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Northwestern University Libraries, Librarian Faculty Position

Title: Director of the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives

Reports to: Associate University Librarian for Collections and Access

Department: Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives

Summary:

Northwestern University Libraries seek an innovative and collaborative Director of the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Collections and Access, the Director will provide visionary leadership and direction to the programs, services, initiatives, and collections of the McCormick Library. The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking professional who is enthusiastic about advancing research, teaching, learning, and practice through access to special collections and archival materials and knowledgeable about the complex nature of building and stewarding research collections. The Director will facilitate collaborations within and external to the Northwestern Libraries and ensure that the McCormick Library is a partner in education and knowledge creation at Northwestern and beyond.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership to and management of a forward-thinking Special Collections and Archives program. Articulate a compelling vision for the McCormick Library and the value of special and archival collections in supporting research, teaching, learning, and community engagement that aligns with the library strategic directions
• Provide vision for collection development and stewardship. Establish priorities and policies that guide the development of special and archival collections
• Establish strategic directions and priorities for a range of user-centered services and programs that create exceptional experiences for the Northwestern community in support of their research, teaching, learning and practice with special collections and archival materials
• Provide leadership and oversight to the development of programs and initiatives that establish the McCormick Library as a dynamic and innovative teaching and learning resource at Northwestern
• Provide overall direction for a team of approximately 17 FTE. Directly supervise 6 FTE, including curators and the heads of public services and collections services. Coordinate the department work. Provide mentorship, advocacy and support to all department staff and foster their professional engagement and growth
• Build and nurture collaborations and partnerships within the library, with faculty, academic departments, the Block Museum, and the broader Northwestern community that strengthen and promote the role of special collections and archives in research and teaching
• Contribute to development activities, including fundraising initiatives, cultivating donations of materials and maintaining relationships with donors, in collaboration with the Dean of Libraries, Associate University Librarian for Collections & Access, and Alumni Relations and Development
• Collaborate with library departments to advance the library’s digital transformation agenda to broaden discovery, access, and preservation of primary source materials in support of research and academic pursuits
• Represent the library in initiatives and events related to special collections and archives within and outside Northwestern University, including the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Contribute to the library’s leadership role in the field through projects, presentations, scholarship, and active participation in relevant professional organizations

Required qualifications:

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information science or equivalent education and experience
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience working with special collections or archives in a research library
• Record of successful leadership and management experience
• Extensive knowledge of a broad range of issues and emerging trends in managing, collecting, providing access to and preserving archival and special collections.
• Demonstrated experience developing programs that showcase the role of special collections and archives in research, curricular use and community engagement
• Experience with building and maintaining effective partnerships and collaborations between the library, academic departments, and the broader university community
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills
• Strong record of professional engagement and contribution, such as research, publications, and involvement in professional and scholarly organizations
• Experience or strong interest in applying new and emerging technologies to special collections and archives, including digital scholarship and digital humanities initiatives

Preferred qualifications:

• Additional graduate degree in a relevant subject area
• Experience working with donors, including cultivating donations of materials and maintaining relationships with existing donors

To apply:

Northwestern University Libraries has exclusively retained Jack Farrell & Associates () to find the winning candidate for this important position. Interested candidates should provide a CV and 2-page cover letter by email to Jack Farrell (). The cover letter should address: 1) Why am I interested?, 2) How am I qualified?, and 3) What might the Northwestern Library special collections and archives look like in several years under my stewardship with a close alignment of Northwestern University Library’s vision? This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, librarian faculty position. The anticipated salary range is $105,000 – $130,000. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as comparators within Northwestern University. This role is eligible for visa sponsorship.

Library environment:

Northwestern University is a selective private university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois and in Doha, Qatar. One of the leading private research libraries in the United States, Northwestern University Library serves the educational and information needs of the NU community as well as scholars around the world. Its collection contains more than 7 million volumes, a full array of digital resources, and collections of distinction in African Studies, transportation, and 20th-century and contemporary music. Northwestern is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA). See more information about University Libraries at:

Please read ALL instructions and make preparations before proceeding to the application page:

• Applications will only be accepted via online submission (see link below).
• Please prepare all documents in advance as Adobe PDF files, and please be sure all information is entered correctly and accurately (especially names and email addresses), as there will be no opportunity for online revision after your application has been submitted.
• Please also prepare a list of names and email addresses for your external academic references; your references will be contacted directly by the online system and invited to upload their letters on your behalf.
• All required fields in the application form are marked with an asterisk and must be filled before clicking the “Submit” button.
• Be aware that incomplete applications cannot be saved.
  

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s . Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View .