The Folger Shakespeare Library knows that an exceptional staff is the backbone of any great organization. We hire exceptionally qualified individuals who are committed to the mission, vision, and values of our organization. Our recruitment process strives to be interactive, accessible, and responsive. Once employed, the Folger provides a generous compensation, leave, and benefits package, as well as many opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The Folger Shakespeare Library is Searching for Its Next Director
Learn more about the search, apply, or nominate a candidate at Isaacson, Miller.
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Employee benefits
The Folger Shakespeare Library wants to attract and retain the highest quality staff. Accordingly, we are committed to providing a competitive benefits package, including: an extensive range of health, dental, life and disability insurance benefits; considerable retirement contributions through TIAA-CREF; educational assistance programs for staff members and their dependents; generous sick and annual leave; and other programs and services. You can find an overview of these benefits below, and more detailed information will be provided during the recruitment process.
Health, vision and dental benefits
We provide comprehensive individual health and dental coverage through CareFirst (BlueCross BlueShield), free of cost to all eligible employees. Employees have the option to purchase coverage for their families, or buy up to a different plan. The Folger also covers 50-80% of the deductible (depending on plan chosen) through an HRA account, a value of either $2,500 or $5,000 per fiscal year.
All plans include coverage for prescription drugs, vision insurance, and mental health coverage. Folger employees may also elect into a Flexible Spending Plan to pay for eligible health and dependent care expenses with pre-tax salary dollars.
Retirement savings plan
We offer a retirement savings plan through TIAA-CREF. Employees are eligible to contribute electively immediately upon hire; after two years of credited service, the Folger will contribute 6.8% regardless of employee contribution and will contribute up to 9% based off of employee contributions. Pre- and post-tax options are available. Please note that the two year waiting period may be satisfied by previous service at an “educational organization”.
Time off and leave
We offer eligible employees sick and safe leave, annual leave, personal leave, and paid holidays. Regular, full-time exempt employees accrue 1.25 vacation days per month, for a maximum of 15 days during their first year. Beginning with their 13th month of employment, they accrue 2 vacation days per month. There is a maximum accrual of 30 days of annual vacation leave.
All full-time employees are provided with 5 days of personal leave annually to use during the calendar year for personal or emergency nature, available at the start of employment.
Sick leave is accrued one day per month of service, to a maximum of 130 days. In addition, the Folger offers multiple leave options to accommodate individual circumstances.
Educational assistance and professional development
All employees who are seeking to earn a degree or professional certificate are eligible to apply for educational assistance from the Folger Office of Human Resources. Professional development opportunities are available institution-wide, and through individual departments.
In addition, tuition assistance is available to the dependent children of eligible employees who are seeking higher education.
Life, disability, and long-term care insurance
We provide group life insurance and disability insurance to all eligible employees free of cost. Employees may buy additional life insurance for themselves, their spouse or domestic partner, and their dependent children. Employees may also purchase voluntary long-term care insurance, with payroll deduction for premiums. We also offer Aflac Critical Care Insurance and have partnered with Pet Benefits Solutions to offer two pet insurance plans to fit your needs.
Transit benefits
All regular full-time employees are eligible to elect up to the federal maximum per month in transportation costs for the Metro and bus services and up to the federal maximum for parking in the Washington, DC area. These dollars are excluded from income for federal, state and social security tax purposes.
Employees receive $50 a month to use towards transportation costs. Still working remote or in a hybrid capacity? No problem! All employees will receive this and those remote/hybrid can use it towards other costs such as purchasing new running shoes or internet bills!
Other benefits
Working at the Folger Shakespeare Library has many benefits, including free and discounted tickets to our performances, access to exciting and unique lectures and scholarly programming, a collegial and collaborative environment with many opportunities for socializing, and valuable services like our Employee Assistance Program. We also have financial options—such as pre-tax accounts for transit, medical costs, and dependent care—that help our employees make the most of their money.
Get involved as an intern or volunteer
There are many ways to get involved with the Folger Shakespeare Library beyond normal employment. Learn more about our various internship and volunteer opportunities and their application processes below!
Internships
The Folger Shakespeare Library offers a variety of paid internship opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to gain hands-on experience. We pride ourselves on creating immersive experiences for our interns to learn about the daily operations of an independent research library with a vigorous set of cultural and educational programs.
We do not currently have internships available for 2024.
Volunteer opportunities
Become the first face of the Folger for the public by volunteering at the Folger Shakespeare Library! Folger volunteers play an essential role to the function of the library by participating in a variety of ways ranging from exhibition tour guides to performance ushers.