Representatives of national scientific organisations from all 19 member countries form the IASC Council. The President of IASC is elected by Council, who also elects 4 Vice-Presidents to serve on the Executive Committee. Council usually meets once a year during the Arctic Science Summit Week, ASSW.

IASC Executive Committee operates as a board of directors and manages the activities of IASC between Council meetings. The Chair is the President of IASC.

The organisational needs of IASC are served by the IASC Secretariat, located in Potsdam, Germany.