Executive Director

Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has exclusively retained Jack Farrell & Associates ( to find its next Executive Director. Interested parties should provide a resume and 2-page cover letter to John Hartnett (View email address on click.appcast.io). The cover letter should address: 1) why am I interested?; 2) how am I qualified?; 3) what is my vision of BISG going forward? Thank you. Fully remote in US (East Coast or Midwest preferred) The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) works to create a more informed, empowered, and efficient book industry. BISG is committed to the development of effective industry-wide standards, best practices, and research that enhance relationships among all trading partners concerned with the creation, distribution, and sale of physical and digital books. BISG is a membership organization made up of a diverse slate of publishers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, libraries, retailers and industry partners. Membership includes over 2,800 individuals and 200 organizations from 25 US states and 10 countries. BISG committees, where important work gets done that improves the industry, focus on five core areas: metadata, rights, supply chain, subject codes (BISAC), and workflow. The Executive Director is responsible for the fulfillment of the organization’s mission, as well as implementing objectives and strategies that contribute to its long-term growth. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works closely with the Board and BISG committee chairs. The Executive Director is responsible for growing and sustaining the BISG membership base, maximizing the value of BISG's committees, solicitation of support from member organizations, and acting as the primary spokesperson for the organization. The position is fully remote in the US with occasional travel to domestic and international meetings and other industry events. General Responsibilities Serve as industry leader and champion of the BISG mission, providing leadership for the BISG Strategic Plan and BISG membership. Maintain strong working relationships with the BISG Board of Directors. Play a vital role in steering the industry towards best practices and solutions to pain points affecting two or more parts of the supply chain. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of developments and changes in the industry and determine how BISG can help address these changes by providing useful market intelligence, developing technical standards, and providing a forum for dialogue and debate. Represent BISG to agencies and organizations throughout the industry. Establish and maintain strong, effective working relationships with other trade organizations, including but not limited to BookNet Canada, BIC, and EDItEUR. Increase engagement between member organizations and BISG, securing member support and participation in BISG objectives. Successfully solicit resources from member organizations. Develop new business opportunities, including effective business partnerships that create value for BISG members and expand the resources and influence of BISG. Develop and manage programs and research studies that support the objectives of the Board and reinforce the importance of membership. Support the staff in the collection of dues, program fees, and sponsorship revenues. Maintain the financial health of the organization. Effectively market BISG activities to maximize revenues. Work with the Board, Executive Committee, and committee chairs of BISG. Provide support necessary for them to conduct their BISG activities. Encourage all member companies to participate in committees. Manage day-to-day operations of BISG. Manage a 2-person team that includes a Membership and Operations Manager and a Marketing and Communications Manager. Manage organizational infrastructure and systems. Specific Responsibilities Prepare regular communications to the Board on the status of the organization and relevant governance issues. Manage the board, drafting agendas and supporting materials for board meetings. Work with the board on setting and updating BISG strategy. Recommend and oversee plans to implement BISG strategy. Actively promote and broaden participation by members of the Board of Directors. Work with the Board to review existing programs and to affirm relevance to the goals of BISG; seek additional partnerships or collaborative opportunities with reputable organizations to expand BISG's impact on industry issues; through consensus with the Board and committee chairs, develop and evaluate ideas for new programs to further BISG's industry visibility and goals. Ensure that volunteer groups are effectively managed to achieve results as outlined in each committee’s charter documents. Direct all financial operations in conjunction with the BISG Treasurer and auditors. Prepare the budget and manage financial performance. Reconcile financial data on a timely basis and report periodically to the BISG board. Approve expenditures above $500. Represent BISG interests in relation to activities of other organizations that are involved with standards and appropriate technology. Manage progress against deliverables via Monday.com. Add projects and tasks to Monday.com as needed. Serve as a spokesperson/advocate with the media and the organization’s many constituencies. Address questions received by BISG, including those through the contact form (reassign as appropriate). Manage vendor relationships, notably with NoviAMS, Dentons (legal), CBIZ (audit). Attend book fairs in London and Frankfurt to liaise with other standards organizations Serve on advisory boards as requested, consistent with BISG’s objectives. Increase awareness and visibility of BISG with proactive promotion and publicity. Identify, cultivate, and solicit new members. Manage and motivate BISG staff; ensure staff provides high-quality communication with the Board and membership. Oversee preparation and dissemination of timely agendas, meeting notices, minutes of Board meetings, and minutes of committee meetings. Perform other duties as assigned or requested by the Chair of BISG's Board of Directors. Key Attributes & Qualifications 10+ years in publishing/supply chain or adjacent leadership with demonstrated fluency, broad industry knowledge, and extensive relationships within these domains. Proven ability to manage projects, committees, and volunteers. Strong executive presence and outstanding communication and relationship-building skills. Financial management experience; comfort with budgets and reporting. Awareness of technology trends impacting publishing. Entrepreneurial, hands‑on leadership style with superb problem‑solving skills. Track record of fundraising and sponsorship development strongly preferred. Ability to travel up to ~20% to domestic and international conferences, Board meetings and other industry events. Compensation for the role is $160-$180k based on experience and the hiring discretion of the Board. A full benefits package is also available to the winning candidates. #J-18808-Ljbffr Book Industry Study Group