Executive Director

Authors Alliance is a Berkeley-based non-profit organization launched in 2014. Our mission is to further the public interest in facilitating widespread access to creative work by assisting and promoting the interests of authors who want to disseminate knowledge and products of the imagination broadly. In short, we work for authors who write to be read—today and for generations to come.

We pursue our mission by providing information and tools designed to help authors better understand and manage key legal, technological, and institutional aspects of authorship in the digital age. We are also a voice for authors in discussions about public and institutional policies that might promote or inhibit the broad dissemination they seek. We seek an Executive Director who believes in our mission, will build on our accomplishments, and has the vision and initiative to expand our activities and membership.

The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Authors Alliance, undertaking and managing projects, communicating effectively to authors and to policy makers about Authors Alliance initiatives, and generally working to ensure that the organization lives up to its mission. To this end, the Executive Director works primarily in the following areas:

Advocacy. The Executive Director must be a passionate advocate for the positive role that authors can play in advancing access to knowledge and culture. Activities include:

-- Networking with authors, author organizations, an other partners committed to sharing knowledge;
-- Creating tools and informational resources that help authors accomplish their knowledge-sharing goals; and
-- Drafting comments and briefs on copyright and other public policy issues of concern to our members and like-minded authors.

Project Management. Authors Alliance undertakes a variety of projects in service of our mission, sometimes on our own and sometimes in collaboration with other organizations. The Executive Director is primarily responsible for managing these projects effectively and ensuring that all elements necessary for successful project completion are deployed on time and on budget. The Executive Director also manages communications with the Board of Directors, our Advisory Board, and members.

Fundraising, Financial Management, and Regulatory Compliance. The Executive Director leads efforts to secure funding for the organization from a wide variety of sources, including individual donations and foundation grants. The Executive Director also oversees the process of budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance with tax and other regulatory obligations.

In the next phase of the organization, the Executive Director will work with the Board of Directors to develop new services that will benefit our members and like-minded authors and generate revenue that will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the organization.

Publicizing Our Work and Growing Our Membership. The Executive Director works to grow public recognition of the organization, its mission, and its activities, translating these activities into continued membership growth and retention. This includes contributing new information resources to the Alliance’s website and spreading the word about our initiatives through blog posts, newsletters, and social media outlets. To recruit new members, the Executive Director attends events for authors and organizes events designed to bring our work to the attention of authors who value our mission.

Personnel. The Executive Director manages the Authors Alliance staff, contractors, and volunteers, working with the Board of Directors to ensure that Authors Alliance has the team it needs to operate effectively.

Strategy. The Executive Director works with the Board of Directors to identify and pursue the organizations strategic goals in light of its mission, funding, and stakeholder interests.

Applicants must:

-- Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
-- Understand the Authors Alliance mission and share our vision
-- Be comfortable and capable at public speaking
-- Have the demonstrated ability to craft persuasive and tailored written communications
-- Be able to manage the organization’s website content and social media presence
-- Be willing to undertake moderate travel

The ideal candidate will:

-- Have a J.D.
-- Be licensed to practice law, preferably in the State of California
-- Have substantial and demonstrated expertise in copyright law
-- Be familiar with publishing industry policies and practices
-- Have a history of mission-related advocacy, scholarship, and/or service
-- Be knowledgeable about open access publishing and the mechanics of public licenses
-- Have two or more years of organizational management experience
-- Be familiar with non-profit management and compliance
-- Have fundraising expertise and experience

Salary

The Executive Director position pays between $70,000 and $85,000, depending on skills and experience. Health and dental benefits are provided.

Application Instructions

Send a cover letter, C.V., and 3-5 references to jobs@authorsalliance.org, under the subject line “Executive Director.”

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning October 3, 2016.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, or disability.

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