The Program Assistant (PA) will work closely with colleagues across the institution to ensure that the Institute’s scholarly programs run smoothly. The PA manages logistics for the scholarly programs, including but not limited to: travel and lodging agreements; seminar setup, including making room reservations, displaying rare materials, and arranging for audio-visual displays; processing payment requests; managing closed listservs; responding to inquiries about the programs; maintaining online resources; processing program participant applications; generating rejection and acceptance letters; and soliciting feedback from attendees. The PA supports visiting faculty, directors, and participants in the program in a variety of ways, including answering their logistical questions about working in a new environment, fostering their research goals, arranging for collections material to be available for use, and ensuring that materials are prepared for seminars. The PA collaborates with colleagues to maintain and improve online resources, databases, and local area guides. The PA will also draft minutes of meetings, compile reports, and participate in grant application processes. This position is full time, Monday through Friday, with a generous benefits package. Occasional evenings and weekends are required to provide program support. To accommodate upcoming Folger renovation, some travel will be required to assist with offsite, partnered programming at Institute consortium universities beginning in January 2020.

Applicants for this position are required to have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2 years professional experience in an administrative role in an academic, non-profit, or humanities research environment. This position requires excellent interpersonal, problem solving, analytical, communication, and organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple projects with competing deadlines. Strong written communication and editing skills are required, as is enthusiasm for working in a team environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office products and SQL-based databases is needed. Knowledge of the literature and history of the early modern period (c. 1450-1750) is helpful.