Director, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Employer: Smithsonian Institution

Location: Washington, District of Columbia

Salary: Competitive

Date posted: Oct 10, 2025

Position Type: Administrative, Academic Affairs, Librarians & Library Administration

Employment Level: Senior-Level

Employment Type: Full Time

Job Details

Director, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Smithsonian Institution

Washington, District of Columbia

THE SEARCH

The Smithsonian Institution invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA). This is a leadership opportunity at the helm of one of the world’s most respected cultural and research organizations.

Reporting to the Under Secretary for Science and Research, the Director serves as the leader of SLA, responsible for the strategic planning, development, and management of its programs, people, and resources. This role oversees a talented team of more than 110 professionals, including archivists, librarians, IT specialists, conservators, and administrative staff, and manages a complex current budget of over $12 million in Federal and Trust funds. The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives serve both the public and the other units of the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian seeks a visionary digital leader and proven operating manager who can guide SLA into its next chapter of innovation, accessibility, and global impact. The Director will be charged with modernizing the organization’s infrastructure, expanding its reach, and deepening its relevance to Smithsonian research units and museum scholars, educators, and the public.

The Director of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives will lead the organization through a period of strategic transformation, shaping its digital future while preserving its scholarly legacy. This includes modernizing infrastructure, expanding access to collections and research, deepening its relationships with Smithsonian units, and fostering national and global partnerships. The Director will also play a critical role in resource stewardship, fundraising, and thought leadership, positioning SLA as a model for innovation, collaboration, and public engagement in the library and archival fields.

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead transformative change within an institution internationally recognized for its cultural and research contributions, aligning digital innovation and public service.

This position has been reviewed to determine the level of position sensitivity. Based on the nature of the work, the position has been determined to be Public Trust / High Risk. This designation will require (1) a pre-employment Security Agency Check (SAC) for the prospective incumbent; and (2) a subsequent comprehensive background investigation and favorable adjudication in order to continue in the position.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives/director.

Sean Farrell, Partner

Melissa DePretto Behan, Senior Associate

Drew Chang, Senior Search Coordinator

Isaacson, Miller

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo.

This document has been prepared based on the information provided by the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and information provided by Smithsonian Libraries and Archives would supersede any conflicting information in this document.

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