Assistant Director, American Heritage Center

Socket.dev; Laramie (WY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Waiver

Generous Retirement Contributions

Health & Prescription Coverage

Paid Time Off

Wellness Programs

Job summary

The University of Wyoming seeks an Assistant Director for the American Heritage Center, a senior leader partnering with the Director to advance strategic priorities, oversee operations, collections stewardship, and compliance across state and national levels.

The role leads facilities, security, budgeting, and donor relations, with responsibility in Director’s absence and external partnerships. On-campus work is required, with an emphasis on preservation and accessibility of collections.

Qualifications

• Master’s in library and information sciences or related field.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible administrative experience, including 2 years in supervisory/management roles.
• Valid driver’s license with MVR compliant with Driving for University Business SAP.
• Experience in donor relations and collection development; knowledge of policies and compliance.
• Ability to manage facilities, environmental controls, hazardous materials handling, and preservation storage.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director in managing day-to-day operations of the American Heritage Center.
• Oversee facilities, security, and environmental controls for archival collections.
• Coordinate facilities maintenance, renovations, and capital projects with university partners.
• Maintain Emergency Response Plan and coordinate with campus/external agencies.
• Ensure safety compliance for facilities and storage operations.
• Assist Director with personnel administration and staff development.
• Oversee acquisitions process, donor relations, and collection development policy implementation.
• Advise on university policies, donor agreements, records management, and applicable laws.
• Review budgets, policies, and long-range operational planning.
• Represent the Center on committees and in external partnerships.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Judgment

Negotiation

Education

Master’s degree in library and information sciences

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Job description

Join Our Campus Community!

Thank you for your interest in joining the University of Wyoming. Our community thrives on the contributions of talented and driven individuals who share in our mission, vision, and values. If your expertise and experience align with the goals of our institution, we would be thrilled to hear from you. We encourage you to apply and become a valued member of our vibrant campus community today!

Why Choose Us?

At the University of Wyoming, we value our employees and invest in their success. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits include:

• Generous Retirement Contributions: The State contributes over 15% of your gross salary. With your mandatory employee contribution, the total contribution toward your retirement plan exceeds 19%.
• Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage:Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, which include 4 deductible options to suit your needs.
• Paid Time Off: Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.
• Tuition Waiver: Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs:Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.

At the University of Wyoming, we are committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW’s Benefits Summary.

JOB TITLE

Assistant Director

JOB PURPOSE

The Assistant Director serves as a senior leader of the American Heritage Center (AHC), partnering with the Director to advance the Center's strategic vision, organizational priorities, and operational effectiveness. The position provides leadership for administrative and operational functions, including facilities and security, departmental reporting, collections stewardship, policy implementation, compliance, and resource management to ensure the preservation, protection, and accessibility of state, regional, and nationally significant collections. Acting with delegated authority, the Assistant Director assumes full administrative responsibility for the Center in the Director's absence and represents the AHC in university and external partnerships.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the Director in the management, coordination, evaluation, and day-to-day operations of the American Heritage Center.
• Oversee assigned administrative and operational functions to support the preservation, security, and accessibility of archival collections.
• Serve as the primary coordinator for the American Heritage Center's facilities, including building operations, security systems, environmental controls, and specialized collections storage areas.
• Coordinate facilities maintenance, infrastructure improvements, renovations, and capital projects in collaboration with university partners.
• Maintain the Center's Emergency Response Plan and coordinate emergency preparedness and response activities with campus and external agencies.
• Ensure compliance with safety requirements related to facilities, environmental controls, and hazardous materials storage and use.
• Assist the Director with personnel administration, including recruitment, hiring, performance evaluations, and staff development for assigned departments and units.
• Oversee the collections acquisition process, including donor consultations, contract coordination, ownership transfer, and implementation of collections policies and procedures.
• Chair the Acquisitions Committee and make recommendations regarding acquisitions and collection development.
• Assist with collection donor relations and support the development and implementation of collections initiatives.
• Advise the Director on the interpretation and application of university policies, donor agreements, records management requirements, and applicable state and federal laws.
• Review and provide recommendations regarding budgets, policies, procedures, and short- and long-range operational planning.
• Serve on university and professional committees and represent the American Heritage Center as assigned.
• Assume administrative responsibility for Center operations in the Director's absence.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Participate in performance-related goal setting and achievement to meet personal and organizational goals and objectives.
• Attend and participate in training and other personal professional development activities.

COMPETENCIES

• Individual Leadership
• Quality Orientation
• Technical/Professional Knowledge
• Collaboration
• Judgment
• Negotiation

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Master’s degree in library and information sciences, e.g., MLIS, or master’s degree in a relevant field or closely related discipline. Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible work-related experience to include 2 years of supervisory or management experience.

Required licensure, certification, registration or other requirements: Valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the Driving for University Business SAP.

Experience Evaluation

Experience requirements are evaluated on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis. Relevant part-time experience will be prorated based on hours worked. For example, two years working an average of 20 hours per week is equivalent to approximately one year of full-time experience.

Applicants must include the average hours worked per week for all current and previous positions. Failure to provide this information may affect the evaluation of qualifications.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible administrative experience, with at least five (5) years of that in an archival or library setting.
• Experience with managing facilities. Knowledge of facilities management principles related to environmental controls, security, emergency preparedness, hazardous materials handling, and preservation-quality storage—and experience applying them.
• Experience in managing department personnel and operational activities.
• Expertise in donor relations and collection development, including consultation, negotiation, stewardship, and evaluation of acquisition proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and compliance responsibilities simultaneously.

This position will remain open until filled. Complete applications received by 10/21/2026 will receive full consideration.

WORK LOCATION

On-campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work and perform essential job functions on campus, understanding our location is at 7,220 feet above sea level.

WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the United States. Sponsorship for H-1B work authorization or work visa is not available for this position.

HIRING STATEMENT/EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email [e-mail].

ABOUT LARAMIE

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website.

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado’s Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie’s beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/