Head of the University Archives & Special Collections
Listed on 2026-06-28
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Education / Teaching
Academic, University Professor, Education Administration
Job Description
Fairfield University is a co‑educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200‑acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools:
The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles
F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.
Department: DiMenna‑Nyselius Library
Primary
Work Location:
Fairfield
Direct Supervisor: Dean of the Library & University Librarian
Basic Function: Provides leadership, management, and strategic direction for the University Archives & Special Collections, advancing visibility, impact, and responsible stewardship of institutional memory. Ensures integration of professional archival standards and technologies that support acquisitions, long‑term preservation, and sustainable digital access. Works with Library Leadership and University partners to develop spaces that ensure appropriate environmental conditions, security, and room for future growth for the University Archives & Special Collections.
Serves as an advocate and spokesperson for the University Archives & Special Collections in teaching, learning, community engagement, and fundraising. Supervises and supports staff. Engages in the professional work of the library.
Availability for evening and weekend work, as needed, is required.
Education, Certification, License, and Experience RequirementsGraduate degree in Library & Information Science (MLS or equivalent) from an ALA‑accredited program with specialization or certification in archival practices. Second Master’s in subject‑specific field, or equivalent experience, is preferred.
Essential Functions- Strategic vision and collection priorities: developing and communicating a forward‑thinking vision that integrates technology and preservation priorities into long‑range planning, establishing collection development priorities that strengthen institutional memory and scholarly value, guiding digital preservation strategies in collaboration with campus partners to ensure secure, sustainable storage and access.
- Facilities and resources: collaborating with the Dean, University Archivist & Special Collections Librarian, and campus partners to plan and maintain adequate archival facilities, ensuring environmental controls and storage infrastructure protect all physical and digital collections.
- Visibility, partnerships, and engagement: partnering with units within the Library to increase the visibility of the University Archives & Special Collections, integrating the University Archives & Special Collections into teaching, learning, and research initiatives, building strong partnerships with Advancement, Marketing & Communications, Alumni Relations, and academic units to elevate the University Archives & Special Collections’ presence and impact, advocating for inclusive practices that broaden the representation of University histories, serving as an advocate for the Library and University by participating in professional activities and public engagement initiatives.
- Assessment, policy, and workflow management: collaborating with the assessment librarian on quantitative and qualitative assessment activities to support data‑driven planning and decision‑making that connect the Library’s strategic initiatives to the University mission, developing and implementing library policies and procedures, establishing priorities for departmental projects and workflows.
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