What is a Nomination Committee? (Overview, Roles, and Responsibilities)

  • By: Adam Wire
  • September 27, 2022
Nomination committee
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Read on to learn how nomination committees help boards evaluate and select new members.

With corporate responsibility and good governance being vital elements of a board of directors, it’s important for a nomination committee to ensure the board features the right members to meet its goals. 

Fortunately, the nomination committee no longer needs to go through piles of paperwork and requirements when nominating board candidates. The nomination committee can use board meeting management software to achieve its goals in real time. 

A board management solution with key features makes life easier for the nomination committee. The software streamlines and simplifies the nomination processes and overall corporate governance, leading to increased efficiency, collaboration, and productivity. 

Learn everything you need to know about nomination committees and how a board portal can help in effective board governance.

What is a Nomination Committee?

A nomination committee is a group of board members who are responsible for identifying candidates for positions on a board. The committee usually consists of the board chair and deputy chair,  chief executive officer (CEO), and a mix of non-executive directors (NEDS) and senior independent directors (SIDS). The organization chooses the committee chair, who is responsible for managing and overseeing the overall operation of the nomination committee and its decisions. 

Nomination Committee Roles and Responsibilities 

A nomination committee’s duties typically include:

Filling Senior Management Positions 

The primary role of a nominating committee is to oversee board recruitment and succession planning. The committee monitors executive recruitment closely and seeks out potential candidates for senior positions like the board of trustees and other positions on the board. The committee reviews each candidate’s qualifications and ensures they mesh with the organization’s requirements and needs. 

Candidate Induction and Training 

Once the nominating committee completes recruitment, they train and induct the new members. The committee takes the new members through the company’s strategy, goals, and management, and introduces the new member to the Advisory Board and board members. Training helps new members quickly acclimate to their roles in the organization. 

Annual Board Evaluations

The nomination committee examines the board’s competence and progress. It helps the committee determine whether the board achieved its goals in alignment with the overall strategy. The feedback helps the committee make informed decisions that impact the organization’s future. 

Developing Roles of Board Positions

The nomination committee will often determine the specific duties of each board position and ensure existing and new candidates understand their roles and responsibilities.

Nomination Committee Software

Effective governing by the nominating committee requires quality tools with board management capabilities to help the committee work efficiently and achieve its goals.

A quality governance software solution, such as OnBoard, streamlines collaboration and communication while ensuring security and confidentiality. 

The software supports good governance and helps CEOs and the board chair prepare for board meetings, formulate meeting agendas, and record meeting minutes, among other capabilities. 

Quality Features of Board Management Software 

Consider these key features when looking for nominating committee software: 

  • Agenda creation: Choose board management software that helps you easily create meeting agendas. Make sure you can include files and share them with other board members to keep everyone on the same page. 
  • Voting and approvals: Quality board management software makes voting easy. Members can vote virtually from anywhere with an internet connection. 
  • Zoom meetings: Board management software should include a Zoom integration to enable seamless video chat.
  • Secure messenger: Secure messaging streamlines communication and reduces risk of data breaches. 
  • Board reporting: The platform’s data and analytics should provide key insights on meeting engagement, file access and sharing, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Role of the Nominating Committee? 

Nominating committee duties typically include recruiting candidates to fill senior board positions and approving the organization’s corporate governance policies, procedures, and guidelines. Once the committee appoints a board chair, the chair presides over board meetings or the executive committee.

The committee also supports the CEO in decision-making that impacts the day-to-day operation of the company. The committee generally decides how to shape the company’s governance. 

What Makes a Good Nominating Committee? 

Good governance is essential to an organization. Committee members should practice good governance and fit the company’s vision, mission, values, and goals. They should bring leadership experience and understand the specific roles and responsibilities. 

Nominating committee members should be strategic thinkers, and possess excellent collaboration and communication skills.

How Many Members Should be on a Nominating Committee?

A nominating committee typically includes nine members and one voting member, but the number differs based on the type and size of the organization. Each voting member serves a three-year, staggered term of service, which varies depending on the entity’s nature and the board member’s position.

Stay Organized and Achieve Good Governance with Quality Board Management Software

A quality board management platform simplifies operations and helps the nominating committee achieve its goals seamlessly. Investing in a one-size-fits-all solution, such as OnBoard, helps you stay organized, streamlines communication, and enhances security and compliance. 

Looking for quality board management software to improve board governance? Start your free trial today.

Ready to supercharge your board’s effectiveness with OnBoard, the leading board intelligence platform? Schedule a demo or request a free trial

About The Author

Adam Wire
Adam Wire
Adam Wire is a Content Marketing Manager at OnBoard who joined the company in 2021. A Ball State University graduate, Adam worked in various content marketing roles at Angi, USA Football, and Adult & Child Health following a 12-year career in newspapers. His favorite part of the job is problem-solving and helping teammates achieve their goals. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two dogs. He’s an avid sports fan and foodie who also enjoys lawn and yard work and running.