Director of Library & Archives [Senator John Heinz History Center]

About the Senator John Heinz History Center

From the pre-revolutionary drama of the French & Indian War to the legendary match-ups of the Super Steelers, discover 250 years of Pittsburgh history at the Senator John Heinz History Center. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the History Center is the largest history museum in Pennsylvania with six floors of long-term and changing exhibition space. The History Center’s museum system includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, a dynamic museum-within-a-museum; the Fort Pitt Museum in Point State Park; Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village, a National Historic Landmark located in Avella, Pa. in Washington County; and the History Center’s Museum Conservation Center. The History Center presents the most compelling stories from American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection, all in an interactive environment perfect for visitors of every age.

About the Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives

The Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives at the Senator John Heinz History Center is a nationally important repository for archives of industrial America and a source for research about Western Pennsylvania.  Founded in 1879, the Library & Archives preserves the rich history of Western Pennsylvania, and makes its collections accessible to researchers, students, and the general public.

The Library & Archives collection includes:

• 700,000 photographs, prints, and negatives
• 40,000 books, pamphlets, and monographs
• 3,500 individual archival collections of families, organizations, businesses, and industries
• 600 periodical titles
• 500 maps and atlases

The extensive repository of information on Western Pennsylvania’s significant contribution to history comes from collections representing some of the nation’s most influential technological breakthroughs of the 20^th century, including materials from the Westinghouse Corporation, ALCOA, H.J. Heinz Company, Carnegie Steel Company, Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, and US Steel.

Job Posting

The Heinz History Center, a 14 year affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is located in Pittsburgh, PA, (cited as the “most livable city” in the United States). The History Center is currently seeking a Director of Library & Archives to provide the energy and strategic leadership that are essential in fulfilling the educational mission of the History Center in the 21^st Century.

The Director of Library & Archives is charged with collecting and preserving library and archival materials related to American history with an emphasis on Western Pennsylvania and disseminating that information to a large and diverse audience in ways that will be relevant and allow onsite and virtual users to take advantage of the collections.  If successful the Library and Archives will reach a vast audience with useful information that will make a difference in their lives and enhance the quality of life in Western Pennsylvania and the United States.

The successful Director Library & Archives will manage the largest collections of Western Pennsylvania history preserved according to best practices in the field and supervise a well-trained and highly motivated staff.

The Director of Library & Archives will continue the digitization of the collections of the Detre Library & Archives and will explore new strategic partnerships and technologies to make the collections ever more universally accessible via the Internet (online databases, Ancestory.com, etc.).

Public Programming will be a priority of the Director with other History Center Divisions, external partners and the Museum Conservation Center to offer educational programs related to Genealogy, Conservation and Oral Histories.

The Director of Library & Archives is a Division Director reporting directly to the President / CEO and is a key member of the History Center’s Management Team. The Director collaborates with external and internal team members to advance of the History Center’s mission through exhibits, publications and educational programs.

The Director of Library & Archives will possess a high degree of professionalism and will be expected to represent the History Center at relevant forums, will attend local and national professional meetings when appropriate and will establish and maintain liaison with other institutions.

This is a full-time position reporting to the President & C.E.O.

Leadership, Vision, Skills

The successful candidate will possess exceptional oral communication skills and have the ability to interact professionally and effectively with museum colleagues, Library & Archives staff, donors, the general public, students, the scholarly community, historians and writers.  Strong writing skills are a necessity in order to communicate effectively and participate in grant writing activities. The Director of Library & Archives must have a strong knowledge of best practices for library and archival concepts and procedures in addition to experience with the “More Product, Less Process” methodology in order to provide intellectual access to more materials.  The Director of Library & Archives must be detail oriented with the ability to organize and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects concurrently.  Strong supervisory skills are required.