chair of the MGA Finance Committee. The term of office shall be for one year. Having served one term, he/she shall be eligible to be re-appointed for up to two additional one-year terms, not to exceed three consecutive years of total service in this position.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a member and attend all meetings of the IEEE Finance Committee. Reports on the progress and activities of the MGA Finance Committee and IEEE Finance Committee to MGA and the MGA Operations Committee
- Report administratively to the MGA Chair
- Ensure sound financial management of MGA funds
- Work with the Managing Director of the Member and Geographic Activities Department to develop the MGA budget including the rolling three- to five-year financial plan
- Approve expenditures as necessary and appropriate
- Ensure compliance with IEEE policies and procedures in all financial matters relating to the MGA Board and MGA Standing Committees
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Common characteristics and common skills of MGA Vice Chair positions
Common characteristics
- Must possess a willingness to develop an understanding of the Strategic Vision of MGA and commit to its implementation and operating principles
- Should have five to ten years of increasingly responsible management experience and excellent leadership qualities
- Should have experience in translating strategic vision into tactical action and providing direction and guidance to the design and implementation teams that carry out the mission
- Must be able to gain an understanding of the role of information technology in enabling MGA functions
Common skills
- Demonstrated tactical management experience
- Demonstrated management skills in a volunteer led organization that operates by consensus. Negotiating skill a definite plus
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills with sensitivity to cross-cultural and transnational issues
- Demonstrated superior written and oral communication skills and organizational ability
- Demonstrated relationship and consensus building in a collaborative working environment
- Understanding of remote/electronic working environments and associated tools (willingness to learn)
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MGA Vice Chair-Geographic Unit Operations
Responsibilities
- Responsible for design, development, and implementation of the support model for the Geographic Units
- Recommend policy for effective operation of the Geographic Units
- Oversight of Geographic Unit operations and the support structures
- The development of parameters to be included in the funding model for supporting the Geographic Units (for the MGA Finance Committee to use in allocating resources)
- The monitoring and promotion of Geographic Unit activities related to MGA objectives (Member Engagement, Professional Development, Public Imperatives, etc.
Additional skills
- Familiarity with Geographic Unit Operations below MGA
- Ability to think creatively
- Familiarity with MGA Vision and Goals
- The ability to recognize and cultivate the diversity of member and member needs, varying member life cycles, cultures, collaborative spirit
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MGA Vice Chair-Information Management
Responsibilities
- Works with MGA and IEEE IT staff in coordinating the coordination of architecture, development, timeline, and other issues relative to electronic communication, information collection, and automation for areas related to MGA
- Ability to represent needs to ensure appropriate prioritization, integration, and implementation
- Ability to derive requirements from expressions of need
- Ability to interface with the other MGA leaders to ensure that MGA information and IT needs are identified, prioritized, and, whenever possible, met
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MGA Vice Chair-Member Development
Responsibilities
- Responsible for the coordination of policy involving all aspects of the member experience, member engagement, growth and development throughout the member life cycle and throughout IEEE
- Coordinating the requirements that IEEE has of the member
- The development, through shared responsibility, of supporting methodologies in the critical areas of member information, education, and training
Additional skills
- Proven success in a diverse team-oriented environment
- Supports "engagement" model and understands how to relate it to other organization units
- Experience with Technical Activities is a plus
- The ability to recognize and cultivate the diversity of member and member needs, varying member lifecycles, cultures, and have a collaborative spirit