Photography

JOB DUTIES
Geoffrey Biddle, a documentary photographer based in Berkeley, CA is seeking a Studio Manager / EA to support his diverse and expanding responsibilities. This position is full time, temp to long-term, pending a three-month trial period. The position is a hybrid role, providing professional support to a working photographer with a deep historical archive, and ancillary duties that help the studio run on a day to day basis (akin to an office manager or EA). The Studio Manager will be reporting directly to Biddle as well as the Studio’s longtime New York-based studio manager, and Biddle’s daughter and collaborator, Eve Biddle. The Studio Manager will have a strong role in helping to shape administrative, strategic, and operational processes.
The ideal candidate for this position has “an eye,” in the artistic sense, and that eye is ideally backed up with curatorial training and experience. They aspire to work with photographs to communicate ideas, and can confidently communicate those ideas. The candidate possesses a service-oriented personality with exceptional and sensitive communication skills. They will be conscientious, meticulous, and organized in managing a broad spectrum of responsibilities — both large and small. This position provides artistic support; administrative support; office management; archive/database management; and meeting, event, and travel coordination.

We are seeking a proactive, hardworking, and experienced person to join our team in Berkeley. Sensitivity to confidential matters is mandatory and an NDA is required. This is a FT position, mostly daytime hours, but some weekends and evenings may be required. A mix of in-person and remote as required (with COVID protocols adhered to). A relocation/moving bonus is available for the right candidate. Salary range between 75K and 85K annually, commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

ARTISTIC & ARCHIVAL:
With guidance from Biddle and/or Archivist in NYC, managing the inventory and archiving of Biddle’s artwork, including prints, contact sheets, and originals, and helping to create and maintain an inventory and archive (maintaining a FileMaker database, updating archive and Lightroom with tags and new prints, digital asset management system, and inventory management system), and all ancillary duties including, but not limited to, logistics, licensing, tracking, communication, technical support, and technology R&D.
Facilitating the artist’s day-to-day and long term work and personal/professional/creative time by keeping the studio running smoothly on a daily basis (including, at times, running errands or EA/PA work).
Liaising with outside vendors and Biddle’s longtime printer, Ryan Speth.

ADMINISTRATIVE, PROJECT & OFFICE MANAGEMENT:
Managing the day-to-day administrative duties of Biddle. Manage the shared calendar, including scheduling meetings (in person and via Zoom/phone), private/family appointments, travel arrangements, conferences, and social events. Track time spent on various projects.
Processing incoming correspondence and invoices. Provide general support by sorting, scanning, and following up with appropriate action. Address questions regarding payments and keep records of transactions.
Completing office tasks including faxing, emailing, filing, mailing and deliveries. Will include tasks related to his family responsibilities.
Preparing for meetings by generating agendas, researching attendees, taking notes (as required), providing follow-up summaries, ordering lunch, etc.
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date hardcopy and electronic files.
Coordinating ongoing maintenance of office space and acting as liaison with building management on any office-related issues.
Coordinating with outsourced IT consultants on technology-related issues.

COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS:
Establishing and maintaining positive relationships on Biddle’s behalf as it pertains to his work (with particular attention to California galleries and institutions).
Helping to make introductions to the work to individuals and institutions in order to increase visibility and placement of the work with dealers, collectors, galleries, and institutions, as well as publication in magazines and/or archival books or collections.
Managing external contacts, proactively understanding who they are and keeping track of communications and contact information.
Maintaining and tracking Biddle’s professional website updates, including press coverage and publications, as well as monitoring and maintaining his larger web presence (as needed, and with the support of other staff).
Responding to and handling confidential and sensitive information with poise, professionalism, and diplomacy.

Qualifications:

REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum 2 years of experience supporting an artist, photographer, or similar preferred.
Professional or academic experience in Photography Studio management, Curatorial/Institutional Art settings (museum, gallery, or similar), or Art Historian preferred.
High proficiency with office applications including G-Suite, Word, and Excel; ability to learn and guide new platforms, organize digital data, and oversee the organization’s other management systems including password software required.
Lightroom and Filemaker competency required.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships effectively with all levels of team members, advisors, and outside contacts, including press, and media requests, network events and opportunities, and social media required.
Excels in partnership with a verbal communicator. Should be able to distill a conversation into action items with long-term follow up.
Highly organized.
Excellent references and a clean background check (due to the nature of the position, a background check will be conducted prior to the start of employment).

ASSETS:
Knowledge of, proficiency in, and deep contacts with California-based galleries, art and photography institutions, and dealers is an asset.
Experience and familiarity with photography production and techniques, including fabrication and mounting of shows, project management/timelines, and delegation is an asset.
High proficiency with technology, particularly with complex database systems (ClickUp, Airtable, Salesforce or similar) is an asset.
Project management experience to successfully oversee assigned tasks of varying complexity with overlapping and interrelated deadlines is an asset.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a CV and cover letter (including a live link to your creative work as appropriate) as a single PDF document to biddlestudiojob@gmail.com. Your submission should adhere to the following naming convention: LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_BiddleStudioMgr.pdf.

Any improperly formatted submissions will be disqualified. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.