A board of directors is responsible for the overall governance of an organization. Typical Board Positions A typical board of directors has at least five positions, although the minimum number required is three -- a chair, secretary, and treasurer -- according to the Small Business Association. These include the board chair or president, the vice-chair or vice-president, the secretary, the treasurer and the board members. In some cases, positions may be combined, such as the secretary and treasurer. Some boards may also include positions such as committee chairs. The executive director of an organization may also attend board meetings but is generally not considered a voting member.