Library Director

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, seeks an experienced and visionary leader to serve as Library Director. The Winterthur Library is a leading independent research library for the study of more than four centuries of American art, design, history, and culture in a global context with over a million books, manuscripts, ephemera, archives and related materials. A dynamic hub of discovery and learning, the library supports a community of scholars, students, and curious thinkers who come from around the world to explore, learn from, and be inspired by its extraordinary collections. The Library is uniquely situated alongside Winterthur's world-class museum, gardens and graduate programs. The Library plays a central role in scholarship: providing expertise, resources, and services to support interdisciplinary research, teaching, and knowledge creation. The Director is a collaborative leader with a passion for service who will sustain Winterthur's place as a hub for scholarly research while also welcoming a wide range of patrons, from schoolchildren to daily visitors. With a talented staff, newly updated systems, and an energized donor base, the successful candidate will find the library in a strong position to strategically grow and thrive. The Director is responsible for overseeing and balancing existing library services and resources with emerging technologies, ensuring the library remains a vital resource for all of Winterthur's patrons. 

Compensation: $95,000 minimum starting salary

Benefits:  Including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid time off plan including 10 holidays, vacation, personal, and sick time; 403b with employer match for eligible employees; discounts in the museum store and cafe; free general admission for you and your immediate family

Work Schedule:  Monday – Friday, 35 hours/week

Responsibilities:

1. Develops vision, strategic direction, and long-term goal setting for the Winterthur Library and the Imaging Production team and guides implementation efforts and activities.
2. Leads a team of professional staff encompassing library and imaging production services, providing supervision, training, and mentorship, and supporting staff development.
3. Leads Library staff in promoting and providing broad access to the collection through research support, digital initiatives, teaching, public outreach and engagement, exhibitions, and more.
4. Leads imaging production services staff in the creation and management of visual assets for institutional and external projects. Sets strategic near- and long-term priorities, develops holistic policies and workflows, and oversees departmental activities.
5. Ensures good communication and coordination between Library and Winterthur staff, Trustees, and external constituents.
6. Fosters collaboration between the Library team and Winterthur staff in the development of programming and other institutional initiatives; oversees library participation in cross-institutional efforts and strategic initiatives.
7. Upholds and enhances use of existing collections and programs, and builds collections and projects in anticipation of future research interests and for the ways research libraries can best serve future stakeholders. 
8. Seeks the most efficient organization of staff and operational modes to ensure effective means of upholding and advancing the Winterthur Library’s tradition of excellent and expert service to patrons, including researchers, staff, students.
9. Develops and oversees the Library’s annual budget and sets priorities for resource allocation across all Library departments and activities.
10. Serves as a liaison for the needs of Winterthur’s internal and external communities as they relate to the library. Manages the library’s relationship with the Research Fellowship Program.
11. Manages major projects for the library, ensuring the safety, security, and longevity of the library facility through space planning, collections emergency planning, and collections policies
12. Collaborates closely with Winterthur’s Development department to foster relationships with donors and to develop and steward gifts. Represents the library in the cultivation and stewardship of supporters and donors.
13. Serves as Winterthur representative to member organizations such as IRLA and actively engages with organizations such as ALA, RBMS, Rare Books School and other international, national, and regional library, information, and special collections affinity groups.

Requirements

Minimum Experience: Master of Library Science (MLS, MSLS, MLIS) with 5-8 years of progressive work experience in a research library or with special collections, but individuals with other advanced degrees and recent related library experience and demonstrated management skills are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Experience: Master of Library Science (MLS, MSLS, MLIS) plus advanced studies in History, American Studies, Art History, Art Conservation or related field with 8+ years of progressive work experience in a research library or special collections

Knowledge/Skills:

1. Demonstrated leadership skills and a history of progressively increasing levels of management responsibility.
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
3. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with staff, peers, senior management, faculty and students, and colleagues at partner institutions.
4. Knowledge of rare book, archives, and manuscript collections stewardship, conservation and collecting.
5. Experience in teaching and public engagement with special collections. 
6. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.
7. Excellence in interpersonal and communication.
8. Commitment to advancing DEAI initiatives in a cultural heritage setting.
9. Experience utilizing and promoting new technologies that advance teaching, learning, student success, collections stewardship, scholarly communications, and research endeavors. 
10. Demonstrated experience managing budgets (e.g., collections, personnel, operations), writing grants, negotiating contracts, and general library administration. 
11. Flexibility and reliability in a fast-paced, multifaceted work environment
12. Understanding of the role of a research library within a museum or cultural institution.
13. Broad understanding of scholarship in humanities and conservation, material culture of historical library materials, visual culture, and digital humanities. 
14. Thorough proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Library software tools with willingness to learn new programs and systems as required.

Essential Functions:

1. Ability to undertake proper care and handling of library collections
2. Valid Driver’s License, and ability to successfully complete a Defensive Driving Course. 
3. Ability to work at a computer for up to 8 hours a day. 
4. Ability to stoop, kneel, and crouch; to climb ladders and lift, carry, and reach overhead to support materials; to push and pull carts of varying weights; and to lift up to 30 pounds unassisted. 
5. Ability to tolerate dusty environments 
6. Ability to tolerate temperatures of 60-65 degrees for short periods.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library encompasses an unrivaled museum of American decorative arts in its mansion and galleries and a magnificent 60-acre naturalistic garden—all set on 1,000 gorgeous acres.

Winterthur employs a wide array of positions in the areas of curatorial, horticulture, education, conservation, library, maintenance, marketing, development, technology, and administration.

Winterthur offers a unique and rewarding experience that is rich in culture and natural beauty. Winterthur considers its employees and volunteers to be among its greatest assets and welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute their specific skills to its mission “to inspire, enlighten, and delight all of its visitors while preserving and enhancing [Winterthur]” and also uphold its core values of agility, excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusion, and transparency.