Job Summary:

The Director for Special Collections and Archives leads UTA Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives. This includes the development and implementation of strategic and operational goals that embrace open archives and a progressive role for special collections and archives in the student experience and faculty research. Collaboration with colleagues within UTA Libraries and across UTA is critical for strategic initiatives to promote access and discovery, experiential learning, open scholarship, and diverse public engagement. The director must demonstrate a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives that grow and develop our staff, collections, and outreach to our community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Administration

• Provides leadership, vision, and organizational structure for primary archives domains (including acquisitions, accessions, processing, preservation, reference, outreach, and promoting universal access) and the continued growth of Special Collections and Archives that prioritizes open archives, global and universal access to our unique collections, and innovative engagement in the student experience and faculty research.
• Collaborates to create digitization and metadata workflows that support universal access by global and diverse audiences.
• Develops and manages departmental budget.
• Modernizes archival functions and develops benchmarks for assessment.
• Promotes collaborative relationships with faculty, Libraries’ public services staff, and community partners to fully integrate archives into the curricula and student experience.

Development, Grants, and Outreach

• Coordinates development and outreach programs for Special Collections and Archives in collaboration with University development staff, the Dean of UTA Libraries, other Directors and Department Heads, and Special Collections and Archives staff.
• Develops and fosters relationships with donors and prospective donors of collection materials and funding to enhance the holdings and programming of Special Collections and Archives.
• Identifies grant opportunities and works to create proposals in support of Special Collections and Archives projects.
• Engages is professional development, scholarship, and outreach that centers on the work and collections of UTA Libraries and Special Collections and Archives.

Libraries’ Leadership

• As a member of the Dean’s Department Heads and Directors leadership team, the Director of Special Collections and Archives will actively engage in planning and implementing innovative services for the UTA Libraries.
• Advance departmental, Libraries, and university goals.
• Advocate for equity, diversity, justice, and inclusive practices throughout Special Collections and UTA Libraries.
• Participate in committees and task forces within the Libraries, university, and the profession.
• Foster an environment of continual professional development, improvement, and learning.
• Continuously assess and iterate programs to improve services and advance initiatives.
• Demonstrate commitment to innovation and discovery to remain relevant in higher education, in public engagement, and to support others in doing so.

Other Duties as Assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• An MLS or equivalent degree from an American Library Association accredited institution or a master’s degree in history or related discipline.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in special collections and/or archives, including some supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as member of the UTA community.
• Knowledge of the trends currently impacting libraries, special collections, and archives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated engagement with open scholarship and/or open archives.
• Familiarity with methods for collecting materials from diverse communities.
• Experience with donor relations and development activities.
• Experience with grant acquisition and execution.
• Training and/or experience in the field of history or related discipline with the American Southwest, Texas, or cartographic history as the top preferences.
• Ability to mentor and supervise staff.
• Knowledge of archival theory and experience with archival best practices including arrangement, description, preservation, and reference.
• Demonstrated ability to speak in public and write effectively.
• Experience with strategic planning and implementation.

Salary Range: Salary is commensurate based on qualifications and relevant experience up to $80,000 - $97,000.

Job posting: https://uta.peopleadmin.com/postings/20735