"Assistant Director, Library Special Collections"

Assistant Director, Library Special Collections

Department: Library Special Collections

Rank and Salary: Associate Librarian - Librarian ($75,958 - $147,852)

Position Availability: Immediately

Application Deadline: February 25, 2026

The UCLA Library seeks a highly collaborative, inclusive and knowledgeable leader to serve as Assistant Director of Library Special Collections (LSC).

Position Duties

As a key member of the Special Collections leadership team and a senior manager in the UCLA Library, the Assistant Director shapes and implements the strategic and operational priorities and services related to UCLA's archival collections (physical and born-digital) and rare books and manuscripts.

The Assistant Director reports to and serves as a key thought partner to the Director of Library Special Collections/AUL for Distinctive Collections. They lead the creation and implementation of LSC goals and initiatives and work collaboratively with the unit leads within the department to coordinate activities. They work with the Library's senior management team to implement Library-wide goals and priorities; cultivate leadership and management skills in support of organizational advancement; and contribute to the development of a Library culture that embraces responsible and ethical stewardship and centers equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their work, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainable collection stewardship and access.

The Assistant Director is charged with increasing operational effectiveness, deepening collaboration across the organization, and ensuring collections and services are open, accessible, and discoverable. The Assistant Director will lead all aspects of special collections infrastructure and policies, including planning, implementation, and assessment. They work closely with the building management team to coordinate with campus facilities and manage issues related to safety and security of staff, collections and LSC spaces. They oversee the critical LSC teams of Collections Management, Processing, and Public Services, with four direct reports and approximately 20 indirect reports. In collaboration with unit leads, the Assistant Director jointly develops strategies, policies, and procedures; implements frameworks for responsible stewardship; and identifies and engages in opportunities for collaboration across the breadth of the UCLA Library.

Responsibilities

• Supports the Director of Library Special Collections in leading strategic planning, organizational development, and administrative oversight of the department. Serves as LSC's second-in-command and primary point of contact in the Director's absence.
• Provides strategic leadership of operations, collection management, processing, and public services divisions, and works collaboratively with peers in special collections across the Library and UC system to achieve shared goals.
• Coordinates closely with the Director and the Curatorial Team to develop efficient workflows and processes for collections appraisal, intake, and re-appraisal.
• In collaboration with staff and colleagues across the UCLA Library, explores, proposes, and coordinates the implementation of new services and technologies that facilitate discovery, access, and use of special collections.
• In partnership with the LSC Director and Library Business Services, provides oversight for budget and financial management across assigned units. Ensures that resources and budgets are appropriately allocated to support the priorities and work of the library. Provides donor reports as needed.
• Employs a user-focused and data-informed approach to financial management and decision-making. Compiles and analyzes data that contribute to Library understanding of trends in special collections use (including research, teaching, and learning) to inform improvements to services and programs.
• In coordination with the LSC Director, develops, reviews, and approves grant proposals related to LSC collections.
• In partnership with Library building services coordinator and other operational staff, oversees security and management of LSC spaces.
• Works closely with Library Development to identify and steward donors, collections, and endowed gift funds.
• Serves on Library and university committees as needed.
• Participates in appropriate professional and scholarly associations and organizations.
• Maintains up-to-date professional knowledge of current trends and best practices in higher education, academic libraries, special collections, and information and educational technology, to encourage innovation and ensure the excellence of LSC services and operations.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

General Information

Professional librarians at UCLA are academic appointees. This is a non-represented position. Within the UC System, most librarians are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). As academic appointees, librarians are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. UC has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits. Relocation assistance may be provided.

Appointees to the librarian series at UC shall have professional backgrounds that demonstrate a high degree of creativity, teamwork, and flexibility. Such background will normally include a professional degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science graduate program. In addition to professional competence and quality of service within the library in the primary job, advancement in the librarian series requires professional involvement and contributions outside of the library, and/or university and community service, and/or scholarly activities. Candidates must show evidence or promise of such contributions.

Description of Unit

Library Special Collections (LSC) builds and stewards special collections resources, services, and operations. The department consists of four teams: Curatorial; Processing/Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT); Collection Management (CM); and Public Services, Outreach, and Community Engagement (PSOCE).

• The Curatorial Team is responsible for collection development and acquisition of materials in support of research and teaching.
• The CFPRT makes collection material discoverable and accessible through ethical and iterative processing in a pedagogical model.
• The CM Team ensures responsible stewardship of collections through ethical accessioning, cataloging, and management of collections storage.
• The PSOCE Team integrates public-facing operations for LSC including reference and instruction, programmatic events, and activities.

The entire staff of approximately 30 FTE work together holistically to build, preserve, and provide access to the outstanding rare and unique holdings of the UCLA Library. LSC works closely with our colleagues within the Distinctive Collections portfolio to steward a range of international resources in support of UCLA's mission for the betterment of our global society.

To apply, please visit: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10810