Deputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections & Archives (00002)
Deputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections & Archives (00002)
Employer Active
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Share
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Job Description
Title: Deputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections & Archives (00002)
State Role Title:Deputy State Librarian
Hiring Range: Commensurate with experience
Pay Band: UG
Agency: The Library of Virginia
Location:The Library of Virginia
Agency Website:
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Library of Virginia in Richmond seeks applications and nominations for the position ofDeputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections and Archives (hereafter Deputy). Reportingto the Librarian of Virginia the Deputy serves as his principal library advisor and holdsdirect responsibility for overseeing the entire scope of the Librarys vast collections andarchives in both print and digital form including their acquisition access preservationstewardship and exhibition.
THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA
Founded in 1823 the Library of Virginia is the Commonwealths official library and archivespreserving 400 years of Virginias history government and people and making themaccessible worldwide. The Librarys collections containing more than 134 million itemsdocument and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Ouronline resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year and our on-site recordsexhibitions and events bring in thousands of visitors annually.
By the Numbers:
444500 square feet in our Richmond headquarters including two climate- controlled archival floors preserving centuries of history
134 million items in our collections from 17th-century founding documents tocontemporary art and literature
55 miles of shelving housing Virginias historical records and treasures
300 Public academic and K12 libraries across the Commonwealth supported by
the Library of Virginia
Highlights of the Collection:
George Masons annotated Declaration of Rights
Legislative petitions from enslaved and free Black Virginians
The State Art Collection with over 400 paintings and sculptures
Rare historic maps documenting the evolution of Virginias development
Thousands of newspapers photographs letters and journals documenting the livesof everyday Virginians
For more about the Library please visit:
THE ROLE OF THE DEPUTY STATE LIBRARIAN & CHIEF OF COLLECTIONS ANDARCHIVES AND THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Deputy serves in a dual capacity both as the second-most senior leader in the Libraryof Virginia and also the head of the Collections and Archives division that is at the heart ofthe Library. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of executive leadership skills necessaryto be a successful deputy to the Librarian of Virginia along with the expertise in collectionsand archives to enable a strategic revitalization in the division.
Serving as Deputy and Representative of the Library The ideal candidate will possess the executive presence and senior administrative experience to serve in the Librarian of Virginias absence. The Deputy will also serve as one of the Librarys most visible representatives to the public donors and other state agencies and entities. That work will include delivering presentations to a variety of public audiences leading tours of the Librarys facilities and collections and participating in the Librarys important donor relations.
Participating on the Senior Leadership Team
The next Deputy will also join a newly composed Senior Leadership Team which features amix of longtime Library leaders as well as more recent additions. Other members of theSenior Leadership Team include the Chief Communications Officer the Chief of LibraryDevelopment the Chief Operating Officer the Chief of Researcher Engagement and aChief Technology Officer each of whom reports to the Librarian of Virginia. This is a neworganizational model and the ideal candidate will serve as a collegial and contributivemember of the Senior Leadership Team and take advantage of this unique opportunity tofacilitate collaboration across the Librarys functional areas.
Collaboratively Shaping the Future of the Library
The Deputy will join the Library at an exciting time in its trajectory as it embarks on arenewed effort to serve the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. Severalhighlights of the Librarys recent strategic changes include the development and launch ofa new strategic plan the expansion of the State Records Center and a building renovationwhich is currently at the earliest stages of planning. This opportunity to join the leadershipof the Library offers an exceptional chance for an energetic and entrepreneurial candidateto build and shape the future in terms of what the library offers and the way that the public interacts with the collection.
Leading the Collections and Archives
The Deputy will coordinate all Library activities in the areas of acquisition bibliographicaccess preservation and conservation manuscripts and special collections collectionstewardship for print and electronic resources publications exhibitions and statearchives and government records. The ideal candidate will possess professionalexperience in collections and special collections as well as expertise in current bestpractices in areas including acquisitions discovery and accessibility and metadata andcataloging.
Leading in a Dynamic Environment
The next Deputy will lead a division that is in the process of restructuring. Among theDeputys first responsibilities will be to hire three new director-level positions: a Director ofManuscripts and Special Collections a Director of Preservation a Director of CollectionStewardship. These three new directors will join the existing Director of GovernmentRecords Services/State Archivist to give the Deputy a total of four direct reports with fiftyplus staff in their reporting lines. The ideal candidate will be able to build and developdepartment-level leadership to facilitate the communication of vision and empower thedepartments to proactively advance the Librarys strategic plan.
Updating the Librarys Collection Strategy
The Deputy will be responsible for establishing a new collection strategy in collaborationwith the State Librarian and the Librarys staff that meets the present needs of the librarysusers while also maintaining compliance with the Code of Virginias mandate to serve asthe state archives. The collection was originally founded with the purpose of being andcontinues to be the most well-regarded single source of materials related to Virginiaspeople and recent years the incoming volume has become larger than thecurrent staff can support and a backlog of processing has accumulated. The idealcandidate for this position will be able to understand the changing needs of users both interms of access and the materials they desire as well as possessing a forward-lookingvision for the way that the physical and digital collections can interact and are madeavailable.
Facilitating Collaboration with Other Agencies and Organizations
The next Deputy will have the opportunity to facilitate collaboration with other agenciesand organizations. The ideal candidate will recognize that the Library of Virginia is a node in a network of research institutions that feature complementary collections and servicesand be able to pursue collaborative ventures with museums such as Colonial Williamsburgand the Virginia Museum of History and Culture Virginia and regional and national research libraries and national and international consortia.
Minimum Qualifications
An advanced degree in library or information science or in an area relevant to theLibrary of Virginias collections
Significant progressive leadership experience suitable for appointment at the levelof Deputy State Librarian which should include administration/management and/orsupervisory experience in a research library museum archive or consortium.
Additional Considerations
Demonstrated experience in facilitating team communications with staff external
organizations project partners and other constituents
Excellent oral and written communication skills and experience dealing with the
public
Experience advocating for funding or participating in donor relations
Experience successively building and motivating a team
Experience in the implementation and execution of a strategic plan
Experience in a public-facing role as a representative of a library archive or
museum
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
Academic Search is assisting the Library of Virginia in this search. Nominations andexpressions of interest may be submitted in confidence to . When submitting a nomination please include thenominees name position institution and contact information.
Confidential conversations about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting Dr. EricRichtmyer at or by phone at .
Application Procedures: To apply please submit electronically to the following: 1) A cover letter 2) comprehensive vita or resume and 3) names addresses phone numbers and email addresses of 3 recent professional references. No paper applications faxes or emails will be accepted.
The position is open until filled but to assure full consideration please submit applicationsby October 20 2025.
Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting supportingand maintaining a competent and diverse work force.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Eric Richtmyer
Phone:
Email:
In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at .
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022- February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
Required Experience:
Chief
Employment Type
Full-Time
