Cornell University Library seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking leader to serve as the Head of the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives (Kheel Head). This is a unique opportunity to guide one of the nation’s premier archives on labor and workplace history, advancing special collections in support of Cornell’s mission of research, teaching, and public engagement. 

Background: The Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives collects, preserves, and makes accessible special collections pertaining to the history of the workplace and labor relations. Located within the Martin P. Catherwood Library, the Kheel Center collects unique and rare materials in the field of industrial and labor relations, including records of labor unions as well as personnel managers, government agencies, advocacy groups, and labor scholars. The records support the study of a wide variety of topics, including labor’s efforts to improve conditions in the workplace, management’s strategies to manage personnel efficiently and productively, government initiatives to survey working conditions and mediate labor conflict, and advocates’ campaigns to promote protective labor legislation. Child labor, the effects of the Cold War on unions, labor’s fight against sweatshops, and scientific management are just a few examples of the many themes and events scholars will be able to explore in our extensive and rich collections.

As a key part of Cornell University Library, the Kheel Center ensures that its collections are accessible and relevant to Cornell’s mission through activities such as expert instruction, a robust digital presence, and outreach to faculty, students, external researchers and communities. The Library is committed to supporting Cornell University’s core mission of “any person, any study”. These values are embedded in day-to-day activities from acquisition and description to exhibitions and stakeholder engagement.

The incumbent shapes Kheel’s culture and aligns activities and practices with emerging trends, in support of Cornell’s mission of research, teaching, and community engagement. At Cornell University Library, a One Library approach ensures equity and coordination across diverse academic library functions.

Duties and Responsibilities: Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Special Collections, the incumbent provides leadership for the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives. In this role, you’ll work closely with the AUL for Special Collections, the Harriet Morel Oxman Director of the Catherwood Library, and Library leaders to position Kheel’s engagement within the Library, across Cornell, and for the public good. Kheel is a highly collaborative partner with Library colleagues, faculty and students at the ILR School and across Cornell, and researchers, alumni, and others in Ithaca and beyond.

You’ll oversee acquisition and stewardship of collections, professional development of personnel, financial resources, and Kheel’s contributions to activities of the Library. You’ll guide activities that provide access to holdings and the expertise of personnel, optimally balancing priorities. You will enhance high-quality services for access and discovery, instruction, outreach, exhibitions and programs, in collaboration with colleagues in Catherwood Library, Kheel, and across the Library, with on-going review and assessment. These responsibilities include expanding access to collections for research and teaching, addressing backlogs and the remediation of metadata, and grappling with the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence presents in special collections and higher education.

You’ll support a work culture that enables employees, collections, and services to evolve with automated technologies while emphasizing the humanity that is central to a productive workplace, cultural heritage activities, and user experiences. With guidance by the AUL and the support of the Harriet Morel Oxman Director, you’ll foster a collaborative and nimble work environment in which talented staff of all ranks and job types are mentored and can develop professionally. As a member of Cornell University’s Research, Teaching, and Extension faculty, you’ll make professional contributions to archives and librarianship that enhance the stature of Cornell University Library and models sustainable long-term commitment to diversifying the collections, personnel, and services of academic and research libraries.

The incumbent works as directed by and with the Director of Library Development, Director of Library Communications, and other Library administrators to assist in cultivating external support, steward donors, and promote Library collections and services.

Required Qualifications: 

• Minimum of 5 years of successful professional experience in special collections, archives, or research center with historical or permanent collections.
• Graduate degree in a relevant discipline such as library and information science, archival studies, or a relevant subject discipline and training in special collections or archival practices, with a record of continuous learning.
• American history or labor relations coursework with experience in primary source research.
• Knowledge of cultural heritage standards, ethical stewardship, and key issues and trends in academic libraries and research universities.
• Commitment to fostering an open and inclusive educational environment and workplace, and an ability to work effectively with a varied faculty and student population in support of “any person, any study”.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful supervisory experience within an academic or research library.
• Specialization in labor history or labor relations through archival experience, coursework, or combination of experience and training.
• Demonstrated experience with instruction, outreach, or engaged collection programs.
• A strong professional reputation relevant to leadership of special collections, measured by service to the profession, scholarship, or awards received.

This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The selected candidate will work on the Ithaca campus at least 4 days per week, with potential for entering into a flexible work arrangement to allow remote work up to 1 day per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time. 

The New York convenience of employer guidelines requires New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.

Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes 22 vacation days, 13 paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, university retirement contributions, childcare and adoption assistance, and child tuition reimbursement. Funding is available to support professional training and research. The anticipated academic rank for this position is Associate Archivist, with an anticipated salary range of $78,000-$110,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.

Relocation assistance may be provided.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. 

How to Apply: All candidates must apply online via the Cornell Careers site: search for Workday requisition WDR-00055915.

Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, and we will begin interviewing selected candidates immediately. We anticipate closing this posting on December 11, 2025; early submission is strongly encouraged.

For full consideration, please include the following with your application: 

1. A cover letter.
2. A Curriculum Vitae.

Although we prefer to receive your application as one, multi-page pdf document, we will accept multiple documents in other formats.

Cornell University is an innovative institution and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff imparts an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contributes creative ideas to further the University's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement. Cornell’s main campus in Ithaca, New York sits on 2,300 acres in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Ithaca offers a wealth of arts, culture, and outdoor activities while maintaining an eclectic college-town feel. The city has been named one of the top 100 places to live, a top 10 recreation city, a best green place to live, and one of the "foodiest" towns in America. Cornell's global presence includes the Weill Cornell medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

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