Head of Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization

About the role

Penn State University Libraries seeks applications for the position of Head of Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization (PCD).

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Distinctive Collections and Digital Strategies, this tenure-line faculty librarian position provides strategic leadership and administration of the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization department, including the University’s state-of-the-art Conservation Centre.

This position will build on existing efforts to ensure the long-term accessibility of collections in both physical and digital formats.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for Penn State’s preservation, conservation, and digitization programs.
  • Provide strategic leadership for departmental initiatives, preservation and digitization priorities, ensuring alignment with Penn State Libraries’ strategic plan, University goals, and broader collaborations with the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) and peer institutions.
  • Lead operations for the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization department, including budgeting, personnel management, resource management, and technological planning.
  • The Head of PCD will oversee a department of faculty and staff, including supervisors, full-time, and part-time employees.
  • Articulate and implement departmental vision and strategies for technology, policy, stewardship, and outreach.
  • Work with the Dean’s administrative office and Libraries’ Development team in donor relations, while actively pursuing opportunities to support preservation, conservation, and digitization through grants, gifts, and fundraising.
  • Collaborate with key partners across the University Libraries, including Cataloging and Metadata Services; Libraries Strategic Technologies; the Eberly Family Special Collections Library; Public Relations and Marketing; and Commonwealth Campus Libraries.
  • Represent Penn State University Libraries in consortia, regional, and national organizations that focus on preservation, conservation, and digitization, strengthening the University Libraries’ reputation as a leader in these fields.
• Maintain a professional profile through service on relevant professional committees, leadership roles in appropriate professional organizations, and scholarly activity and research.

Qualifications

• A graduate degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience building programs, services, and teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading digitization, preservation, conservation, or related areas.
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective outreach and engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly, concisely, effectively and empathetically convey ideas to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• The ability to create and maintain an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and colleagues.
• Strong collaborative and empathetic leadership skills.
• Research and professional accomplishments and record of service in appropriate professional or disciplinary associations as evidence of ability to meet the requirements of a tenure-line position at the University Libraries.

Skills

• Knowledge of effective outreach and engagement strategies.
• Ability to create and maintain an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and colleagues.
• Strong collaborative and empathetic leadership skills.

Benefits

Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate, including a candidate’s qualifications, education, experience, and rank.

In addition to a competitive salary, full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits program, generous paid time off, and tuition discount for employees and eligible family members.

Total Compensation Calculator provides an estimated summary of the value of compensation and benefits.

Information about the University Libraries’ employment opportunities, processes, and culture can be found at https://libraries.psu.edu/about/jobs.