Associate Director and Head of Collections

Amherst•Amherst, MA

4d•$85,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

Amherst College invites applications for the Associate Director & Head of Collections position. This is a full-time, year-round position with an expected salary range of $85,000 - $90,000 per year. The salary offered will vary based on factors such as relevant education, training, experience, tenure status, and other nondiscriminatory business considerations. Amherst College offers a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package. Reporting to the director of the Amherst Center for Russian Culture (ACRC), the Associate Director and Head of Collections (AD) is responsible for overseeing the Center’s logistical operations and collection maintenance, supporting longer-term projects and programs, and supervising the budget in consultation with the director and the ACRC’s advisory board. The AD will also be primarily charged with advancing the strategic goals of the Center. The AD develops and maintains the Center’s communications and publicity, develops and implements policies regarding patron and visitor access, oversees collection management and policies, and supervises Center employees, including staff and student workers. The AD will also supervise projects related to collection maintenance in consultation with the director and colleagues in Frost and the Mead Art Museum. Additional responsibilities may include working with donor relations, supporting student projects, and developing the Center’s work in digital humanities and grants. Although the position reports to the Director of the ACRC, the Head of the Archives & Special Collections and the College Archivist will work with the AD to ensure consistency of policies and procedures across Frost and the ACRC. The Audit Archivist takes appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participates in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. From time to time, the AD will work on collection development, which can include identifying materials, managing correspondence, or negotiating contracts in consultation with the College’s CFO and legal counsel.

Requirements

Master’s Degree; Russian or related field
Equivalent combination of education/experience in lieu of minimum education and related experience
Facility in using various technological platforms or a willingness to learn to use such platforms as, for example, G-suite, Excel, and Archive Space
Advanced competency in English and Russian
Excellent oral and written communication
Attentiveness to details
Basic web editing skills
Ability to oversee projects from inception to conclusion
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Successful completion of required reference and background checks
An acceptable criminal offender records information (CORI) check

Nice To Haves

PhD in Slavic Languages or Literatures or related fields; advanced competency in Russian

Responsibilities

Oversees the daily logistical operations of the Center
Supports long-term projects
Budgetary oversight
Oversees both the Center’s ADC and student workers
Oversight of the physical plant, coordinating with Facilities, contractors, and other departments on campus
Oversight of events
Maintains the physical safety and monitors use of the collection
Implements best practices for patron’s use of the collection
Serves as the liaison, in consultation with the director, with the Mead Art Museum and the Frost Library, on collection management and exhibitions
Coordinates as needed project archivists to process archives and new acquisitions
Identifies and develops grant applications in support of collection maintenance and the consideration and coordination of donations
Oversight and development of the Center’s communications and publicity. This may include working with campus partners and outside contractors for projects related to digital humanities.
Collection development, which can include the identification of materials, the management of correspondence, or the negotiation of contracts