Head of Publications

Bard Graduate Center (BGC) seeks a dynamic Head of Publications to lead our award-winning publishing team, producing and promoting scholarly books, exhibition catalogues, and academic journals, as well as managing digital projects, institutional communications, and exhibition interpretation. This is a full-time, on-site position at our campus on West 86th Street in New York City.

Bard Graduate Center is an advanced graduate research institute dedicated to the cultural histories of the material world. Our MA and PhD degree programs, gallery exhibitions, research initiatives, scholarly publications, and public programs explore new ways of thinking about decorative arts, design history, and material culture. BGC graduates gravitate to careers in museums, academia, the art world, the cultural heritage sector, and publishing. We welcome all staff at the BGC to be a part of our supportive, collaborative, and lively academic community.

Reporting to the Director and Founder of BGC, the Head of Publications has overall administrative responsibility for the departmentand supervises all matters related to the acquisition, evaluation, development, editing, production, and promotion of materials for publication by BGC. The Head of Publications would join a small team working with our faculty, gallery and academic program staff, and graduate students, as well as with scholars from universities, museums, and research centers around the world, to develop innovative new titles and publishing initiatives while providing a framework for consistency and excellence across BGC’s written output.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Shape the strategic direction and serve as the public face of the BGC Publications department, a dynamic hub that connects the institution’s academic program, Gallery, research institute, and digital and public humanities programs.
• Oversee, coordinate, and contribute to the acquisition, assessment, development, content editing, and production for all BGC publications (including exhibition catalogues, scholarly books, journals, and digital or web-based publications), exhibition interpretation, marketing materials, and institutional ephemera. Monitor department priorities and ensure that all projects meet the highest-quality editorial, style, and content consistency standards, adhere to publication schedules, and operate within the allocated budget.
• Create, communicate and monitor schedules and workflow for all stages of and participants in project production in coordination with department staff, BGC’s Marketing, Communications and Design department, and freelance contractors.
• Lead, inspire, mentor, and supervise departmental operations and staff (Editorial Director; Director of Rights, Sales, Production, and Promotion; Assistant Editor; and graduate student interns), and manage staff growth and professional development to accomplish the goals and priorities of the department. Work with department staff to identify, hire, and oversee external publishing contractors, freelancers, printers, vendors, editors, indexers, distributors, designers, etc., and to refine standards and best practices for editorial output across BGC.
• Work closely with department staff, BGC Director, Associate Chair of Research Programs, curatorial, development and marketing staff, and book and journal editors to determine financing, co-publishing, distribution, and promotion needs, as well as any touring exhibition and/or foreign language edition needs.
• Develop, prepare, and monitor departmental and project budgets, financial forecasts and analyses, and actual vs. budgeted performance reports.
• Update and maintain institutional editorial and style guide for BGC publications and materials in coordination with other departments.
• Promote BGC books and recruit content at academic and professional conferences and book fairs, networking with potential freelancers and writers as well as remaining up-to-date about industry best practices.

Required Qualifications:

• MA (PhD preferred) in an arts or humanities-related field, with specialization in history of art or

material culture.

• A minimum of 7-10 years of administrative, editorial, and/or production experience in scholarly, art, museum-based, or trade publishing (with a strong preference for previous experience as a Director of Publications or in a senior administration role in a non-profit publications department).
• Scholarly rigor, impeccable editorial and writing skills, and a strong understanding of interdisciplinary arts scholarship and museum publishing are essential.
• Detailed knowledge of all aspects of the book production and contracting process, including acquisition, development, content editing, copyediting, proofreading, and indexing; working knowledge of typesetting, design, art reproduction, and manufacturing.
• Strong organizational and staff management experience; ability to coordinate multiple projects and partners simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and effectively both in writing and verbally.
• Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with all colleagues and maintain productive working relationships with authors, editors, freelancers, and vendors.
• Understanding of existing and emerging digital publishing technologies and evolving changes in scholarly book production workflows and AI best practices.
• Intimate knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Working knowledge of current computer software and technologies related to publishing, editing, and budgeting.
• Familiarity with one or preferably more foreign languages and best practices for publications involving significant foreign-language content or translations.

We expect the successful candidate to be stronger in some qualifications listed above than others; we are committed to helping our future colleagues expand their skills and hope to learn from their areas of strength. Equivalent education and/or experience in an academic and/or museum setting may substitute for minimum requirements.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $125,000 + a generous benefits package.

To Apply:

Send resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references to pub@bgc.bard.edu.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Bard College is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information.

Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.