Job Title: Director of the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives

Job ID: 28907

Location: LaGuardia Community College

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

POSITION DETAILS

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York/CUNY. LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree and certificate programs, as well as dozens of workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 25,000 students. More than one-third of our degree-seeking students were born outside of the United States, coming to LaGuardia from 136 countries and speaking forty-three heritage languages. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.

The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives was established in 1982 to collect, preserve, and make available primary materials documenting the social and political history of New York City, with an emphasis on the mayoralty and the borough of Queens. The Archives serves researchers, journalists, students, scholars, exhibit planners, and policy makers examining the history of Greater New York. The Archives also produces public programs exploring that history. Its website provides a web database to the collections, which include more than 100,000 digitized photos, and nearly 2.5 million digitized documents.

The Director of the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives is responsible for managing and developing the Archives’ collections, for overseeing fundraising, finance, and operations, and for coordinating with program directors to produce educational and outreach programs. Reporting to the Office of the President, the Director works with college leadership, academic departments, faculty, and staff to expand and promote this unique facility and integrate it into the life of the college, CUNY, and New York City. The Director is also responsible for building and maintaining positive relations with NYC government officials and other supporters of the Archives.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Oversee the management of all collections within the Archives inventory, develop strategies for building and maintaining the collections; Set priorities for the physical organization and preservation of collections and work with internal resources to coordinate digitization of items for enhanced access and preservation.
• Lead effective operational and financial management processes and inventory management; Make decisions that balance operational and strategic considerations and use metrics to support decisions.
• Provide support to the Director of Education who oversees the Gardiner-Shenker Student Scholars endowed program which involves students conducting archival research, working with LaGuardia faculty and peers, and sharing/contributing their work to the Archives¿collections and publications.
• Collaborate with the Director of LGBTQIA+ programs on promoting and expanding the LGBTQIA+ CUNY Consortium throughout CUNY; collaborate with all program directors (LGBTQIA+, Education, Public History) to develop outreach and educational programming. 
• Facilitate partnerships between faculty and students on research projects based primarily on the Archives collections and help shepherd research projects to completion; Promote the use of the Archives for teaching and learning for LaGuardia students, faculty, and staff.
• Manage a varied portfolio of education programs including the Archives annual history calendar, programs and events, publications, or exhibitions sponsored by the Archives.
• Engage with gift prospects toward cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts, including acquisition of collections of enduring value relating to social change, ensuring that President and other stakeholders are kept apprised of donor communications, agreements, and related activities.
• Set standards and provide direction for the production, distribution and promotion of Archives publications in print or electronic format, oversee the budgets for these projects, and conduct oral histories using archival collections.
• Provide direct oversight of the cold storage space used for Archives collections inventory, monitor the movement and condition of items, and provide safe and expedient access to collections within reading rooms and in public displays.
• Oversee and expand the Archives’ educational and outreach programs within the local community by acquiring new collections and sponsoring public programs; Develop and maintain relationships and partnerships critical to the ongoing development and delivery of programs.
• Manage staff of 5+, including temporary staff and interns. Develop team and individual goals, evaluate staff performance, and support the development of staff members.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced Degree preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of New York City History including a strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals and a record of achievement in some aspect of public history.
• Experience in museums or archives highly desirable.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency using Microsoft office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

• Oversees an Art Center or Museum, promoting and directing programs and initiatives.
• Works with senior management to create a vision and strategy for art/museum collection which fulfills the mission of the College
• Develops, researches, curates and markets high quality exhibits; designs educational programs around exhibits such as lectures, films, learning aids and internships which relate to the College's curricula
• Oversees the development and implementation of creative programming to attract both sponsors and audiences
• Directs the administrative functions of the Center/Museum, including budget, archives, inventory, acquisitions, security and facilities; Presents reports on all operations consistent with best practices in the not-for-profit/public sectors
• Establishes and cultivates community and cultural relationships and partnerships; participates in funding initiatives
• Develops relationships between the Center/Museum and College academic and administrative departments
• Hires, and manages Center/Museum staff
• Performs related duties as assigned.

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Officer

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$83,878 - $119,995

Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development.  We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off.  Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title.  Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information. 

Candidates must attach a resume, cover letter, and three professional references (name, title, organization, and contact information).

CLOSING DATE

October 11th, 2024

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply.  At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups.  Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.