Director of Distinctive Collections & Collections Strategy

We’re looking for someone to help us build something different. Carnegie Mellon University prides itself on collaborative, interdisciplinary, pragmatic, groundbreaking research--- and that spirit carries into its Libraries. As we shift into a post-pandemic posture, we’re rethinking everything: our physical space, our educational, cultural, and research programs, our digital infrastructure, and of course, our collections. We recognize that we have a prime opportunity to think more broadly and more critically about library collections and to develop a comprehensive and long-ranged plan. 

The Director of Distinctive Collections & Collections Strategy is a new faculty-level position that reports to the Associate Dean for Innovation & Interdisciplinarity. The key attributes we're seeking are the abilities to organize, coordinate, and implement across a wide variety of collections-centered activities. In short, we’re looking for someone who can help us set a new course for research library collections and transform that vision into tangible outcome. 

This position has two principal components: 
 

1. Direct oversight of CMU’s Distinctive Collections, which includes the University Archives and Special Collections. These areas present enormous potential and have talented faculty and staff in place, as well as remarkable collections. The Director will shape the overarching structure, develop long-term planning and prioritization, and offer supervision and guidance.  

1. Library-wide coordination of general collection strategy. The Director will unite philosophy and logistics with regards to library collections. A core aspect of this role includes strategic and long-term planning, storage, and maintenance of print and other analog materials. This position will also help us shift toward demand-driven and rapid-access delivery models, explore shared print and collective collections possibilities, improve our collections data and analytics efforts, and provide guidance and collaboration across various collections related workflows, policies, procedures, and communications. 

• Master of Library, Information, or Archival Science, but individuals with other advanced degrees and the related experience are encouraged to apply 

• Experience managing or coordinating collections within a library, archive, or similar institution 

• Experience managing, supervising, or coordinating employees  

• Experience with facilitation and team-based environments 

• Commitment to conducting research and service at a level to be reappointed as faculty 

We recognize that this is not an “off-the-shelf” position, so rather than presenting a long list of responsibilities or various qualifications, we prefer a more open-ended inclusive approach. We want to consider a wide range of diverse candidates. The successful person in this role will be interested in transforming and revolutionizing library collections, rather than chasing current measures of excellence or best practices.  

We are offering an opportunity to experiment and deploy new models, frameworks, and approaches, and therefore, we’re seeking candidates who are up for the challenge of shaping a ground-breaking library. As we consider what the next generation of general collections, special collections, and archives will look like, our intention is to empower this Director to help us chart the path forward. 

The Director of Distinctive Collections & Collections Strategy will join a cohort of other newly created director positions, adding greater alignment and functional perspective across the libraries. This new model opens opportunities for enhanced collaboration and cooperation. We intend to support this cohort of directors with shared professional development opportunities including agile and lean management practices, as well as user experience design. 

We want to hear from candidates with a creative and innovative thirst that is grounded in results-oriented pragmatism. We encourage you to utilize your cover letter as a means to distinguish yourself and to outline your views and aspirations on the future of library collections and the strategies that can lead in that direction.