Executive Director

Summary

The Board of Directors of the Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC) invites nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director. BDRC is the leading non-profit organization in the field of digital preservation of Buddhist texts, using state-of-the-art technology and working with local partners to freely provide the world's largest online archive of Tibetan and Buddhist texts for the global community.

BDRC seeks an Executive Director to forge new scholarly networks and funding pathways to support and expand its impact, reach, and long-term sustainability.

Background

Founded in 1999 by the eminent scholar E. Gene Smith (1936–2010) as the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, BDRC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and providing access to Tibetan and Buddhist literature through advanced digital technologies. Since its founding, BDRC has digitized, cataloged, and archived over 30 million pages of Buddhist texts, while developing innovative systems for their long-term preservation and global accessibility.

Over time, BDRC expanded its mission beyond Tibetan-language materials to include major Buddhist traditions of South and Southeast Asia. Renamed the Buddhist Digital Resource Center in 2016, the organization now supports preservation initiatives in languages including Sanskrit, Pali, Burmese, Khmer, Thai, and Mongolian, in partnership with libraries and archives worldwide.

BDRC is also a leader in digital humanities and archival technology. In 2021, it launched the Buddhist Universal Digital Archive (BUDA), a state-of-the-art platform built on Linked Open Data and IIIF standards. Current projects include automated image processing, Tibetan-language OCR, and the development of large language models grounded in primary Buddhist texts.

Overview

The Executive Director (ED) provides overall management, leadership, and vision for BDRC, ensuring that its programs, technology, collections, and operations advance the mission of preserving and providing access to Buddhist literature. The ED guides strategic priorities and oversees financial management and fundraising, communications, office staff and resources, and represents all aspects of the organization to its Board of Directors, funders, and partners.

Responsibilities

See list of job responsibilities below.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies or equivalent expertise, with advanced knowledge of Buddhist texts, languages, and traditions
• Strong networks within the field of Buddhist Studies and among Buddhist communities internationally
• Fluency in Classical and Modern Tibetan and competence in one or more of the following languages: Chinese, Pali, and Sanskrit.
• Experience as an organizational leader, with proven competence guiding strategic planning, institutional positioning, team building, and personnel management, preferably in the non-profit sector
• Demonstrated success in fiscal management
• Strong knowledge of digital technology and emerging trends in library and information science
• Willingness and ability to seek out financial resources in support of the organization; successful experience securing such support for research and/or academic programs
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Energy, integrity, and a sense of humor

This is a full-time position working remotely. Some travel will be required.

Salary and benefits will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience.

Applications

Candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, CV or professional resume, and the names and contact information of three references to:

Lauran Hartley, BDRC Board President

LH2112@columbia.edu

Include "BDRC ED Search" in the subject line.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, materials should be submitted by March 1, 2026.

Executive Director Job Responsibilities

Office Management

• Provide overall leadership and direction for BDRC's staff, ensuring alignment of all programs and operations with organizational mission and strategic priorities.
• Provide direct supervision and performance management for senior staff, including the Chief Technology Officer, Head Librarian, Director of Administration, and Digital Archive Engineer, and overall oversight of staff, consultants, and subcontractors.
• Set priorities for core staff positions, coordinating across departments to balance workloads and ensure effective collaboration.
• Build a collaborative organizational culture that prioritizes communication, innovation, and accountability, with special attention to intercultural understanding, sensitivity, equitable treatment of all staff, and productivity.
• Maintain organizational cohesion and morale in a fully remote workplace, ensuring clear communication, regular team connection, professional development opportunities, and effective support for dispersed staff across the U.S. and internationally.

Program Oversight

• Work with the Head Librarian to guide acquisitions, cataloging priorities, and access policies, ensuring that collections, metadata, and access systems meet scholarly and user needs.
• Collaborate with the CTO to set technology strategy, support its outward facing digital platform, and oversee major innovation initiatives.
• Partner with the Digital Archive Engineer to oversee digitization workflows, data preservation, and technical infrastructure that ensure reliable access to BDRC's collections.
• Support the Director of Administration in managing financial controls, HR systems, and board/committee administration, ensuring operational compliance and sustainability.
• Serve as the final decision-maker when priorities across departments or staff responsibilities need alignment.

Board Relations

• Work closely with the Executive Committee to lead the organization, including preparing for and participating in monthly meetings and maintaining ongoing communication.
• Report to the full Board of Directors during quarterly meetings, providing updates on operations, programs, finances, and strategic priorities.
• Provide regular updates to the Board of Directors between quarterly meetings.
• Serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees.

Financial Management & Development

• Partner with the Finance Committee, Director of Administration, and accountant to develop annual budgets, monitor financial performance, and oversee the annual audit process.
• Assess fundraising needs considering budgetary requirements and strategic priorities.
• Lead donor cultivation and stewardship, maintaining strong relationships with current and prospective supporters, including major donors (including both foundations and individuals) and regular contributors.
• Prospect for new donors and grant opportunities, preparing and submitting grant proposals.
• Design and implement fundraising campaigns.
• Engage the board in development activities, leveraging their networks to strengthen fundraising.

Communications

• Lead BDRC's communications strategy to engage diverse stakeholders, including foundations and donors, academic researchers and institutions, Buddhist monastic communities, and the general public.
• Oversee and participate in preparation and distribution of newsletters, social media posts, and website updates that highlight organizational achievements and developments.
• Maintain regular communication with donors and funders, providing clear and compelling updates on BDRC's impact and priorities.
• Represent BDRC publicly through presentations, conferences, and events, both online and in-person.
• Ensure that communications are accessible, culturally sensitive, and tailored to diverse audiences — including universities, traditional Buddhist monasteries, and the general public.
• Maintain active engagement with the field of Buddhist Studies, leveraging scholarly expertise and networks to guide acquisitions, collaborations, and the strategic direction of BDRC's collections.

BDRC BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Lauran Hartley

Andrew Quintman

Kurtis Schaeffer

Lisa Schubert

Fluency in Classical and Modern Tibetan and competence in one or more of the following languages: Chinese, Pali, and Sanskrit.