About Us
At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
The Huntington
Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.
The Culture
Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do - from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. We are better together. We believe an explicit commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion directly impacts and improves staff and audience engagement and experience.
Job Description
About the Role
The Huntington Library is one of the world's great independent research libraries, with more than 12 million items spanning the 11th to the 21st century. Every year, researchers from over 30 countries make more than 20,000 visits to the Library's reading rooms, and thousands more remote researchers make use of the Library's virtual services and digital collections. Some 80 Library staff members play a critical role in cultivating and expanding access to the collections, creating new opportunities for discovery and engagement, and ensuring that collections are preserved for the future.
Reporting to the Avery Director of the Library, the Head of Library Technical Services provides creative leadership and strategic direction while directing a 21-member team (including 18 professional librarians and archivists) and the day-to-day operations of the Technical Services department including acquisitions, accessioning, archival processing, cataloging, budget monitoring, and library systems to steward and describe its vast collection of what are 95% unique and rare materials.
As a member of the Library Director's advisory team, the Head of Technical Services works in partnership with other library departments on collections strategy - planning, developing, interpreting, and implementing policies and procedures related to the acquisition, description, and discovery of The Huntington's rare book and archival collections as well as other scholarly resources.
Skilled in special collections description and complex cataloging, the Head of Technical Services will implement and guide new cataloging and metadata practices that include description of diverse collections and reparative practices that address historical omissions and harmful language. The Head takes a lead role in budgeting resources and stewarding the Library's integrated library system and other systems for accessioning, access control, description, and collections management.
The Head of Technical Service manages, supports, and mentors all department staff to ensure the effective organization of departmental workflows, continued professional development, and an inclusive workplace. Comfortable with navigating change and ambiguity, the Head of Technical Services is a leader with keen analytical and conceptual foresight to influence and help manage institutional and divisional change, inspire innovation, manage projects, and delegate responsibility appropriately. The Head directs the work of 21 highly skilled staff and directly supervises a team of 4 specialists/team leaders.
The Head of Technical Services should stay current in the field, be engaged professionally, and serve as the primary liaison between the Library and relevant professional organizations and vendors.
S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.
Essential Duties

• Manages the work of the units in Technical Services to accession, catalog, and process materials in a variety of formats, including books, serials, maps, manuscripts, archives, photographs, prints, ephemera, and electronic resources. Directing the work of 4 team leaders, the Head supervises, either directly or indirectly, all professional and paraprofessional staff.
• Together with the Library Director's office, monitors budgets as appropriate.
• Develops and documents policies and procedures for all department operations; as a member of the Director's Advisory Group and executive team, develops policies, priorities, and goals for the Library.
• Oversees management of the Library's integrated library system and content management systems which facilitate access and discovery of library resources; acts as liaison with OCLC, Innovative Interfaces, and other vendors and consortia; monitors relevant expenditures.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Library to create and promote policies, procedures, workflows, and standards to ensure a user-centered, access-driven approach to acquisitions, cataloging and archival processing. Create clear and concise documentation of policies and procedures.
• Facilitate activities and projects to keep metadata current and enhance description to facilitate discovery and mindfully steward the use of library materials.
• Collaborate with Reader Services and Curatorial to set priorities and develop long-range plans to facilitate access and delivery of rare and general collection materials.
• Collaborate with Digital Collections and Imaging Services (DCIS) and Preservation to optimize workflows and processes to facilitate discovery and access to digital content.
• Develops and implements strategic plans or projects; monitors budgets; advocates for resources.
• Monitor current developments, trends, and emerging technologies in cataloging, archival processing, and special collections and engage with the professional community on a local, state, or national level.

Candidate Requirements and Experience
Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Master's degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Demonstrated expertise in cataloging rare materials in a variety of formats, including early printed books and codices.
• Demonstrated skill in the application of data standards such as DCRM, MARC, AACR2, RDA, LCC,
• LCSH and other controlled vocabularies.
• Demonstrated skill in project management in a team environment, including the ability to track and measure progress toward project goals and complete projects within anticipated deadlines. Familiarity and willingness to implement Total Cost of Stewardship frameworks.
• Familiarity with basic preservation of archival materials, including proper handling, housing, and storage.
• Ability to work creatively, collaboratively, and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality, and inclusiveness.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with budget management, knowledge of grant writing and endowed funds.
• Five years of professional experience working with special collections materials, preferably in a research library.
• Five to seven years successful supervisory experience in an academic or research library.
• Evidence of contributions to the field.

Compensation & Benefits
We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:

• Pay Range: $100,000- $110,000 annually. Negotiable and commensurate on experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
• Hybrid remote work schedule available for applicable positions
• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays
• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds

The Application Process: Applications received before January 31, 2024 will be prioritized.
Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment.
You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the "My Experience" section of the application.
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