Policy Section:   Board – Executive                          Director Linkage		Policy Number:  BL-1
Policy:   Delegation to and Job Function of the Executive Director		Date Approved:  April 24, 2003
		Last Date Reviewed: Nov 2007
		Last Date Revised:
		Number of Pages: 2

---

The Board primarily directs the Executive Director through written policies that prescribe the desired organizational directions and outcomes.  The Board also develops policies that set the parameters within which the Executive Director must manage the organization, and deliver the programs and services of the organization.

The Executive Director is responsible for:
a)    Directing the day-to-day activities of staff, either directly or through delegation
b)    Human resource matters and hiring all staff, except for the Executive Director
c)    Financial management
d)    Monitoring financial and program performance and preparing summary reports for Board review
e)    Developing operational guidelines that are aligned with the Board’s policies
f)    Liaising with the membership, public, other Executive Directors, and government staff
g)    Supporting Board committees

The Executive Director is responsible for the implementation of Board policies.  He or she makes operational guidelines that are consistent with Board policies.

Parameters:

The Executive Director is authorized to make decisions, to take actions, and to develop activities that are consistent with Board policies.

The Board may change its policies by making policy at broader or more detailed levels in order to shift the boundary between the Board and the Executive Director areas of responsibility.  In order to further define to the Executive Director its values, perspectives, and directions, the Board may change its policies to clarify its outcomes and directions, and re-define its parameters for the Executive Director’s management of the organization.

The Executive Director may make decisions that are outside of Board policies in emergent or emergency situations.  If the Executive Director is unable to comply with Board policy, he or she consults with the President before taking action.  If this is not possible, the Executive Director takes appropriate actions, and immediately reports, to the President, the action that was not in compliance with Board policy.  The President relates the non-compliance to the Board. 

At the next Board meeting, the Executive Director describes to the Board the actions that he or she is taking to realign with Board policy.  If necessary, the Executive Director makes recommendations to change the policy that is relevant to the area of noncompliance.

Decisions or directions of individual Board members, officers, or committees are not binding on the Executive Director, except in rare instances when the Board has specifically authorized such exercise of authority.