Head of Special Collections
Description:
The University of Houston (UH) Libraries seeks a collaborative, forward thinking leader to serve as Head of the Special Collections department, which oversees rare books, archival collections, and University Archives. The Head of Special Collections provides strategic leadership, vision, and operational management for the department in alignment with the Libraries’ strategic goals.
Reporting to the Associate Dean for Special Collections and Preservation, the Head of Special Collections collaboratively develops priorities, initiatives, and workflows for the department and engages in all aspects of special collections stewardship. This includes guiding collection development across all collecting areas, providing high-level oversight of archival processing and space management, and supporting research, engagement, and instruction. The Head of Special Collections works collaboratively with the Preservation and Reformatting department on shared approaches and initiatives related to collection care, reformatting projects, digital preservation, and collections-related disaster planning. This position also manages all department personnel, providing coaching and support for effective goal setting and professional development.
The Head of Special Collections is a promotion-eligible librarian position. Librarians hold academic rank pursuant to the University of Houston Libraries’ Bylaws and are expected to develop a record of service, scholarship, and professional involvement. UH Libraries supports the ongoing professional development of librarians, and our goal is to recruit librarians committed to continuous learning.
The University of Houston prepares students to thrive in a globally interconnected world while contributing impactful research and innovation to the region and beyond. We welcome candidates who are prepared to engage in this environment.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited program
- Experience managing special collections or archives in a library, museum, or related field.
- Demonstrated knowledge of special collections stewardship best practices, current issues, and trends for provisioning a robust program of research support engaged with primary sources
- Demonstrated ability to provide vision and leadership for a library department
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated awareness of ethical and legal frameworks for managing cultural heritage collections.
- Experience establishing collecting priorities and strategies in collaboration with organizational leadership
- Experience working effectively with external stakeholders, including community partners and donors
Salary: Salary is dependent on qualifications and rank. Department head salary ranges are $90,000-$92,000 for Assistant Librarians, $97,000-$99,000 for Associate Librarians. Comprehensive benefits package; choice of retirement programs, including TIAA; tax-deferred annuity program available; release time to take a class up to 3 hours/week; no state or local income tax.
How to Apply: Apply at https://careers.uh.edu/jobs/head-of-special-collections-librarian-houston-texas-united-states. Applications must include a cover letter, CV or resume, contact information for three (3) professional references, and an unofficial transcript reflecting ALA-accredited library/information science degree. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Visit the UH Libraries Employment page at https://libraries.uh.edu/about/employment/. Potential applicants seeking further information should contact Santi Thompson, Associate Dean for Librarian Affairs and Operations, at 713-743-9685 or [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
About the Libraries, UH, and Houston: UH Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance, HathiTrust, the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Digital Library Federation, the Texas Digital Library, Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, and the South Central Academic Medical Libraries Consortium. The Libraries provide access to more than 3.1 million volumes, and our total staff is 160 FTE, including 62 professional librarians. Additional information about UH Libraries is available at https://libraries.uh.edu. UH Libraries’ 2021-2027 strategic plan (https://libraries.uh.edu/strategic-plan) is in alignment with the University’s ambitious strategic plan (https://uh.edu/strategic-plan/).
A dynamic research institution founded in 1927, UH stands as a vibrant hub of academic excellence and cultural diversity in Texas. With more than 46,000 students, it offers a comprehensive range of programs across 15 colleges, fostering innovation in fields such as energy, health, hospitality, business, education, law, STEM, and the humanities. UH takes pride in its top-tier faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, student success initiatives, and strong commitment to community engagement. The University is an institutional member of the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, and its prime location in America’s fourth-largest city supports extensive industry partnerships and experiential learning opportunities.
Houston thrives as a hub for innovation, education, and arts, fostering a unique blend of community charm and modern progress. Known for its energy industry and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston is home to a vibrant cultural scene with world-class museums, theaters, and restaurants.
Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidate.
All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.
The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.
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