Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the award-winning, non-profit independent record label of the Smithsonian Institution, seeks a contractor who will support the royalty operations of the label by ensuring that artists, songwriters, and music publishers receive their royalties in a timely manner. The ideal candidate is highly organized, has good Excel skills, and likes to work with people.

Hours: 30-40 hours per week during business hours, Monday-Friday
Term: 6 months
Hourly rate: commensurate with experience
Location: hybrid remote with onsite work 1 day each week to process mail at the Smithsonian Folkways offices near the National Mall in Washington, DC.
How to Apply: send your resume and a cover letter with your proposed hourly rate to royalties@si.edu by 5pm ET on Friday, June 2.

Duties:
– Serves as the point of contact for royalty-related inquiries from artists, songwriters, and music publishers
– Handles mail, monitors the royalties phone line and email account
– Drafts correspondence, answers phone calls, and follows up with other departments as needed to ensure that all inquiries are promptly addressed
– Maintains the royalty database by updating work tickets and contact/payment information
– Scans and uploads documents to databases
– Processes vendor applications to create accounts in the financial system
– Coordinates royalty claims and obtains documentation for royalty transfers
– Conducts research to establish contact with artists or their heirs
– Records incoming royalties and processes sales data
– Assists in production and distribution of royalty statements

Qualifications:
– Undergraduate degree, preferably in a business-related field
– 2-3 years of administrative experience in a business environment
– Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
– Self-motivated and highly organized; ability to meet deadlines is a must
– Strong customer service orientation; must be able to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds in a courteous and professional manner
– Keen attention to detail; must be able to enter numbers and perform calculations with accuracy

The following are not required, but would be a plus:
– Accounting, bookkeeping, or music business experience
– Proficiency in Spanish
– Experience working with databases (e.g., Filemaker Pro or Access)