Job Posting: Bibliographical Society of America Executive Director

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.

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

• 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

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