Director, Special Collections and Archives
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- 1 day ago Post Date
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- 25004125 Requisition #
The University of Iowa Libraries seeks a dynamic, strategic, and collaborative Director of Special Collections and Archives (Library Director PLB4/6A classification). Reporting to the Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Distinctive Collections, the director will provide visionary leadership and direction to the programs, services, operations, collections management, and initiatives of the University of Iowa Special Collections and Archives. The director oversees a department of approximately 20 librarians and archivists and 20+ graduate assistants and student employees. They provide leadership, guidance for, and oversight of multiple repositories including the Iowa Women’s Archives, University Archives, and the Iowa Archives of the Avant-garde.
The successful candidate will be passionate about special collections and archives and enthusiastic about the unique role these materials play in advancing teaching and learning, research, and creative work. They will be an expert in the knowledge and practice of building archival, manuscript, and rare book research collections in various physical and digital formats, stewarding those collections, and in donor relations. They will develop collaborative and productive relationships with other areas within the Libraries and shape a vision for Special Collections and Archives complementary to those interests.
Key Areas of Responsibilities and Job Duties
Leadership/Staff and Resource Management/Financial Responsibility
- Provide visionary leadership and direction for a department of 40+ staff including librarians, archivists, graduate assistants, and student employees, fostering a work environment that embraces team leadership and the University Libraries’ stated values of service, collaboration, integrity, creativity, openness, stewardship, and respect for differences.
- Model leadership and provide mentorship, advocacy, and support to department staff and foster professional growth.
- Identify and advocate for preservation environments and other collections storage needs in close collaboration with Libraries Conservation and Collections Care and Libraries facilities.
- Create and align departmental initiatives with Libraries and university strategic goals, oversee program development and evaluation, and manage resources in support of the Libraries’ mission.
- In collaboration with the University Librarian, the AUL for Distinctive Collections, and the Associate Director of Development, cultivate relationships with current and prospective donors and identify departmental engagement opportunities that provide meaningful ways to help donors achieve their desired philanthropic impact.
- Work in partnership with the Associate Director of Development to ensure a coordinated donor-centric approach to tracking and acknowledging gifts-in-kind for Special Collections and Archives.
- In consultation with the AUL for Distinctive Collections recommend use and report on use of over 20 advancement funds consistent with donor intent and Libraries fiscal strategies.
- Actively participate in the University Libraries Operations and Management Council (OMC) and the AUL for Distinctive Collections Portfolio Directors Leadership Team.
- Engage in collaborative initiatives with campus partners, including the Stanley Museum of Art; Pentacrest Museums; as well as university colleges and schools or programs and with state and regional partners, including Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.
- Seek and facilitate new partnerships and opportunities for Libraries engagement with other campus units in alignment with the Libraries’ strategic plan and with the department’s capacity and resources.
- Identify relevant grant prospects and other opportunities for innovative work in special collections and archives.
Instruction, Consultation, Outreach, and Research Support
- Provide direction for an established and staffed Special Collections and Archives instruction program that meets the university’s commitment to teaching, learning, and research in partnership with campus faculty by providing students with exceptional educational experiences through the integration of special collections and archives into coursework and providing instruction to teach critical thinking, information literacy, and research skills.
- Provide direction for and guide outreach and exhibition programming to engage with Libraries, campus, and external partners in alignment with Libraries and university priorities.
Select, Acquire, Organize, Preserve, and Provide Information Resources and Services
- Determine strategic direction for collection development within Special Collections and Archives and oversee application, with an eye for filling gaps in collecting areas and for project priorities, as well as ensure complementary alignment with collections in Iowa, Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) schools, and other relevant institutions.
- Provide direction and oversight for research and public services.
- Curate manuscripts and rare books collecting areas outside the scope of other curators’ areas, with responsibility for guiding collection development and collection management, including advising on cataloging and processing prioritization.
- Explore new areas for collection development and opportunities to expand on existing collection strengths and to enhance current campus priorities, especially in ways that support new curricular programs, welcome a wider cross-section of the campus community, while working in close coordination with other staff both inside and outside of the department.
- Informed by Special Collections and Archives staff, serve as chief strategist for the identification of Special Collections and Archives materials to be digitized and made available.
- Sensitively work with gifts-in-kind donors to ensure smooth transfer of materials.
- Ensure that policies and procedures are consistent with professional best practices for Libraries and cultural heritage collections.
- In conversation with staff, oversee regular assessment of policies and procedures and develop strategies to improve staff work satisfaction while increasing productivity and streamlining workflows.
Continuous Learning and Skills Development
- Keep abreast of developments in impactful academic library leadership and management as well as special collections and archives standards and trends, applying new rules, interpretations, and techniques as appropriate.
- Grow and maintain leadership skills including skills to support professional development of staff that contribute to their teamwork and collaborative effectiveness as well as to their individual career goals.
- Grow knowledge of cultures, languages, materials, and other ancillary subjects related to collections.
Professional Contributions
- Contribute to the profession through service, research, publishing, and/or teaching.
- Participate in and contribute to relevant Libraries and university-wide activities and committees.
Required Education:
- A graduate degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited institution or international equivalent, archival studies, or a related field with a focus on special collections or archives management.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum of six years of progressively responsible experience working with special collections and rare books or archives in a research library.
- A minimum of three years of progressively responsible staff management and development experience in a research library or similar setting.
- Ability to articulate a vision for the value of special collections and archives to learning, teaching, research, and community engagement.
- Demonstrated ability to foster environments of teamwork and collaboration.
- Deep and broad knowledge of best practices in special collections and archives including collections development and management of analog, digitized, and born-digital materials; ethical purchasing and acceptance of gifts-in-kind; digital preservation; archival description; cataloging; special collections security; as well as copyright and intellectual property issues.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience with programs to integrate special collections and archives in research, curricular and co-curricular use, and community engagement.
- Experience working with prospective donors to cultivate gifts of collections and the ability to establish and maintain successful donor relationships.
- Experience building and maintaining effective partnerships and collaborations between the Libraries, academic departments, and university community.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work successfully in a collaborative environment with a broad range of people including colleagues, administrators, students, faculty, alumni, and donors.
- Demonstrated ability to support a welcoming and respectful environment in a job-related experience, an academic setting, and/or the community.
Desired Qualifications:
- Additional advanced professional or academic degree in a relevant subject area.
- Classwork, certifications, concentrations, or additional degree(s) in special collections, archives, the history of the book, or other relevant disciplines.
- Demonstrated success working collaboratively with university advancement staff in fundraising, including individual and corporate gifts.
- Successful track-record developing, writing, and managing grants.
- Demonstrated experience with budgeting and strategic planning.
- Basic understanding of metadata standards and schemas for describing special collections, rare books, and archives.
- Demonstrated understanding of the mission of a research university and the mission and functions of a large research library.
Application Details:
In order to be eligible for interview, applicants must upload the following and mark them as “relevant files” when you upload the documents:
- Cover letter that clearly addresses how you meet each of the required and any desired qualifications of this position. To ensure strongest consideration, applicants are encouraged to review all required qualifications and state directly how they meet each of them.
- Current resume
This job ad will be posted through August 17, 2025, and may be removed from posting and filled any time after that date. Please contact andrea-rost@uiowa.edu if you have any questions about the position.
The hiring salary range for this position is $75,000 - $120,000.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
This position is eligible for on-campus and/or hybrid remote work within Iowa, with the majority of work time being on campus, and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.
Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success.
Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance.
Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation.
Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.
Equal opportunity/affirmative action employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
