Director of Archives, Assistant Professor

Job Summary

The Director of Archives, Assistant Professor provides leadership and oversight for the University's Archives and Special Collections program. The position is responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, preservation, organization, description, digitization, and accessibility of archival collections while ensuring responsible stewardship of the University's historical records. The Director collaborates with academic departments, administrative offices, and external partners to enhance archival services, support research and instruction, and preserve the University's institutional history.

Essential Job Functions

Archives Administration & Program Leadership:

• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the University Archives and Special Collections program.
• Establish priorities, assess services, and implement continuous improvements to archives operations.
  
• Develop departmental goals and contribute to library strategic initiatives.
  
• Administer archives policies, procedures, and operational workflows.
  
• Prepare reports, assess program effectiveness, and participate in budget planning and stewardship.

Collection Development, Preservation & Digital Archives:

• Direct the acquisition, appraisal, accessioning, processing, arrangement, and description of physical and digital archival collections.
• Oversee preservation, conservation, environmental monitoring, and long-term stewardship of archival materials.
  
• Manage digitization initiatives and digital repository workflows.
  
• Administer digital archives systems, metadata practices, and online access to collections.
  
• Lead development and maintenance of finding aids, inventories, collection guides, and descriptive tools.
  
• Collaborate with the Records Management Officer and university departments regarding transfer and preservation of official university records.

Research, Instruction & Public Services:

• Provide reference and research assistance related to University Archives and Special Collections.
• Develop and deliver archival instruction sessions for faculty, students, and researchers.
  
• Support classroom instruction through archival collections and institutional history resources.
  
• Respond to research inquiries and facilitate appropriate access to archival materials.

Outreach, Collaboration & Staff Leadership:

• Develop outreach initiatives that promote awareness and use of archival collections.
• Build collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, alumni, donors, community organizations, and external partners.
  
• Supervise archives personnel, student workers, interns, and project teams as assigned.
  
• Represent University Archives on library and university committees and participate in professional activities.
  

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library and information science, Library Science, Archival Studies, or a closely related field from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited institution.
  
• Graduate-level preparation in archival management or equivalent archival training and professional experience.
• Minimum two years of progressively responsible experience in archives or special collections.
  
• Experience managing archival processing, preservation, description, and access for physical and digital collections.
  
• Experience organizing archival materials using recognized archival standards.
  
• Experience creating and maintaining aids and collection management tools.
  
• Experience providing archival instruction, reference, or research services.
  
• Demonstrated supervisory, organizational, project management, and communication skills.
  
• Experience working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
  
• Proficiency using archival and digital repository platforms such as ArchivesSpace, CONTENTdm, TARO, Springshare products, or similar systems.
  
• Working knowledge of metadata standards, archival description, digital preservation, appraisal methods, and records management principles.
  
• Ability to meet university tenure and promotion requirements, if applicable.

Desired Qualifications:

• Undergraduate or additional graduate degree in History, Public History, Literature, or a related discipline.
• Experience supervising professional staff, student employees, interns, or volunteers.
  
• Experience leading exhibits, instructional programming, or public outreach initiatives.
  
• Experience managing born-digital collections and digital preservation programs.
  
• Experience with institutional repositories and digital scholarship initiatives.
  
• Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) Certification.

Supplemental Information

Key Competencies:

Leadership and organizational effectiveness

Archives and records management

Collection stewardship and preservation

Digital archives and repository management

Research and reference services

Instruction and outreach

Strategic planning and project management

Written and verbal communication

Collaboration and relationship building

Problem solving and sound judgment

Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and use a computer for extended periods. Must be able to retrieve, shelve, and transport archival materials and boxes weighing up to 20 pounds. Work may involve exposure to dust, aged paper, and archival storage environments.
Job Conditions:

Work is performed primarily in a library and archival environment.

Responsibilities include occasional evening or weekend activities to support outreach events, instruction, or special projects.

The position requires adherence to university, state, and federal regulations governing records management, archival stewardship, and public access to information.

Pay Range: $65,000 - $77,000
Special Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

Finalists for this position are subject to a criminal history background check, employment history check, and off-list reference checks. Applicants are required to sign an authorization for release of prior employment records to Lamar University. We will only contact prior employers and off-list references for finalists.

Who We Are:
Home to more than 18,000 students, Lamar University is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 120-degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals. Lamar University strives to educate leaders, demonstrate excellence in student learning and career readiness, and pursue research with relevance.

Lamar University is committed to fostering an environment of teamwork where all students, faculty, and staff can learn, work, and become a part of our community.

Benefits:
Health, dental & vision insurance?
Life insurance
State of Texas Retirement plans
Tuition covered at 100% for employees, spouses and/or eligible dependents.
Paid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays.?

To see more information about the available benefits, please visit: Benefits - Lamar University

Lamar University is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamar University is proud to provide employment preference to veteran applicants in accordance with Texas 805 Government Code, Section 657.003.

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.