Head of Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization

Head of Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization

Penn State University Libraries seeks applications for the position of Head of Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization (PCD). Reporting to the Associate Dean for Distinctive Collections and Digital Strategies, this tenure‑line faculty librarian position provides strategic leadership and administration of the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization department, including the University's state‑of‑the‑art Conservation Centre. This position will build on existing efforts to ensure the long‑term accessibility of collections in both physical and digital formats.

The successful candidate will direct a talented team, advance innovative practices, cultivate donor and grant support, and represent Penn State University Libraries in national and international collaborations.

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for Penn State's preservation, conservation, and digitization programs.
• Provide strategic leadership for departmental initiatives, preservation and digitization priorities, ensuring alignment with Penn State Libraries' strategic plan, University goals, and broader collaborations with the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) and peer institutions.
• Lead operations for the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization department, including budgeting, personnel management, resource management, and technological planning. The Head of PCD will oversee a department of faculty and staff, including supervisors, full‑time, and part‑time employees.
• Articulate and implement departmental vision and strategies for technology, policy, stewardship, and outreach.
• Work with the Dean's administrative office and Libraries' Development team in donor relations, while actively pursuing opportunities to support preservation, conservation, and digitization through grants, gifts, and fundraising.
• Coordinate with other administrators to advance the Libraries' strategic plan.
• Contribute to library‑wide budgeting, planning, and policy development.
• Collaborate with key partners across the University Libraries, including Cataloging and Metadata Services;
  Libraries Strategic Technologies; the Eberly Family Special Collections Library;
  Public Relations and Marketing; and Commonwealth Campus Libraries.
• Represent Penn State University Libraries in consortia, regional, and national organizations that focus on preservation, conservation, and digitization, strengthening the University Libraries' reputation as a leader in these fields.
• Maintain a professional profile through service on relevant professional committees, leadership roles in appropriate professional organizations, and scholarly activity and research.

• Demonstrated supervisory experience
• Demonstrated experience building programs, services, and teams
• Leadership experience within digitization, preservation, conservation, or related areas
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective outreach and engagement strategies
• Demonstrated ability to clearly, concisely, effectively and empathetically convey ideas to diverse audiences and stakeholders
• The ability to create and maintain an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and colleagues
• Strong collaborative and empathetic leadership skills
• Research and professional accomplishments and record of service in appropriate professional or disciplinary associations as evidence of ability to meet the requirements of a tenure‑line position at the University Libraries

• Demonstrated experience with budgeting and strategic planning
• Demonstrated experience leading digital initiatives
• Demonstrated experience with disaster planning and recovery for collections
• Record of success in securing and managing grants
• Record of accomplishment in donor relations

Located on Penn State's University Park Campus and at the Conservation Centre, the department plans, manages, and implements programs and services to preserve and make accessible materials and collections for all locations in all formats for use by students, faculty, researchers, and scholars. In pursuit of our mandate, we…