The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR) seeks to appoint a new Executive Director. This part-time position will officially begin on 1 August 2025, but will include a one-year stint as assistant to the current Executive Director, beginning on 1 August 2024, in order to facilitate the transition. The term of appointment is five years with the possibility of renewal, and compensation will be commensurate with skills and experience.
Candidates should be SHAFR members and have experience or demonstrated aptitude in these areas: embracing SHAFR’s research and teaching missions; administering a program or organization; managing budgets, finances, and business procedures; supervising conference and event planning; embracing intellectual diversity and dynamic change; and handling both routine and sensitive communications with SHAFR members and others.
Because the SHAFR Business Office will be located at the candidate’s home institution, the successful candidate will need some form of institutional support from their home university, including dedicated workspace and permission to engage in paid external work; other arrangements, such as course reduction and conference travel funds, are highly desirable.
The core duties of the Executive Director include:
• Facilitating the work of the SHAFR President and governing Council, including planning two or more Council meetings per year; setting the meeting agenda and advising Council members on issues; implementing Council decisions; and drafting minutes of Council meetings.
• Managing all finances, including administering SHAFR checking and savings accounts and disbursing funds appropriately; working with SHAFR’s bookkeeper and accountant to provide safeguards for SHAFR funds ensuring proper accounting of all transactions; registering all deposits and payments; monitoring the endowment in consultation with the Ways & Means Committee and the Endowment Liaison; and preparing annual and mid-year reports for Council meetings.
• Administering legal matters, including working with a professional CPA to complete tax forms and other mandatory paperwork; consulting legal counsel as needed; impartially administering SHAFR By-Laws; and proposing amendments to Council and overseeing procedures for making amendments.
• Administering annual elections, including consulting with the Nominating Committee; overseeing elections; and communicating results in accordance with the By-Laws.
• Facilitating communications and outreach, including working with the editor of Passport; overseeing the website in consultation with the IT Director and Electronic Communications Committee; sending regular e-blasts to membership; and liaising with other professional societies.
• Overseeing the distribution of grants, fellowships, and prizes, including the facilitation of presidential appointments to various prize committees; briefing committee members on their duties; notifying winners and preparing prize checks, certificates, and plaques; and organizing awards ceremonies.
• Planning events, including Council meetings; collaborating with SHAFR’s Conference Consultant, President, Program Committee, and Local Arrangements Committee on all aspects of the annual conference; advising officers on appointment of Conference Consultant and of Program and Local Arrangements Committees.
• Directing staff, including but not limited to the Assistant to the Executive Director, Conference Consultant, IT Director, and ad hoc contractors
• Performing other duties deemed by the elected officers as essential to the success of SHAFR; maintaining necessary records; and generally working to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the organization.
Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, CV, and the names of three references to: Search Committee Chair David L. Anderson at [email protected]. Review of applications will begin on 15 January 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Please direct any questions to the search committee chair or current Executive Director Amy Sayward at [email protected].