The Grolier Club of New York City
Executive Director Search
The Grolier Club
The Grolier Club of New York City is a private club founded
in 1884 to “foster the study, collecting, and appreciation of books and works
on paper, their art, history, production, and commerce.” The Club pursues this mission through an
active program of exhibitions, lectures, member gatherings, virtual events, publications,
and travel. The heart of the Club is a
research library comprising over 100,000 volumes on the art and history of the
book. The library actively acquires in
its areas of focus and is a critical resource for collectors and scholars in
book history. While a member-driven and
member-focused organization, the Club is also a 501c3 public charity:
exhibitions and many programs are open to the public, as is the library by
appointment.
More information on the Club’s mission and governance is
available at
grolierclub.org
The Grolier Club seeks to hire an Executive Director to build
on its 140 years of history, and to work collaboratively with the Board of
Trustees to ensure that the Club remains a leading player in a continually
evolving bibliophilic community.
The Role of Executive Director
The Executive Director principally engages with four Club
constituencies. First, he or she manages
the day-to-day operations of the Club, with responsibility for a full- and
part-time staff of 17 people. Individual
senior staff positions are responsible for exhibitions, publications, the
library, the physical maintenance of the clubhouse, operations and finance, and
the Executive Director is responsible for establishing objectives, delegating
authority, coaching execution and assessing performance of these staff members,
and ensuring effective administration of the Club.
Second, the Club is governed by a volunteer board of 21
trustees, with whom the Executive Director meets formally at monthly board
meetings, and less formally and more frequently as warranted. The Board of Trustees, or Council, is
responsible for overseeing the general operations of the Club’s various
activities, while setting, in collaboration with the Executive Director, the
strategic direction of the Club. The
Executive Director reports to the Council, and the Council assesses the
Executive Director’s performance on an annual basis.
The Club is a member-focused enterprise, and members are present
in the Club throughout the week for planned events or informal gatherings with
fellow club members. At present the
membership comprises about 200 resident members and 600 non-resident members. The membership is the cultural core and
economic engine of the Club, and the Executive Director is expected to engage
and interact regularly with this important third constituency.
Finally, the Executive Director represents the Grolier Club
in the wider world of bibliophily, interacting and collaborating with sister
institutions throughout the Republic of Books, while acting as an ambassador
for the Club throughout the bibliophilic world.
The Responsibilities of The Executive
Director
The Executive Director of the Grolier Club acts as the Chief
Executive Officer of an innovative and entrepreneurial cultural
institution. Among other
responsibilities, he or she …
- Manages
the on-site and day-to-day operations of the Club, including the management of
full-time and part-time staff. At
present, the Executive Director has five direct reports.
- Oversees all Human Resources functions, with responsibility for developing, updating,
and implementing policies and procedures, including hiring, staff development,
performance reviews, and performance improvement plans.
- Promotes a culture of high performance, service excellence, integrity, and continuous
improvement that values learning, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in the
organization. Critical components
include the leading, coaching, and development of the senior management team,
and mentoring of staff at all levels.
- Executes
both internal (operational) and external (member-facing) technology
initiatives.
- Collaborates with the Librarian and Assistant Librarian to maintain and grow the Club’s
collections.
- Works with the House Manager to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the clubhouse at
47 East 60th Street.
- Collaborates with the Council to establish the strategic direction of the Club.
- Meets
with the Council monthly to provide an update on Club operations.
- Manages the finances of the Club, in cooperation with the Council and Finance Director,
to include budgeting, and financial oversight.
- Builds relationships with Club members and other constituents within the bibliophilic
community to foster development opportunities.
- Works with the Council and Special Events committee to plan and execute in person and
virtual member events.
- Engages with the Council, Exhibitions Committees, and Exhibitions Manager to plan and
install 3 exhibitions per year in the Club’s main gallery, and 4 exhibitions
per year in the members’ gallery.
- Works with the Council, Publications Committee, and Publications Manager to produce
standalone publications and catalogues related to the Club’s exhibition
schedule.
- Attends as many Club functions as possible to foster relationships with members and
guests.
- Represents
the Grolier Club through attendance and participation at various bibliophilic
gatherings and events.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for this position has demonstrated
experience collaborating with governing bodies to develop and execute strategic
initiatives, while inspiring and leading various constituencies in pursuit of
these objectives. Demonstrated leadership
and administrative experience is essential.
The library is the heart of the Club; knowledge of best practice in
research libraries is necessary. She or
he will have unimpeachable integrity, a healthy sense of humor, a collaborative
spirit, enthusiastic curiosity, and a shared commitment to the Grolier Club’s
mission, people, and prominence in the Republic of Books.
The Search Process
Initial screening of applicants will begin immediately, with
a second round of in person interviews taking place over the course of the
spring and summer. The timing of the
successful candidate’s start date is flexible depending on individual
circumstances. The salary range for this
role is $150,000-210,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications,
and is accompanied by retirement and healthcare benefits.
The Grolier Club is an equal opportunity employer, and
strongly encourages individuals of all backgrounds and cultures to consider
this leadership position. The Grolier
Club’s commitment to inclusivity encompasses, but is not limited to, diversity
in nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and
disability.
Please submit detailed expressions of interest, along with a
CV to:
Ms. Nancy Boehm, President
[email protected]
The Grolier Club
47 East 60th Street
New York, NY 10022
A
PDF version of this announcement is available.