Position: Director of Publications

Manager: Deputy Director

Department: Publications

Status: Exempt

Date Updated: May 2026

F/T Monday-Friday

Pay Range

$128,000–$153,000

Application Deadline

June 30, 2026

Job Summary:

The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) seeks a dynamic and experienced publishing professional to serve as Director of Publications. The Director of Publications is responsible for leading publication functions for HNOC, a museum, publisher, and research center dedicated to the stewardship of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. 

Established in 1966, HNOC produces award-winning exhibitions, public programs, books, and multi-media. Our publishing program began in 1983 and encompasses over 50 nonfiction titles, including exhibition catalogs, artist and musician biographies, monographs, edited volumes, graphic novels, and more. HNOC also publishes the scholarly journal, the Tennessee Williams Annual Review.

The Director of Publications manages the editing, production, distribution, and inventory of HNOC books and journals; oversees the editing of all HNOC exhibition text; and serves as an internal and external ambassador for HNOC publications. The Director of Publications oversees a team of six editorial staff and directly supervises Managing and Senior Editors within the Publications Department. The ideal candidate will have experience in both museum publishing and staff leadership.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The below duties and responsibilities are essential core functions of this position. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

• Develops and maintains relationships with authors, prospective authors, vendors, and community stakeholders as well as with scholarly, museum, and publishing organizations, including through service on relevant external boards, committees, or advisory groups. 
• Represents HNOC and HNOC publications in the public. 
• Represents and advocates for HNOC’s interests when interacting with HNOC staff and board as well as with external constituencies, including but not limited to authors, consultants, vendors, prospective donors, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Bears responsibility for soliciting, reviewing, and evaluating both institutional and external book proposals. Makes recommendations to the President/CEO, Deputy Director, and the Board of Directors on potential book proposals.
• Bears responsibility for the end-product of all HNOC books, journals, and exhibition text, including virtual exhibitions and exhibition catalogues. Ensures that all HNOC publications are professional and high quality.
• Directly supervises the senior members of the publications team, ensuring that staff meet performance expectations and standards of conduct. Engages in employee relations activities such as delivering constructive and timely staff feedback, conducting performance reviews, and working to resolve performance or disciplinary issues.
• Effectively communicates with staff across the organization and role models appropriate professional behavior. 
• Prepares comprehensive short- and long-term departmental strategic plans, working with the Deputy Director as needed to ensure planning aligns with cross-divisional capacity and institutional goals.
• Serves as a member of HNOC’s leadership team, working with other division heads and staff to achieve institutional goals. 
• Prepares and manages an accurate annual budget. Works with Managing Editor to monitor spending and revenue.
• Oversees design and production of all publications. Works with project editor to coordinate project design, production, and delivery; develop project schedules and specs; and ensure the final product adheres to institutional standards. 
• Negotiates author and third-party contracts and works with members of HNOC’s Executive Council and legal advisor(s) to ensure standard publishing and design contracts are revised and updated as needed.
• Manages third-party vendors, suppliers, contractors, and authors by monitoring budgets, timelines, costs, and similar items to ensure that high-quality products are produced within financial and time constraints. 
• Oversees reprints, sales, distribution, and warehousing of HNOC publications.

Below are the minimum requirements necessary for this position.

• Bachelor’s degree in English, history, journalism, American studies, or related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively more responsible experience in editing and publishing. 
• Broad understanding of museum publishing.
• Strong leadership and staff management skills.
• Comprehensive ability and skill in editing, writing, and researching.
• Exceptional communication skills and attention to detail.
• Mastery of the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office and experience in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Knowledge of and ability in design, printing, book distribution, and inventory management.
• Knowledge of and ability to effectively develop and manage departmental budgets.
• Knowledge of publishing industry standards and best practices.
• Project management expertise and ability to manage the productivity of third parties as well as staff.
• Ability to work as part of a team and collaborate with others as well as demonstrated ability to work independently. 
• Ability to be flexible and responsive to an evolving work environment. 
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to meet deadlines.

Preferred Job Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in English, history, journalism, American studies, or related field.
• Minimum of three years of experience managing and developing staff.
• Familiarity with the Associated Press Style Guide and MLA Style Manual.
• Experience in scholarly editing and nonprofit publishing, preferably museum publishing.
• Reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position, move throughout the properties, operate a computer and other office machinery, and position self to work at workstation. The position requires the ability to lift boxes up to 40 pounds and may require training and certification for forklift operation. This position consistently communicates with co-workers and others and creates, observes, inspects, and assesses manuscripts, exhibition text, and other similar materials 

Benefits:

The Historic New Orleans Collection offers the following benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Medical, dental and vision insurance for employees and dependents (children and opposite or same sex spouse/domestic partners). Medical insurance includes treatment for gender dysphoria.
• Employer-paid life, long term disability, and AD&D insurance
• Optional critical illness or accidental injury insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Professional development and tuition assistance 
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off and 12 paid holidays per year 
• Gym membership
• Parking reimbursement 
• Work/life balance 
• Opportunity to work in the iconic French Quarter of New Orleans with passionate, engaged, and respectful colleagues 

The Historic New Orleans Collection centers diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion at the core of everything we do. We are committed to becoming a more diverse and inclusive workplace, an organization that epitomizes the best practices in our field, and a community institution that truly reflects and supports our visitors, our neighbors, and our home. To that end, we actively encourage and welcome applications from members of underrepresented and marginalized groups. We are committed to employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.