Announcing: the Search for a New Executive Director
A Letter from BSA President Kinohi Nishikawa ↑
The Bibliographical Society of America is pleased to publish its job posting for the next Executive Director of the organization.
It’s an exciting time to embark on a search for this position. The BSA has sustained a diverse and engaged membership in the face of steep budget cuts to research institutions, learned societies, and arts organizations across the country. It has also brought our work to the attention of audiences all over the world through social media and in-person and online programming. Most important, it has enhanced its commitment to bibliographical scholarship by shoring up the editorial infrastructure of our journal and by expanding the range of grants and awards we offer through our fellowship program. Thanks to the support of our members and foundation partners, the BSA is in an excellent position to continue this work for years to come.
The new Executive Director will lead an organization whose cross-professional and multidisciplinary nature makes it distinctive not only in the world of books but throughout the academic humanities. The BSA stands to reach even more people and support even more kinds of bibliographical inquiry under the guidance of a new leader.
I ask that you to share it with your professional contacts, colleagues, and networks. The search committee, chaired by Dr. Elizabeth Ott, Director of the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library at Emory University, will advertise the position far and wide. But, as with much of our online communication these days, a personal note is often the best way to spread the word and make it stick.
The search for our new Executive Director is a moment of transition, but it is also a time to celebrate our achievements and come together to define our goals for the future. Here’s to a successful search this fall!
Kinohi Nishikawa
President
Bibliographical Society of America
Applicants are encouraged to join us for a virtual information session on Tuesday 23 September at 3pm Eastern. This will be an opportunity to hear from the search committee directly, including a live Q&A. Please use the link below to register.
Job Description ↑
The Bibliographical Society of America (BSA) seeks qualified applicants for the position of Executive Director. This is a full-time position that will provide dynamic leadership to one of the country’s oldest and most important humanistic societies.
Summary ↑
Working in collaboration with the organization’s elected Council, a sixteen-member body which includes the officers and three classes of four members each, the Executive Director of the Bibliographical Society of America plays a leadership role by proposing, developing, and implementing policies and programs addressing the present and future needs of a community of bibliographical scholars and by administering the Society’s business. The Executive Director reports to the President of the BSA and works closely with the executive officers in the ongoing governance of the Society. The Executive Director advances the broad interests of the Society and its members, endowing this community with vision and purpose.
The ideal candidate for this role is a globally-minded, collaborative leader who is able to articulate a vision for the sustainable growth of the Society. The BSA serves a broad, interdisciplinary membership and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. The BSA Executive Director must be able to work with a wide range of individuals, including but not exclusive to students, scholars, librarians and archivists, book artists and museum professionals, book sellers and collectors, and donors.
Compensation: $75,000-$90,000, depending on qualifications and experience, plus retirement and health benefits, three weeks paid vacation to start, 13 paid holidays, and 18 paid sick days.
Responsibilities and Job Duties ↑
Coordinates the Society’s activities, including working with the Events Committee and chairs to organize in-person and online events–significantly–the organization of the Annual Meeting.
Engages in donor stewardship, development, and fundraising activities, often in partnership with the President and Treasurer
Oversees the Society’s finances by working closely with the Treasurer and Audit and Investments Committees, including the proper and timely filing of IRS returns and audit reports
Facilitates the work of the Society’s committees, ensuring proper communications and deadline support
Coordinates with editors on maintenance and promotion of the Society’s scholarly journal.
Maintains smooth transitions in the Society’s governance during change-overs in elected and appointed positions
Promotes active engagement with membership, including supporting the Events and Membership Committees, providing clear and timely communication to the membership at-large, and updating the Society’s website
Manages relationships with related scholarly societies and organizations, both national and international
Supervises a part-time administrative assistant, including ensuring regular updating of BSA policies, procedures, and documentation.
Intermittent travel, not limited to representing the Society at significant academic/bibliographic events, including major US rare book fairs
Qualifications ↑
Required
A bachelor’s degree
At least 5 years of experience in organizational administration, including budgeting, events management, and project planning and evaluation
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
Preferred
Graduate-level degree in a related discipline (e.g. History, Literature, Art History, Library Science, etc.) or experience in the governance of a learned society, non-profit, or higher education organization dedicated to the humanities
Experience with fundraising activities, including donor stewardship
About the Organization ↑
Established in 1904 and incorporated in 1927, the Bibliographical Society of America is an international, interdisciplinary scholarly organization that fosters the study of books and other textual artifacts in traditional and emerging formats. BSA pursues this mission by hosting public programs, funding scholarly research, conferring awards, issuing publications, and collaborating with related organizations. The Society is committed to adopting policies and procedures that support and promote equity and inclusion in all of our programs, and to providing equal access to our events and electronic resources to people with disabilities and other access needs.
The BSA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a member of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), governed by a board (the “Council”). Member-led committees oversee many aspects of BSA’s programs. The Society publishes the Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal issued quarterly. For more information about the BSA, please visit our website: https://bibsocamer.org/.
Application Instructions ↑
Applications should be submitted in either MS Word or PDF format and should include:
A cover letter addressing the candidate’s interest in the role, qualifications, and experiences advocating for the humanities
A C.V.
A list of three professional references