Do you believe the STEM community brings a valuable perspective to challenges faced by cities, counties, and states? Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally seeks to inspire, encourage, and empower people in STEM to be active civic participants. We are a dedicated group of volunteers working to help our fellow members of the STEM community more effectively engage with their local communities and governments. And we would be thrilled to have you join our ranks.
Engineers and Scientists Acting Locally - Board Member Description
October 2025
Do you believe the STEM community brings a valuable perspective to challenges faced by cities, counties, and states? Engineers and Scientists Acting Locally (ESAL) is a national, non-partisan, non-advocacy nonprofit that seeks to inspire and empower people with backgrounds in STEM to be active civic participants.
ESAL is guided by a board of directors that oversees the governance, strategy, sustainability, and reputation of the organization. ESAL relies on the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of its board members for continued success in achieving the organization’s mission. We envision a future where all individuals with backgrounds in STEM can leverage their expertise and lived experience to actively engage in civic life.
ESAL is recruiting broadly and all interest is welcome. In this cycle, we are particularly interested in board candidates with legal, accounting, strategic planning, fundraising, development, or state and local engagement skills and experiences.
Board Members have the following responsibilities:
- Assist the board in all leadership decisions, planning, and mission alignment.
- Oversee and participate in strategic planning to maintain and grow ESAL’s activities and engagement.
- Help create policies that support ESAL’s mission.
- Adopt an annual budget and ask thoughtful questions during the process.
- Show due diligence in monitoring the organization’s budget, consistent with ESAL’s policies, ethical stewardship, and best practices.
- Make a donation to ESAL that is meaningful for you.
- Support ESAL’s fundraising efforts for long-term sustainability..
- Commit to joining and engaging during Board meetings, which are online and held quarterly with advance notice.
- Participate in at least one committee, which typically have monthly meetings.
- Work closely with ESAL’s executive director on strategy and policy implementation.
- Contribute to the evaluation of the executive director’s performance.
- Contribute to the integrity of the ESAL board by helping board members remain accountable to their duties to the organization.
- Be an ambassador for the organization. Help us grow, expand, and develop a strong reputation.
- Be aware of public views of the organization and share with the board.
All board members must legally show a duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience. Board members must follow bylaws, avoid and disclose conflicts of interest, and follow all ESAL policies.
Board members are elected by a majority vote of the board members.
Length of term: 2 years, January 2026 to December 2027, renewable for additional terms.
Ready to apply? Submit your application through this form. Applications will be reviewed in early-November. If you have any questions, please contact info@esal.us.
If you are interested in helping us change how engineers and scientists think about policy engagement, please contact us with a paragraph describing your interest and a link to a bio or an attached resume at
volunteer@esal.us.
