Metropolitan New York Library Council is hiring: Senior Manager, Rare Materials

Overview

The New York Public Library’s (NYPL) Special Collections Processing (SCP) department is seeking a proven and collaborative Senior Manager for Rare Materials Cataloging to strengthen and expand its current operations devoted to rare and special format materials. The Senior Manager provides vision, leadership, and oversight for the cataloging and description of rare books, manuscripts, broadsides, pamphlets, serials, maps, photographs, prints, illustrations, designs, artwork, three‑dimensional models, realia, audio and moving images, and related items held by the Library.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and manage unit workflows and cataloging project queues based on collection priorities and institutional goals.
• Supervise and train professional and paraprofessional staff, providing guidance on cataloging workflows, standards, and project priorities.
• Perform and oversee original and complex copy cataloging, review catalog records for accuracy and adherence to national and local standards, and manage the creation and verification of authority records.
• Contribute to the development, documentation, and standardization of NYPL cataloging best practices, staying current with linked data and other relevant technical services trends.
• Collect and report cataloging statistics and support resource, cost, and capacity planning by estimating staff effort.
• Propose and implement approved changes to team structure to support institutional goals and represent NYPL at conferences or collaborative projects related to special collections description.
• Perform other related duties as needed.

Onboarding and Performance Milestones

Within the first month:

• Meet with department staff, BookOps partners, and curatorial staff to assess the effectiveness of cataloging workflows, prioritization, and department structure.

Within three months:

• Identify gaps in policies and cataloging procedures and develop a preliminary plan for aligning stakeholders around a shared vision.
• Develop improved methods of communication with curatorial and public service partners.
• Develop and share cataloging project queues for the next 2–3 years that reflect curatorial and institutional priorities, in collaboration with the Associate Director for Special Collections Processing.

Within six months and beyond:

• Develop and document a plan to address rare materials and special format cataloging long‑term and near‑term goals, including new acquisitions, backlogs, data remediation, and new initiatives.
• Propose improvements to department structure and staffing based on evaluation of the current structure, emerging institutional priorities, and possible team growth.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Education & Certifications

• ALA‑accredited MLS / MLIS or advanced degree with substantial research library experience in special collections.

Experience

• 7 years of successful professional experience in cataloging special collection material.
• 3 years of supervisory experience of professionals and paraprofessionals in the cataloging of special collections materials.
• Expertise in the histories, preservation, and description of rare and unique materials across formats and within the broader contexts of the humanities and special collections librarianship.
• 2 or more years of experience as an independent contributor for personal, corporate, and jurisdictional names, along with uniform titles, to the LC/ NACO Authority File.
• Experience working in a shared cataloging environment (e.g., OCLC) and/or a local cataloging database (e.g., Sierra).
• Experience creating metadata crosswalks and migrating metadata between systems.
• Training or experience in preservation and collections documentation, such as participation in workshops, courses, or practical application in professional settings.
• Experience in working collaboratively with varied groups in a complex organization.

Skills

• Experience managing complex collections description projects, coordinating staff, timelines, workflows, and resources to meet institutional goals.
• Strong original cataloging skills, particularly for visual materials at the item and collection level; proficiency with RDA, AACR2, DCRM, MARC, LCSH, LC/NAF, AAT, TGM, OCLC Connexion, RDA Toolkit, and DACS.
• Proven research, analytical, organizational, planning, and time‑management skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, attention to detail, judgment, project management, and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with a diverse community.
• Ability to work with materials in one or more languages in addition to English (e.g., Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Spanish).
• Awareness of emerging trends in cataloging, metadata, and linked data.
• Experience with technical and metadata tools, including MARCEdit and XML.
• Familiarity with ArchivesSpace and BIBFRAME.

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

• Oversee a team of 8 direct reports, including 2 non‑union managers.

Core Values

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Physical Duties

• Ability to move book trucks and handle materials up to 40 lbs.
• Requires travel within NYC.

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Employees may be directed to perform job‑related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.