Vice President and Director

The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library at the New-York Historical Society is one of the oldest independent research libraries in the United States. Collection strengths include local history of New York City and State; colonial history; the Revolutionary War; American military and naval history; religions and religious movements of the 18th and 19th centuries; the Anglo-American slave trade and conditions of slavery in the United States; the Civil War; American biography and genealogy; American art and art patronage; the development of American architecture from the late-18th century to the present; 19th- and 20th-century portraiture and documentary photographs of New York City; and charitable organizations serving underserved groups in New York City including the homeless, widows and orphans. The New-York Historical Society The New-York Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets American history and art for a broad national and international public. Since 1804, the Historical Society has assembled vast holdings of American paintings, sculpture, books, manuscripts, decorative arts, artifacts, architectural materials, prints, drawings, photography and ephemera that document the history of New York and the nation. The mission of the Historical Society is to use these collections to help the public understand the complex and diverse past behind the nation and world that we know today. The Historical Society engages a broad audience through a series of initiatives that enliven and illuminate the past, from groundbreaking exhibitions of history and art that capitalize on the Historical Society’s extraordinary museum and library collections, to intellectually engaging programming and educational activities. ABOUT THE POSITION: This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced, innovative and visionary leader to further the reputation of the Historical Society as one of the nation’s premier centers of historical research and scholarship and to maintain the Library’s reputation as an important New York cultural institution. Reporting to the President and CEO of the New-York Historical Society, the Vice President and Director provides leadership for the Library and directs a staff of 31 employees. As a member of the Historical Society’s senior management team, the Vice President/Director of the Library works closely with other senior staff to improve intellectual and physical access to the Library’s holdings. Key responsibilities: • Oversee and work closely with library managers on short- and long-term planning • Serve as a member of the N-YHS senior leadership team and contribute to institutional strategic planning • Represent the Library at all institution-wide meetings, committees and events, both on- and off-site • Represent the Library at local and national meetings and conferences • Work closely with the chair of the library committee of the board of trustees • Drive fundraising activities for the Library and participate in fundraising for the institution, writing grants as appropriate • Design and oversee library strategic efforts for collection management, digitization, and storage modernization • Work with the CEO and CFO to develop the Library annual budget • Anticipate and respond to new trends in library services and new methods of research • Promote the use and preservation of the Library’s collections and oversee collection development • Build relationships with the Library’s users, including scholars and faculty at academic institutions in and around New York City • Develop relationships with the antiquarian book trade and with private collectors to enhance the Historical Society’s collections CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS: The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications: • An MLS from an ALA-accredited program; or a PhD in a field consistent with the Library’s collections • An outstanding record of visionary leadership and accomplishment in librarianship and/or academia • Ten or more years of progressively responsible management experience in an academic or research library; background in academic research preferred • Exceptional problem-solving skills, with the creativity to develop innovative solutions to address key challenges • Strong leadership management and team building skills, including the ability to mentor, motivate, set goals, delegate, and monitor effectiveness • Public presence and energy; ability to leverage these skills as an effective fundraiser • Ability to communicate knowledge and enthusiasm for the Library collections to all constituencies, both internal and external • Strong knowledge of American history, especially as it pertains to the needs of an independent research library and its patrons • Ability to work with advanced scholars to develop programs and collections that reflect current and anticipate future needs • Outstanding interpersonal skills; exceptional verbal and written communication abilities • A strong public service orientation, with a respect and commitment to the Library’s mission • Experience in the field of Library special collections and appreciation for historical and primary source materials COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

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