Director, Special Collections Research Center at Temple University
Job Title: Director, Special Collections Research Center
Job Status: Full-time
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Salary: $80,000 and $110,000
Summary:
Join a collaborative and forward-thinking team at one of Philadelphia’s most vibrant research libraries. Temple University Libraries seeks an enthusiastic, innovative leader to direct its Special Collections Research Center. Temple University Libraries serves the Temple community and beyond, including close to 33,000 students; over 2,000 full-time faculty; and researchers and visitors on Main, Center City, and
Health Sciences Center campuses in Philadelphia and on our Ambler and Harrisburg campuses. We are committed to providing research and learning services, offering open access to our facilities and information resources, and fostering innovation and experimentation. Our collections total more than
four million physical and digital titles, over 275,000 print and electronic journal subscriptions, and more than 700 research databases. We also collect, preserve, and provide access to a broad universe of special collections, including rare books, manuscripts, archives, photographs, and more. As part of our library enterprise, the award-winning Temple University Press supports our mission to advance learning
and scholarship.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Dean of University Libraries and serving as part of the Libraries’ senior leadership team, the Director provides strategic direction for distinctive collections at Temple University and manages ongoing operations of the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), which includes the collections in the Urban Archives, the Philadelphia Jewish Archives, organization records from over 250 organizations based in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, Rare Books, & Manuscripts, Philadelphia Dance Collection, Contemporary Culture Collection, Artists’ Books Collection and Science Fiction Collection, and the University Archives and Conwellana-Templana Collection. Stewards and continues to enhance and develop Temple University’s distinctive collections with their emphasis on urban life in Philadelphia and oversees the operations of the Special Collections Research Center’s priorities for processing, preservation, access, reference and instructional services, and outreach. Supports flexible, crossorganizational involvement of the SCRC staff in multi-unit teams to advance the libraries’ educational and research mission in emerging areas. Performs other related duties as assigned.
This position requires a background check.
Required Education and Experience:
MLS from an ALA accredited library school or graduate degree in a relevant discipline. Five years of experience in managing archival or special collections program. Demonstrated professional experience leading special collections/archival services/operations. Experience supervising staff. Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with faculty and the library’s advancement professionals to initiate
and develop proposals for programs such as symposia, lectures, exhibitions, and scholarly discussions that highlight special collections, the research use of special collections, and the curricular and scholarly use of special collections and primary source material. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Required Skills and Abilities:
*Evidence of progressively increasing scope of supervisory and management responsibilities in an academic research library setting.
*Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of key issues and trends in special collections in academic research libraries.
*Evidence of a strategic understanding of important university and library issues of the 21st century.
*Demonstrated knowledge of the rare book trade.
*Demonstrated knowledge of visual resources and image collections.
*Demonstrated understanding of emerging technologies in archival and special collections.
*Demonstrated knowledge of evolving state of the art in digital preservation.
*Evidence of success in strategic planning and introducing and managing change in a complex environment.
*Evidence of success in budget planning and allocation in a large organization.
*Demonstrated success in fundraising, including grants.
*Evidence of continuing, progressive engagement and participation within the library and/or special collections/archival profession.
*Evidence of strong interpersonal and communications skills
Preferred Skills and Abilities:
*Certification by the Academy of Certified Archivists
Compensation:
Competitive salary and benefits package, including relocation allowance. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, and will range between $80,000 and $110,000.
To apply:
To apply for this position, please visit www.temple.edu, click on Careers at Temple at the bottom of the home page, and reference 23002557. For full consideration, please submit your completed electronic application, along with a cover letter and resume. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Temple University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to cultural diversity.
This job was sourced via the MuseWeekly newsletter.