Executive Director - Feminist Press

Position Title: Executive Director - Feminist Press

Job ID: 30373

Compensation: $107,789-$119,995/year. Salary range will increase to $118,070-$131,440 as of 9/1/25 per the new contract. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

Closing Date: Open until filled

Position Details

The Graduate Center (GC) is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at the City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university. With over 35 doctoral and master's programs of the highest caliber, the Graduate Center fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. The Graduate Center's commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including ASRC.

The Graduate Center benefits from highly ambitious and diverse students and alumni-who in tum teach hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year. Through its public programs, the Graduate Center enhances New York City's intellectual and cultural life.

Founded in 1970, the Feminist Press at the City University of New York is the longest-running non-profit educational feminist literary publisher in the world. The Feminist Press has established itself as a singular voice in movements for gender equality and social justice, and it continues to be an activist press, serving the women's and gender studies movement by publishing excellent "lost" literature by women, in part for the collegiate curriculum, and publishing original works by current feminist writers from around the world for a diverse trade readership. Please visit www.feministpress.org for more information.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for collaborating with staff and facilitating their work in developing the Feminist Press publishing program, budget, and operations. The Executive Director will build partnerships and engage with CUNY and the wider public. The Executive Director will ensure that the Press's operating budget is fully supported by an equal combination of innovative individual donor and grant fundraising and earned income through the sales of books and rights, and will work with staff to develop and implement effective and novel strategies for these.

This position is excluded from the union.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Administers the finances of the Feminist Press in collaboration with staff and the Board of Directors, with the goal of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Press;
• Partners with the Board of Directors on governance issues, and collaborates on overall Board development;
• Leads and manages the development programs of the Feminist Press, with the goal of bringing in half of the annual budget;
• Supports staff as they work collaboratively to sustain, develop, and implement the Feminist Press's publishing program, with the goal of maintaining earned income as half of the annual budget;
• Oversees the daily operations of the Feminist Press, including the recruitment of staff members and contractors;
• Communicates effectively with varied constituencies of the Feminist Press, including other CUNY groups and institutions;
• Enhances strategic and intellectual relationships with international feminist and women's/gender studies communities and other social justice organizations;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

All full-time CUNY staff are expected to work in-person at their campus office 70% of their work time. This is equivalent to 7 out of 10 days of in-person work in a two-week period (e.g., 7 days in person, 3 days remote).

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and eight years' relevant experience required.

A preferred candidate should have:

• Experience securing foundation and corporate support and funds from individual donors.
• Experience organizing fundraising events.
• Ability to attract donors, prominent authors, and other allies to the organization’s programs.
• Some established professional networks in nonprofit or independent publishing spaces, as well as an interest in working to grow these.
• Ability to work with the Board of Directors to develop annual budgets, three-year plans, and forecasts, as well as oversee the annual audit, manage cash flow, legal compliance, investments, and other balance sheet issues.
• Ability to collaboratively manage and budget for a small team of professionals and staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including networking skills and skills around facilitating collaboration and collective decision-making.
• A background or strong interest in feminism and women’s/gender studies, as well as a willingness to follow evolving trends in these areas.
• A background or strong interest in literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and other trade nonfiction related to feminism and WGS, as well as willingness to follow evolving trends in these areas.
• A background or strong interest in independent book publishing, including traditional, digital, and other evolving forms of book publishing, as well as willingness to pursue ongoing professional development in this area in partnership with relevant organizations.
• Demonstrated success as a creative thinker and spokesperson.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be offered for this position.

Benefits

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

CUNY Title Overview

• As a senior staff member in a Campus or University Executive's office, leads unit initiatives, participates in planning and setting priorities, and drives strategic initiatives to ensure their success.
• Participates in planning and in setting policies with responsibility for preparing aspects of strategic and operational plans. Participates in developing and executing performance management systems to evaluate progress.
• Works with other Campus and University units to oversee complex, high-priority projects, with responsibility for outcomes.
• Represents the Executive in Campus or University-wide activities and may act in his/her place when required.
• Independently carries out major responsibilities under the Executive's purview, such as monitoring and evaluating unit activities, financial planning and review, serving as chair of key committees, and communications with senior Campus or University management.
• May serve as Chief of Staff of a large Executive Office.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

How to Apply

Go to http://cuny.jobs/ and search for Job ID 30373.

Click on "Apply Now" below which will bring you to the registration screen. If you are a new user, you must register to apply. If you already have a user ID, please use your existing ID to apply. Please submit a resume and a cover letter in Word or PDF format.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.