ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATIONS

Description

Monday – Friday (Full-time, salaried exempt)

David Kordansky Gallery seeks a highly motivated, extremely organized, and collaborative individual to join our team as Associate Director, Editorial and Publications. Reporting to the Director, Marketing and Communications, the Associate Director, Editorial and Publications is a critical role, responsible for editing and managing all gallery manuscripts and texts, including contributing writing as needed, and overseeing the production of gallery publications. The Associate Director, Editorial and Publications will also be responsible for building on and expanding the gallery’s publishing program, including its commercial reach, participation in book fairs, distribution opportunities, and partnerships. This position is a full-time role, Monday through Friday, and may require flexibility for additional hours based on the needs of the gallery. A generous benefits package is offered.

ABOUT THE GALLERY:

David Kordansky Gallery is one of the most dynamic venues for contemporary art in Los Angeles and in New York and is internationally regarded as a leading gallery of its generation. Established in 2003, the exhibition program is dedicated to presenting artists’ work with passion and intellectual rigor, and to bringing the utmost care and precision to showcasing artistic visions. The Gallery is committed to presentations that blend scholarship and connoisseurship with equity and inclusion. We are an institution rooted in our hometown of Los Angeles, and in California, even as we embrace cultural activity as a fully global phenomenon.

Maintaining a culture of belonging is important to us—we strive for a workplace where every single team member feels valued, supported, and heard. We believe in the power of creativity and seek opportunities for connection, collaboration, and learning between cultures and communities. We are committed to championing policies and practices that promote diversity, foster cultural equity, and sustain an environment of inclusivity. The Gallery is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and abilities. The Gallery does not discriminate, and does not permit discrimination against its employees, interns, volunteers, or applicants. We recognize our strengths lie in the broad range of individuals who contribute their time and talents to our mission, and we pledge to create a safe, accessible, and inclusive place to work.

The Gallery’s consistent growth, developed in tandem with its artists’ ambitions, occurs through the unique participation and contribution of each employee. We look for colleagues who are the most driven, the most talented, and the most creative. Every member of the Gallery’s team should aim for excellence and ingenuity, surpassing challenges and discovering new possibilities together. We value long-term commitment and loyalty, and in turn provide avenues for career advancement across all departments.

Responsibilities

• Manage the gallery’s publishing program, conceptualizing and developing 6 to 10 titles per year
• Plan, coordinate, review, and edit multiple books at any given time through all stages of the design, editing, and production process, maintaining detailed production schedules and working closely with and coordinating between artists, authors, designers, photographers, color specialists, copy editors, translators, etc.
• Edit and review gallery manuscripts and other gallery texts for content, style, and structure, checking for accuracy and errors; commission and work with writers both internally and externally
• Write gallery texts on an as-needed basis, including press releases, texts for sales and promotional needs, etc.
• Set, manage, and adhere to the overall publications budget and individual book budgets
• Select and manage editorial, design, production, and distribution partners and vendors
• Oversee collaboration and communication with gallery artists and ensure the highest quality reproductions of their artworks in collaboration with the Media Manager
• Review and approve all phases of editorial and print production
• Work with printing and shipping vendors to arrange for the safe, timely, and economical delivery of gallery publications
• Build and cultivate relationships with a wide network of writers, designers, and other creatives
• Develop and implement a plan for increased distribution, including collaboration with publishers and distributors
• Manage the gallery’s book-related retail efforts via the gallery’s e-commerce website
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team on promotional plans for new titles and all publication inventory; implement seasonal book sales; prepare promotional copy and press materials for internal and external use; coordinate photography shoots for new titles
• Various administrative duties, including prompt payment of vendor invoices, providing weekly updates on publications activities to stakeholders, organizing ingoing and outgoing packages, coordinating catalogue distribution lists, and arranging artist or vendor travel when applicable
• Approach the conceptualization and production of gallery publications and texts with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in mind; apply DEIA-related knowledge and learnings into individual workflow and departmental projects

Requirements

Our ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented and creative with exceptional organizational skills; an excellent verbal and written communicator; and possesses the ability to work successfully in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. We seek candidates who are extremely self-motivated, responsible, and efficient, and who hold a sincere appreciation for and experience with navigating diverse cultural spaces. In addition:

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, English, creative writing, journalism, or related field preferred
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in editorial production and/or editorial management experience at a gallery, museum, or art-focused publishing house; eight (8) to twelve (12) years of work experience preferred
• Superb writing, editing, and proofreading skills with proficiency in Chicago Manual of Style
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, including strong ability to communicate complex topics in a simple and factual way
• Exceptional attention to detail with proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, creatively troubleshoot, work independently and effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Knowledge of book development from initial conceptualization and design rounds to proofing, printing, and final product as well as publishing trends and competition
• Skills in a Mac-based environment required, including: Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Sheets) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Skills in the Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop) welcomed
• Basic knowledge of databases such as Artlogic or ArtBase / FileMaker preferred
• Fluency in multiple languages welcomed
• Access to reliable transportation for local meetings
• BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Compensation & Benefits:

• This is a full-time, salaried position at 40 hours per week.
• The pay scale for this position will be shared at the time of an initial phone interview.

Benefits for full-time employees, following a waiting period, include:

• Premium PPO medical insurance (fully subsidized, at no cost to employee)
• Vision insurance (fully subsidized, at no cost to employee)
• Dental and long-term disability insurance
• Paid personal and vacation days (starting at 13 days annually)
• Paid sick time (6 days annually)
• Paid holidays and floating holidays (10 days annually)
• Paid gallery closures (typically 8-10 days annually)
• Paid family leave
• Participation in a 401k retirement plan (with employer contribution)

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• This position is based in Los Angeles, CA.
• The gallery greatly values the health and safety of its employees, and is following all COVID-19 city, county, and state business guidelines for the pandemic.
• During the pandemic, approximately 60% of the work required of this position can be completed remotely, with weekly in-person work required. In addition, regular in-person meetings with artists and vendors throughout the Los Angeles area would be required.

How to apply

Please submit the following via email with the subject line “DKG LA: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL & PUBLICATIONS” to jobs@davidkordanskygallery.com:

• a cover letter detailing your previous experience
• a complete CV, including a summary of prior publications
• (2) 250-word recent writing samples relating to a contemporary artist or exhibition
• a PDF portfolio (no more than 10 pages) highlighting prior publications produced by the candidate (optional)

In your application, please note all relevant skills requested in the qualifications above.

BIPOC and LGTBQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with most, if not all, of the requested qualifications are invited to apply. Submissions including the above items will be prioritized. No phone or walk-in inquiries, please.