Associate Director for Library Services, The Harry Ransom Center

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin seeks an Associate Director for Library Services at the Harry Ransom Center. This role provides strategic leadership over library services, managing a portfolio that includes Metadata, Collection Management, and Public Services. Candidates must hold an advanced degree in a related field and possess significant experience in library leadership. The estimated salary begins at $100K, with responsibilities including oversight of various programs and cross-divisional initiatives.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in library and information science, archival studies, or a related field.
• Significant senior-level leadership experience in a research library or archive.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex portfolios in library services.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for library services including the management of seven units.
• Monitor progress toward strategic outcomes and address risks.
• Lead staffing and capacity planning for library services portfolio.

Skills

Strategic planning

Organizational leadership

Change management

Education

Advanced degree in library science or related field

Job description

Associate Director for Library Services, The Harry Ransom Center

Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS

Purpose

The Associate Director for Library Services provides strategic leadership for the Ransom Center’s library services portfolio, including Metadata & Discovery, Collection Management, Technology & Database Administration, Digital Projects, Digital Imaging, Reference, and Public Services. This role is responsible for setting vision, priorities, and long‑term direction for how collections are described, accessed, and stored—ensuring that library programs and services are aligned with institutional goals, sustainable over time, and responsive to evolving research and public needs. The Associate Director primarily leads at the portfolio level, with day‑to‑day operations led by the Heads of each unit.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership and portfolio direction
  • Establishes the vision and long‑term strategy for library services across physical and digital environments.
  • Defines department‑wide and portfolio‑level priorities and outcomes in alignment with the Ransom Center’s strategic plan.
  • Ensures that collection stewardship, access, and service models reflect best practices in archives, libraries, and special collections.
  • Leads the development of multi‑year roadmaps for each unit.
• Program and portfolio oversight
  • Determines the portfolio of programs and initiatives across the seven units, including which initiatives are launched, continued, paused, or concluded.
  • Ensures alignment and coordination across units.
  • Establishes success measures and performance indicators for the overall portfolio.
  • Monitors progress toward strategic outcomes and addresses portfolio‑level risks and dependencies.
• Organizational capacity and resource strategy
  • Leads staffing and capacity planning for the library services portfolio in partnership with the Executive Director and senior leadership team.
  • Makes resource and investment recommendations related to staffing models, skills development, tools, infrastructure, and facilities.
  • Ensures that resources are aligned with the Ransom Center’s highest priorities.
• Stewardship, risk, and sustainability
  • Oversees institutional risk related to library services.
  • Ensures appropriate policies and frameworks are in place for collection stewardship, access, and use.
  • Leads long‑term planning for all units.
• Leadership of unit Heads
  • Provides strategic direction, coaching, and performance leadership to the Heads of units.
  • Reviews and approves division‑level program plans and annual priorities.
  • Supports Heads in translating strategy into executable programs while maintaining clear accountability boundaries between strategy and delivery.
• Institutional and cross‑divisional leadership
  • Serves as a senior member of the organization’s leadership team and contributes to institution‑wide strategy and planning.
  • Leads cross‑divisional initiatives that intersect with library services.
  • Represents library services in internal and external partnerships, professional networks, and institutional collaborations.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in library and information science, archival studies, museum studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant senior‑level leadership experience in a research library and archive.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex portfolios that include collections, access and reader services, and digital programs.
• Strong record of strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, build trust across disciplines, and navigate highly specialized professional environments.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an institution with strong public engagement, research, and teaching missions.

Salary Range

$100k+, depending on qualifications.

Working Conditions

• Standard office conditions including repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Moving and lifting of up to 40 lbs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.