Head of Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization

POSITION SPECIFICS

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.

The successful candidate will direct a talented team, advance innovative practices, cultivate donor and grant support, and represent Penn State University Libraries in national and international collaborations.

Duties and 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.
• Coordinate with other administrators to advance the Libraries' strategic plan.
• Contribute to library-wide budgeting, planning, and policy development.
• 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.

The goal is to hire the successful candidate at the rank of Associate Librarian or Librarian, and appoint them with tenure within the University Libraries. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in librarianship, show evidence of an established reputation in research and scholarly publishing, and have a strong record of service to the University and the profession. More information about faculty appointments in the University Libraries can be found in the Guideline UL-ACG07 Promotion and Tenure Criteria (https://libraries.psu.edu/policies/ul-acg07).

Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate may be appointed with the title of Judith O. Sieg Chair for Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization.

Qualifications:

Required

• A graduate degree in a relevant field
• Demonstrated supervisory experience
• Demonstrated experience building programs, services, and teams
• Leadership experience within 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

Preferred

• Demonstrated experience with budgeting and strategic planning
• Demonstrated experience leading digital initiatives
• Demonstrated experience with disaster planning and recovery for collections
• Record of success in securing and managing grants
• Record of accomplishment in donor relations

About the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization Department

Located on Penn State's University Park Campus and at the Conservation Centre, the department plans, manages, and implements programs and services to preserve and make accessible materials and collections for all locations in all formats for use by students, faculty, researchers, and scholars. In pursuit of our mandate, we stabilize, repair, conserve, perform digital production and reformatting services, preserve for the long-term, and offer educational and outreach programs and exhibits.

The University Libraries' Conservation Centre, four miles west of the University Park campus, is a state-of-the-art facility opened in spring 2019. The staff and equipment have supported collection assessments, bindery activities, conservation of rare and valuable materials, mass deacidification, disaster recovery, as well as a robust undergraduate internship program. Regular onsite presence is expected of this position.

PCD is committed and dedicated to the preservation of the University Libraries collections regardless of format. The PCD department is responsible for preservation of all formats, including paper-based books, works of art on paper, photographs, media and digital. In addition, PCD is responsible for the digitization of collections (in-house and vended) and building collections for online access.

The University Libraries is in the process of a digital library transformation project to identify and implement the future of its digital library program, consolidate siloed collections and applications, and improve access and discovery. The new Head of PCD will be in a position to facilitate and implement this change.

Preservation system

Penn State is a member of the Academic Preservation Trust, Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, and Digital Preservation Coalition. Penn State's digital preservation plan and policies are detailed at https://libraries.psu.edu/policies/ulad-19.

PCD has a proven record of accomplishment in managing successful grant-funded projects from NEH and CLIR. Since participation in the United States Newspaper Program in 1985, PCD has sought and received numerous external grants that supported preservation microfilming, digitization and cataloging, and public access with funds from NEH totaling over $2.5 million.

PCD has generous endowments to support its mission, and the incumbent will have responsibility for the stewardship of these funds and will participate in cultivation of new and ongoing donor relations as well.

SUBMISSION FOR CANDIDACY

All candidate materials must be submitted via Workday. Interested candidates are expected to upload a cover letter and a resume or CV. Candidates also must provide four professional references, indicating their professional relationship to each reference. References will be contacted later in the search process. While furnished references are at the candidate's discretion, references must include, at a minimum, at least one current/previous direct supervisor and at least one library or association-related colleague. It is strongly advised that candidates include a current or former direct report as a professional reference, if available.

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.



BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. Due to the financial and fiduciary responsibilities of this position, successful completion of a credit history check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.


For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

Apply online at https://psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/PSU_Academic/job/Penn-State-University-Park/Head-of-Preservation--Conservation--and-Digitization_REQ_0000072336-1?q=REQ_0000072336

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.





Copyright ©2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency

jeid-bfcba2d16ae16b40af796f67f0ddd864