Columbia University Libraries seeks a creative and committed professional for an exciting opportunity to join its senior leadership as the Director of the Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library. The Director serves as thought leader and advocate, developing comprehensive strategies for Avery Library specifically and distinctive collections broadly in areas such as analog and born digital acquisitions, digitization, scholarly communication, course and curricular integration, user-centered services, organizational design and change management, diversity and inclusion, accessibility, employee engagement, and the ongoing professional development of Avery’s dedicated staff.
The Director leads a dynamic and engaging team composed of approximately 25 FTEs, as well as contract employees, special projects staff, and student assistants. The Director is a member of the Libraries’ senior leadership team and partners with colleagues across the organization to advance the mission of Avery, the Libraries, and the University as a whole. The Director oversees all aspects of Avery’s operations, including collection development, research services, access services, facilities management, and Avery Index operations.
Minimum qualifications:
- MLS, PhD or other advanced degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in a library, museum, or research institute;
- knowledge of architecture and/or art history disciplines;
- demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism in staffing, collections, and services;
- demonstrated leadership skills and a history of progressively increased levels of management responsibility;
- demonstrated ability to engage and collaborate effectively with staff, peers, senior management, faculty and students, and colleagues at partner institutions;
- demonstrated excellence in interpersonal, intercultural communication and relationship building skills;
- demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills;
- demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
Preferred qualifications:
- demonstrated experience imagining, identifying, designing, implementing, and/or promoting new technologies that advance teaching, learning, student success, collections stewardship, or the scholarly research endeavor broadly;
- demonstrated experience cultivating prospective and existing benefactors, and in designing innovative ways to keep donors engaged with the organization;
- demonstrated experience with space design and facilities management;
- demonstrated experience managing budgets (e.g., collections, personnel, operations);
- demonstrated experience administering exhibition and/or loan programs for collections;
- evidence of scholarly activity in a field related to architecture or art history.
Avery and the University Libraries
Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library’s collections and research services form a complementary and comprehensive resource to a global community of students and scholars from across all disciplines. Founded in 1890, Avery Library is one of the foremost repositories supporting professional and academic programs in architecture, urban planning and design, historic preservation, art history, and archaeology. The library comprises five important collection and stewardship areas: general collections supporting research and learning at Columbia University; architectural drawings and archives; rare books; the University’s art properties collection; and the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals. Please visit Avery’s Collections & History website for a detailed description of its founding and the scope of its incredible collections.
Columbia University Libraries is a globally-recognized academic research library system, serving one of the world’s most important centers of research and learning in the most exciting and dynamic city in the world. Talented Libraries staff build, sustain, and make discoverable collections that transcend traditional boundaries of format and domain, keeping pace with a dynamic and rapidly evolving information environment and creating opportunities for users to encounter 4,000 years of human thought.
Diversity Statement
Columbia University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, and abilities to apply for this unique opportunity to become a part of our evolving Libraries and University community. We particularly welcome applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and people of all sexual and gender identities.
Our decisions are informed by new curricula developed to meet the needs of a diverse student body, emerging areas of research being conducted by a broad spectrum of researchers, including graduate students and newly-hired faculty, as well as by perspectives from the diminished or entirely lost voices of historically oppressed, marginalized, and underserved populations and communities. As an organization, the Libraries strives to provide a supportive, connected environment where every employee’s perspective is valued and every employee is encouraged to grow. All staff members have an impact on Columbia’s mission to advance knowledge at the highest levels and make the results of research accessible to the world.
Application Instructions
When applying, please submit your updated resume, cover letter, and a minimum of three professional reference contacts.
Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Salary range: $100,030 – $145,000.
Pay Transparency Disclosure
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
For immediate consideration, please apply online at: https://apply.interfolio.com/121495.
Categories: Job Postings