Employment Opportunities

Sorrell is pleased to partner with the San Antonio Book Festival (SABF) in its search for a new Executive Director. The mission of SABF is to unite readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture. Created in 2013 as a San Antonio Public Library Foundation program, its founding partners included the Texas Book Festival, the Central Library, and the Southwest School of Art. In 2019, the SABF became its own nonprofit organization, and since that time has continued to collaborate with local, national, and international institutions.  

The annual Spring Festival is a free, family-friendly event with a full day of author presentations, panel discussions, book sales, signings, and children and teen activities. Its 2024 author lineup included nearly 100 notable local, regional, and national authors participating in the Festival and several related events. The Festival’s  Authors in Schools program helps encourage a passion for reading among children and teens, pairing award-winning authors with underserved, low-income schools in its partner school districts to deliver presentations to hundreds of students, tell funny stories, share personal journeys, and describe the process of writing their books. The Get Lit Author Series helps SABF stay relevant on an ongoing basis, with various events featuring an author conversing with a respected figure in the San Antonio community. This Series furthers SABF’s mission of celebrating literary culture and offering literary programming to the general public throughout the year. Finally, SABF’s Spotlight program, in partnership with ATG Entertainment, provides center stage for a celebrated author of high renown and takes place at one of San Antonio’s historic theaters. Amor Towles was the featured author at the inaugural Spotlight event this Fall.   

For general information about the SABF, please refer to https://sabookfestival.org/.   

Position Overview 

The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the Book Festival and has general management and control of the affairs of SABF. The Executive Director oversees the organization’s operations, programs, and strategic plan. Other key duties involve fundraising, marketing, and community outreach. The position reports directly to the SABF Board of Directors. 

Core Responsibilities and Duties 

SABF’s Executive Director will focus on the following areas of responsibility: 

Board Governance: 

• Works with SABF Board of Directors to fulfill the organization’s mission with programs, strategic planning, and community outreach 

• Advises the Board of Directors on the condition of the organization and influencing factors 

• Responsible for communicating effectively with the Board of Directors and providing, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to function correctly and to make informed decisions 

SABF Mission and Strategy: 

• Assures the organization has a long-range strategy to achieve its mission and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress 

• Responsible for devising and implementing SABF programs that carry out the organization’s mission 

• Maintains a working knowledge of significant trends and developments in the literary field and publishing industry 

SABF Financial Performance and Sustainability: 

• Develops resources sufficient to ensure the financial health of SABF 

• Responsible for fiscal management that generally anticipates operating within an approved budget, ensures maximum resource utilization, and secures adequate funds to permit the organization to carry out its work 

• Responsible for submission to the Board of Directors of a proposed annual budget that accurately reflects the financial condition of SABF 

SABF Operations: 

• Oversees and implements appropriate resources to ensure that SABF operations are functioning smoothly 

• Responsible for the hiring and retention of competent, qualified staff, as well as the release of personnel, both paid staff and volunteers. 

• Responsible for signing all notes, agreements, and other instruments made and entered into on behalf of SABF 

• Ensures that job descriptions are developed, that regular performance evaluations are held, and that sound human resource practices are in place 

• Encourages staff development and education and assists SABF staff in relating their specialized work to SABF  

• Maintains a working climate that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff of top professionals 

• Maintains official records and documents and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations 

SABF Communications and Outreach: 

• Responsible for the enhancement of SABF’s image by being active and visible in the community and by working closely with other professional, civic, and private organizations 
• Serves as SABF’s primary spokesperson to the organization’s audience, other agencies, organizations, and the general public 

Key Skills and Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Five or more years of senior nonprofit management experience 

• High integrity leadership 

• Strong financial and management skills; experience with both contributed and earned revenue sources; ability to create and manage budgets and to reach benchmarks and deliverables, including required reporting; ability to analyze trends, project management deadlines, and performance metrics 

• Demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate with staff 

• Successful track record in fundraising and development processes, including the ability to raise funds creatively and obtain grants to support mission-focused work 

• Ability to convey a vision of SABF’s strategic future to staff, board, volunteers, and donors 

• Ability to interface and engage diverse donor and volunteer groups 

• Strong public speaking, written, and oral communication skills 
• Fluency and interest in using digital technologies to benefit the organization and its constituents 

Compensation 

Compensation and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.  

San Antonio as a Vibrant Literary and Cultural Community 

Anyone who has visited San Antonio knows the city’s richness in terms of its diversity and cultural heritage. San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, where opportunities are boundless. The SABF has become one of the city’s most highly respected cultural offerings, bringing visibility to the city and the region from across the country.  

Application and Referral Process 

Applicant review is underway and will continue until the candidate is selected. To nominate or be considered for this position, please contact Laura Sorrell at laura@sorrellco.com at 713.854.5351 or Priscilla Plumb at priscilla@sorrellco.com at 281.224.0881. All inquiries will be held in confidence. 

About Sorrell 

Sorrell is a highly relational provider of executive recruiting. Our mission is to partner with our clients to accelerate their efforts to attract, hire, and retain talent that impacts the organization’s future. For more information, call 713.840.1870.