Associate Director for Library Services, The Harry Ransom Center

University of Texas at Austin

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings. The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections. 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.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.