TITLE: Director of Archives
STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt, Year Round
START DATE: September 2025
LOCATION: In-person
REPORTS TO: Associate Artistic Director
DEPARTMENT: Archives
SUPERVISES: Archivist, Digital Archivist
WORKS WITH:Â Director of Preservation
COMPENSATION: Grade 7: $90,000-$105,000
Benefits: Health, dental & vision insurance, FSA, 403 B employer contribution, paid time off, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, Employee Assistance Program
Schedule: Occasional weekend work and extra hours especially during the summer Festival
Summer Only: Three meals a day, free access to classes, performances, talks, and studio usage
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GENERAL SUMMARY
The Director of Archives ensures that Jacob’s Pillow's past is in active conversation with its present and future by guiding its Archives’ evolution through ongoing preservation efforts. The incoming director will facilitate and broaden access to the Archives for dance artists, scholars, curators, students, writers, staff, and the general public. This includes reviewing and establishing policies and practices for department priorities to align with Jacob’s Pillow values and mission to invite and welcome the full spectrum of dance aesthetics, cultures, and abilities who comprise the dance landscape. They will work with the Archives collections throughout their entire lifecycle including appraisal, accessioning, processing, cataloging, and preservation. They will also support the work of the Pillow’s curatorial team for live performance, exhibitions, public humanities, and digital content by identifying resources and facilitating access.Â
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RESPONSIBILITIES:
Archives Leadership
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Advances access to the Archives collections by facilitating a multiplicity of research opportunities for staff, artists, scholars, curators, students, writers and the general public to contribute to research, understanding, and dialogue regarding Jacob’s Pillow and its contributions to dance and the cultural vitality of the arts in the U.S. and globally.
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Oversees collection maintenance on current archival holdings (e.g. artwork, audio, moving image, paper, photographic, and textile materials).
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Manages appraisal and acquisitions of external materials by facilitating purchases and donations of archival objects and collections and of institutional records by creating and enacting policies and procedures for records management across the entire organization.
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Provides reference services to the general public, scholars, students, arts workers, curators, staff, donors, artists and journalists virtually and in person
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Processes and catalogs new acquisitions and existing unprocessed collections in accordance with institutional and national standards
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Heads disaster preparedness for archival collections in collaboration with institutional initiatives
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Oversees digitization and digital preservation projects
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Manages rights and clearances of archival materials for institutional and external use
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Manages building and environmental control of all spaces housing archival collection materials
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Represents the Pillow with the Archives Affinity Group of Dance/USA and attends its meetings.
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Provides orientation and access to the Archives for the general public, scholars, students, arts workers, curators, staff, donors, artists, and journalists with a focus on culturally sensitive context and a commitment to challenging conversations.
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Co-hosts Archives Reading Room Hours with the full archives team during the summer festival and throughout the year.
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Management
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Works with Associate Artistic Director and Executive and Artistic Director to align Archives vision and direction with the Pillow’s mission and strategic goals by providing analysis and recommendations to strengthen, reinforce, and identify opportunities for the Archives as well as for inter-departmental engagement;Â
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As department head, establishes a learning culture for year-round and seasonal staff and short-term and long-term department goals in alignment with the Pillow's overall strategy and values; ensures that resources (budget, personnel, and equipment) are delegated efficiently to achieve department goals; facilitates ongoing training, development, and evaluation opportunities for department staff and faculty; stays updated on institutional deadlines and action items for the department; and attends department head meetings and relevant cross-departmental meetings, such as long-term planning sessions.
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Supervises staff and select contractors.
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Prepares and monitors the department budget and financial plans, including expense approvals, and participation in capital campaigns.Â
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Inter-departmental Partnership
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Supports curatorial team programs by providing information and resources for curators, artists, writers, educators, and scholars’ engagements with the Pillow.
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Works with Philanthropy office on donor engagement as well as preservation-related proposals and projects.
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Participates in the editorial content team for Digital Crossroads.Â
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Works cross-departmentally to ensure documentation of in person and digital programming aligns with archival needs and best practices
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Fact checks accuracy of Pillow history in programs, press releases, and donor/member communications.
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Composes articles on historical subjects and preservation issues for in-house publications (e.g., newsletter, annual report) and outside media.
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Advises on preservation priorities for buildings and other aspects of the physical site.
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Pursues special history-related projects (i.e., nomination to the National Register of Historic Places; National Historic Landmark designation, and National Medal of Arts).
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Coordinates the Pillow’s College Partners Research Fellows Program, inviting qualified scholars and overseeing all visit aspects.
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Conducts special campus tours and talks (for VIPs, visiting scholars, etc.), as requested.
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Works with Pillow Store management and/or consultants to identify archival images to be used in product development.
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Performs additional duties, as assigned.
