Vice President and Arnold Thackray Director

Science History Institute; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 153,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental coverage

Retirement match

Generous PTO

Commuter benefits

Job summary

The Science History Institute in Philadelphia seeks a senior executive to serve as Vice President and Arnold Thackray Director of the Othmer Library. You will lead the library’s strategy, operations, and collections, ensuring robust stewardship of endowments and donor engagements.

Based at our HQ in Old City, you will oversee acquisitions, processing, preservation, and space planning while collaborating with the President to advance the Center for the History of Life Sciences.

Qualifications

• PhD in history of science, technology, or medicine.
• Seven+ years in a special collections or research library with increasing responsibility.
• Experience managing large teams with innovative leadership and strategic vision.
• Experience managing complex budgets and nonprofit governance.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (5–10%).
• Strong knowledge of library and archival best practices and DAMS software.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for the Othmer Library and related collections.
• Oversee acquisitions, processing, deaccessioning, and preservation activities.
• Lead collections growth through space planning and curated displays.
• Manage endowments, gifts, and donor reporting to major donors and foundations.
• Represent the Institute for the Independent Research Library Association.
• Collaborate with the President to shape the Institute’s Center for the History of Life Sciences.

Skills

Executive leadership

Team leadership

Budget management

Donor cultivation

Strategic vision

Education

PhD in history of science/technology/medicine

Tools

DAMS software

Job description

Vice President and Arnold Thackray Director

Full Time 35+ hrs Senior Management HQ-Philadelphia, PA USA, Philadelphia, PA, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 1032

Salary Range: $170,000.00 To $170,000.00 Annually

The Science History Institute is seeking an accomplished executive to serve as Vice President and Arnold Thackray Director of the Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History. The Vice President and Arnold Thackray Director of the Othmer Library is a key member of the leadership team who is tasked with advancing the mission and goals of the organization by providing support and participation in programs and events to reach the Institute’s multiple audiences. The Vice President and Arnold Thackray Director of the Othmer Library will also contribute to the organization’s mission by providing thoughtful leadership and oversight to strategically lead the Othmer Library. This position is based at our headquarters in Old City Philadelphia.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership, strategic vision, and direct administrative responsibility for all functions of the Institute’s Othmer Library and related collections
• Collaborate with staff to oversee collection acquisitions, processing, strategic deaccessioning, and preservation activities
• Lead strategic collections growth by efforts for space planning, collections shift, and curated displays
• Provide careful stewardship of existing endowments, gifts, and awards, including preparing reports for major donors, foundations, and government agencies
• Serve as the organization’s representative for the Independent Research Library Association
• Collaborate with the President and CEO to shape the Institute’s new Center for the History of Life Sciences

Qualifications:

• Skilled and experienced professional with a minimum of seven years of experience within a special collections or research library, with increasing level of responsibility
• Demonstrated record of success in managing large teams with innovative leadership and strategic vision
• PhD in the history of science, technology, or medicine
• Strong body of knowledge of library and archival best practices, as well as collection management and DAMS software
• Collaborative management style, with demonstrated team-building skills
• Experience managing complex budgets and working with nonprofit governance bodies
• Demonstrated experience in successful donor cultivation
• Ability to participate in domestic and international travel (5-10%)

Additional Information:

• The starting annual salary for this position is $170,000; salary may be slightly higher based on candidate’s experience
• This position is based in our Philadelphia office and will require in-person attendance; a relocation stipend is available
• The Science History Institute is unable to provide legal sponsorship to candidates

The Science History Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package:

• Free medical and dental coverage for employees; medical and dental coverage for dependents is also available at a cost (the Institute pays 83% of dependent medical coverage)
• Retirement savings plan that offers a 6% employer match with immediate vesting in the employer match; eligibility to participate begins on date of hire
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter benefits, including monthly employer contribution

The Science History Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The Science History Institute is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages applicants from underrepresented groups such as women, racioethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities to apply.

About the Science History Institute

Founded in 1982, the Science History Institute collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the lesser-known and sometimes overlooked stories from the history of science and technology. And we don’t just mean discoveries made in laboratories. We dive deep into the history of scientific successes and failures, with a focus on expanding knowledge and broadening our understanding of how science and society intersect.We tell the stories behind the science. Visit the Institute’s museum and library, listen to our podcasts, read our magazine and blog, attend our programs, and browse our digital collections. It’s all free so you can be free to discover the science in your life. Learn more at sciencehistory.org or follow us on Facebook , X , and Instagram .