ITHAKA’s mission is to expand access to knowledge and education around the world. Our services — Artstor, JSTOR, Portico, and Ithaka S+R — enable people everywhere to learn, to grow, and to overcome historical barriers to education. In carrying out our mission, as employees we feel a deep responsibility to each other and our well-being, and are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
The Role
ITHAKA is seeking a Director, Business Development who will play a pivotal role in expanding the reach and impact of a new, innovative service aimed at supporting special collections and archives. In this role, you will focus on driving growth, fostering partnerships, and building global awareness of solutions that address collection processing, cataloging, content management, and preservation needs. This position will work collaboratively with our Product team, Partner and Contributor Services, Education and Participant Success. The ideal candidate will be a passionate advocate for libraries, deeply committed to helping institutions amplify their work and maximize their value to their communities and stakeholders. Join us in empowering libraries and archives around the world to amplify their impact and preserve cultural heritage for future generations!
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership (25%)
- Develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy to increase the adoption and awareness of ITHAKA’s special collection and archives services globally.
- Collaborate with the executive team to define growth objectives and align initiatives with organizational goals.
- Identify and analyze market trends, opportunities, and challenges within the library and archives sector.
Partnership Development (25%)
- Establish and nurture relationships with libraries, academic institutions, archives, and other cultural heritage organizations.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to understand their unique needs and position the organization as a trusted partner.
- Build strategic alliances with technology providers, funding agencies, and related not-for-profits to enhance service offerings.
Sales (30%)
- Lead efforts to secure new participants, focusing on libraries and archives seeking solutions for collection processing, cataloging, content management, and preservation.
- Design and deliver compelling presentations, proposals, and pitches tailored to diverse audiences.
- Represent the organization at global conferences, workshops, and networking events to promote services and thought leadership.
Marketing and Communication (10%)
- Partner with marketing teams to develop impactful campaigns and materials that articulate the value of the ITHAKA’s services.
- Advocate for the importance of special collections and archives, positioning ITHAKA as a leader in supporting these critical resources.
- Create case studies, white papers, and other thought leadership content to showcase success stories and best practices.
Team Collaboration/Management (10%)
- As the organization grows, build and manage a highly focused business development team (1-2 direct reports).
- Work closely with product, project, and service delivery teams to ensure participant needs are met effectively.
- Provide feedback from the field to guide the development and refinement of services and solutions.
- Collaborate with other department stakeholders including outreach account owners and customer success team members to support a seamless participant experience.
- Provide leadership and expertise on business development best practices and organizational values.
Experience and Skills
- 12+ years of experience in business development, partnerships, or sales, ideally in the library, cultural heritage, or technology sectors.
- Bachelor’s degree in library science, business, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience..
- Proven track record of driving revenue growth and building lasting partnerships.
- Deep understanding of library operations, special collections, and archives workflows.
- Excellent skills in negotiation, relationship-building, and effective communication.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
- Proficiency with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and data-driven decision-making.
- Exceptional presentation skills with a talent for storytelling.
- Passion for supporting libraries and cultural heritage institutions.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive approach to identifying and seizing opportunities.
- Collaborative spirit and ability to work across diverse teams and geographies.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally required (30-50%)
Work Authorization and Sponsorship
ITHAKA is not currently considering candidates who require any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States.
Compensation and Benefits
At ITHAKA we believe in openness and equity. Part of living those values is our commitment to clarity about salary ranges, so candidates know what to expect. The starting salary for this position ranges from $127,729 - $159,661 per year. Starting pay may vary with job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. At present, our total compensation package for benefits-eligible employees includes medical, dental, and vision plans, an employer-paid 10% retirement contribution, paid parental and caregiver leave, 22 days of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, up to 12 sick days, wellness benefits, and more. Please note that ITHAKA, at its discretion, may make changes to its benefits programs from time to time.
#LI-JS1 #LI-REMOTE
Work for ITHAKA
We are committed to our organizational values of belonging, evidence, speed, teamwork, and trust. We take inclusion seriously. Belonging is one of our core values, and it shows in our vibrant culture. People from a wide range of backgrounds work at ITHAKA, and we believe that unique perspectives help us realize new insights and build better solutions.
We want to work with people who are passionate about ideas like these and who wish to contribute their perspectives and talents to ITHAKA’s mission. We enthusiastically welcome applications from people of all underrepresented backgrounds and credentials. We want to hear your story and include your perspective in the transformative work we aim to do.
Learn more about Working at ITHAKA.
Apply Now:
Although ITHAKA has physical offices in New York and Ann Arbor, Michigan, our employees are distributed across the continental United States. At this time, we’re not considering candidates who are unable to work and reside in the continental U.S.
Candidates may apply by submitting an application online through our career site, if you have any questions about your application, please contact us at careers@ithaka.org. ITHAKA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, if there’s anything we can do to accommodate any portion of the application or hiring process, please contact us at accommodations@ithaka.org.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, domestic violence victim status, veteran status, disability, history of disability or perceived disability, or other status protected by law. We invite you to read our Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Statement. ITHAKA cares about your privacy, learn more about our Applicant Privacy Notice.
