Job Opening Title:
Executive Director
Name of Employer:
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives
Job Site Location (City, State) :
West Hollywood, California
Application Deadline:
Minimum Degree Requirement:
Years of experience required:
2 years in a leadership role required
Salary Range:
90,500, with an annual increase thereafter
Job Opening URL:
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Include instructions for how to apply.:
Mission Statement
To collect, preserve, and make accessible lesbian, feminist, and women’s history as a means of providing a link between multi-generational lesbians through the following:
1. Create social activities infused with a presence of Lesbian/Feminist history and future possibilities
2. Develop educational events, opportunities, and programs
3. Provide research and resource facilities to the community
About the Position
The Mellon Foundation has awarded the Mazer funding for an inaugural Executive Director (ED), an Archivist, and a Marketing/Donor Support Specialist (M/DSS).
As the manager of the other staff and the chief representative of the Mazer in the community, the ED will demonstrate skill and experience in networking, strategic planning, goal achievement, and very strong interpersonal skills. The best candidates will demonstrate a deep awareness of and commitment to the Mazer’s mission and community.
The ED’s time will be focused on broadening the reach and increasing the awareness of the archives, fundraising, and coordinating the overall operations of the Archives.
About the Archive
The Archives began in Oakland in 1981 as a collective. It was eventually brought to Los Angeles under the auspices of Connexxus (a Lesbian social service non-profit.) The Archives received its 501-C-3 status in 1989 and the same year moved into a city building in the City of West Hollywood. The Mazer has been run by volunteers for its 43 years. During this period the Board obtained various grants which funded website development, equipment purchases, an emergency preparedness assessment and special programming. More recently three large grants have funded the archival processing of 26 collections (187 boxes), the digitization of 44 file drawers of historical subject files, a contract with UCLA to host these digitized materials online in their Digital Library, the creation of metadata and the creation of multiple online exhibits. All grant work to date has been done by part time contractors or temporary employees.
The Mazer has partnerships with UCLA, the City of West Hollywood, a strong board ready to support employee success, and deeply committed community members and archival users who are eager to have increased interaction with the Mazer’s content and programming.
Minimum Requirements
Candidates must have a passion for the Archives’ mission and values, and be prepared to communicate these to a diverse community to inspire support.
At least two years of experience in a leadership role that requires formulating plans for and achieving one or more goals. This can be evidenced by being the head of an organization or by being the head of a work unit within a large organization.
At least two years of experience demonstrating success with in-person networking to expand contacts for a cause, a project, a business, or an organization. This can be growing a contact list, expanding an audience, increasing the number of donors or buyers or developing new relationships with potential partners.
At least two years of successful fundraising demonstrated by successful grant writing, or expanding a donor base of individuals, or cultivating sponsors or other activities that bring in resources. Training will be provided if the successful candidate lacks experience in one or two of these areas, so they must be willing to learn and become risk takers. Fundraising will be done with several Board members to get started.
The candidate should possess knowledge of and have existing contacts within the Lesbian, Queer women and LGBTQ communities.
Strong candidates will have experience in an archival or other cultural heritage setting.
Ability to work collaboratively with staff, Board of Directors, donors, sponsors and other stakeholders is essential.
Job Specifics
This is a full-time employment position that will require flexible scheduling, including some nights and weekend work. The work will be primarily in person with some remote work.
The Archives is located on the second floor of an accessible building in West Hollywood at 626 N. Robertson Blvd.
The ED will report to an executive committee of the Board led by the Board President.
The starting annual salary will be $90,500, with an annual increase thereafter.
A health benefit subsidy is offered.
Employees will accrue paid time off in accordance with City of West Hollywood requirements.
Hiring Process
Interested candidates should email mazerarchives@gmail.com with a CV and a cover letter outlining your successes in leadership, networking and any fundraising/development experience. Share with us your work experience motivated by your passion for an organization or community. Include any published work (can be a blog) you think is relevant. Selected candidates will be invited to interview, and will be asked to prepare a writing sample that demonstrates their approach to a core task of the job.
Archives Gig 