SBL Executive Director Position Announcement

Society of Biblical Literature has announced the retirement of Kent Richards as Executive Director effective June 30, 2010. A Search Committee has been established to look for a new Executive Director, as reflected in the position announcement by Fernando F. Segovia, Chair, Search Committee.

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

The Society of Biblical Literature invites nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director, effective July 1, 2010. The premier scholarly and professional association of biblical scholars, the SBL has a current membership of more than 9000, a staff of 25, and an annual operating budget of about $3,000,000. It is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies. The mission of the SBL is “to foster biblical scholarship,” a mission it carries out through opportunities for mutual support, intellectual growth, and professional development of its members; organizing congresses for scholarly exchange; facilitating broad and open discussion from a variety of perspectives; encouraging study of biblical literature and its cultural contexts; collaborating with educational institutions and other appropriate organizations to support biblical scholarship and teaching; developing resources for diverse audiences, including students, religious communities, and the general public; and publishing biblical scholarship.

The Executive Director of the SBL is its chief executive officer, reports to the SBL Council, and carries a wide range or responsibilities, including providing strategic and tactical leadership in consultation with the SBL Council, overseeing day-to-day operations, financial management, supervision of staff, coordination of a wide-ranging cadre of volunteers, and strengthening relationships with other organizations, potential partners, and stakeholders. Qualifications include a PhD or equivalent terminal degree in biblical studies or a cognate field, a significant scholarly record, and a significant record of participation and leadership in the program work of the Society or comparable learned and professional society. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated expertise in administration and personnel management (including paid staff and volunteers), budget and finance, program interpretation and fund raising; as well as demonstrated leadership in strategic planning. Salary and benefits are competitive with executive positions in comparable learned societies and commensurate with experience.

Send nominations or applications (i.e., a letter of application, current cv, and the names of at least three references able to speak to your leadership, administrative abilities, and scholarly credentials) to F. F. Segovia, The Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, sblsearch09@gmail.com. Review of applications will begin on March 31, 2009, and will continue until the position is filled. The SBL is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains a policy of nondiscrimination with respect to all employees and applicants for employment.

We know that the best source for nominations lies with the membership itself, and thus I urge all of you to submit the names of colleagues whom you believe we should contact and/or to encourage colleagues whom you regard as excellent candidates to apply. Please send all nominations and applications by either regular or electronic mail to the respective addresses provided in the official Position Announcement.

On behalf of the Search Committee, I thank you for your kind attention to this matter, and I look forward to hearing from you in the days to come.


Fernando F. Segovia
Chair, Search Committee