Working Title: Director of ASC Research and Collection Management
Payroll Title: Assistant University Librarian
Job description:
The UCSF Library is seeking enthusiastic, innovative, and growth-focused candidates for the Director of Archives and Special Collections (ASC) Research and Collection Management, a full-time, permanent position. The Director of ASC Research and Collection Management plays an important leadership role in the establishment and implementation of frameworks for responsible growth, stewardship, and description of ASC holdings, supervising and providing expert guidance for collection development and management that includes all aspects of appraisal, accessioning, arrangement, description, cataloging and preservation of archival material in accordance with professional best practices and standards. They will also lead and enhance ASC discovery and research services by implementing an inclusive environment for guiding and empowering users to conduct research with UCSF collections. They will oversee outreach and learning activities provided to faculty, students, staff, and community users. The Director of ASC Research and Collection Management will supervise librarians, staff, and student workers.
Reporting to the Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Collections and University Archivist, Director of ASC Research and Collection Management will provide leadership in setting priorities and determining appropriate approaches for collection management, which includes acquisition, appraisal, processing collections and preparing them for discovery and use. The successful candidate will oversee planning, determine processing levels, establish timelines, evaluate outcomes, and provide quality control for archival description. The Director of ASC Research and Collection Management will be responsible for creating policies, procedures, and workflows in compliance with the archival appraisal and description standards and implements technologies and strategies to support these activities. The Director of ASC Research and Collection Management will design and administer a service model that delivers excellent user-centered services onsite and virtual. The Director of ASC Research and Collection Management will direct user education and other outreach activities, including tours, open houses, publications, presentations, and social media; as well as curation and mounting the department's physical and digital exhibits. The Director of ASC Research and Collection Management collaborates with librarians and staff throughout the Library and University units such as, Records Management, University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR), and others on cross-departmental initiatives, including grant projects and outreach events. They will participate in scholarly, professional, and service activities that enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion across education, library programs, and the profession.
This is an onsite position that includes remote work.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership/Management - 55%
- Provides leadership and supervision of 2 FTE of librarians as well as 1-2 student workers and/or volunteers. Recruits, hires, manages performance, and trains staff in best practices.
- Collaborates closely with the AUL for Collections and University Archivist on strategic vision and direction, long-range planning, annual goal setting, policy and procedure development, personnel and budget decisions, facilities planning, and daily administration.
- Lead ASC and serves as UCSF Archivist when AUL for Collections and University Archivist is out of the office.
- Oversees operations, special projects, and programs relating to collection development management, preservation/conservation, processing, cataloging, and systematic/project digitization areas.
Planning, Development, and Project Management - 20%
- In collaboration with the ASC team, and other Library and University colleagues, explores, proposes, and coordinates the implementation of new technologies that facilitate discovery, access, and use of archives and special collections holdings.
- Collects, compiles, and distributes collections-related statistics and reports.
- Develops and implements plans in collaboration with ASC staff as needed to effectively appraise, process, digitize, and catalog hidden collections and new acquisitions with a focus on implementing a reparative framework.
- Works closely with the AUL for Collections and University Archivist to identify grant opportunities and collaborates on the development of proposals for responsible areas.
Preservation and Security - 15%
- Ensures that collections care and movement, storage facilities, staff/public workspaces, and related workflows meet preservation and security needs and specifications.
- Works with University Facilities Services and Police as needed on issues and projects affecting the security of spaces and collection material.
Professional Development, Education, Research, and Service - 10%
- Maintains awareness of professional developments, issues, and practices through research and activities that increase one's knowledge and abilities, and that positively impact one's performance and service contributions.
- Serves on library, university, and system-wide committees.
- Participates in scholarly, professional, and service activities that enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion across education, research, library programs, and the profession.
Qualifications
Required:
- Master's degree from an ALA-accredited institution, or a master's degree in library science or archival administration, or a related field with relevant professional experience.
- Ten or more years of progressively responsible work experience in academic special collections, archives, or similar cultural heritage institutions.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible experience leading programs and operations in special collections libraries or similar institutions.
- Five or more years of experience supervising staff, volunteers, and/or interns.
- Understanding of and commitment to the standards, ethics, security guidelines, and best practices in use by special collections professionals and related professional groups including ACRL's Rare Books and Manuscripts Section and the Society of American Archivists.
- Understanding of archival and library descriptive practices/standards as well as emerging standards/practices for inclusive and reparative description.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion when handling information or sensitive issues involving the department including, but not limited to, donor relations and collection acquisitions.
Preferred:
- A demonstrated leadership approach that emphasizes empathy, communication, diverse and inclusive collaboration, and individual motivation and empowerment.
- Proven critical thinking skills in understanding, analyzing, and solving problems related to library service/operations.
- Evidence of a strong and inclusive user service philosophy, and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
- Experience investigating and implementing new technologies, systems, and other innovative approaches to improve workflows and access to and preservation of analog and born-digital collections.
- Experience managing long-term and complex projects, preferably in a special collections setting.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Experience with education and outreach in archives.
- Experience with medical and/or scientific archives.
Administrative Information:
See Table 27 (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/july-2024-scales/t27.pdf) for the salary range for this position. This is an Assistant University Librarian position with a salary range of $113,300 - $204,200.
About the Library
The UCSF Library is one of the preeminent health sciences libraries in the world, containing an expansive collection of the world's health sciences knowledge base. At its core, the UCSF Library connects people to stimulate inclusive learning, advance scientific inquiry, and enable open access to historical and current health sciences information resources. The Library facilitates connection to information and people by delivering a diverse range of human-centered services to the UCSF community and public visitors. Through its digital and physical spaces, the Library cultivates experiences that nurture progressive learning, meaningful engagement, and open creativity. As a vital campus resource, we are dedicated to supporting the UCSF mission of advancing health worldwide.
We commit to building a diverse and inclusive Library as a means of promoting health equity and counteracting historic and current systems of oppression. This commitment also applies to materials related to archives and special collections.
About UCSF Archives & Special Collections
UCSF Archives and Special Collections is a dynamic health sciences research center that contributes to innovative scholarship, actively engages users through educational activities, preserves past knowledge, enables collaborative research experiences to address contemporary challenges, and translates scientific research into patient care.
The mission of UCSF Archives and Special Collections is to identify, collect, organize, interpret, and maintain rare and unique material to support research and teaching of the health sciences and medical humanities and to preserve institutional memory.
About UCSF
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.
Pride Values
UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.
In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu
Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.
Please apply online at: https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05254 with a cover letter, CV, statement of contributions to diversity, and contact information for three references. Applicant materials must list current qualifications upon submission.
