Virginia Jobs
Virginia Jobs is hiring: Deputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections & Archi
Virginia Jobs, Richmond, VA, US, 23214
Title: Deputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections & Archives (00002)
State Role Title:Deputy State Librarian
Hiring Range: Commensurate with experience
Pay Band: UG
Agency: The Library of Virginia
Location:The Library of Virginia
Agency Website:www.lva.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Library of Virginia in Richmond seeks applications and nominations for the position ofDeputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections and Archives (hereafter, Deputy). Reportingto the Librarian of Virginia, the Deputy serves as his principal library advisor and holdsdirect responsibility for overseeing the entire scope of the Library's vast collections andarchives, in both print and digital form, including their acquisition, access, preservation,stewardship, and exhibition.
THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA
Founded in 1823, the Library of Virginia is the Commonwealth's official library and archives,preserving 400 years of Virginia's history, government, and people and making themaccessible worldwide. The Library's collections, containing more than 134 million items,document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Ouronline resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year, and our on-site records,exhibitions, and events bring in thousands of visitors annually.
By the Numbers:
• 444,500 square feet in our Richmond headquarters, including two climate- controlled archival floors preserving centuries of history
• 134 million items in our collections, from 17th-century founding documents tocontemporary art and literature
• 55 miles of shelving housing Virginia's historical records and treasures
• 300+ Public, academic, and K-12 libraries across the Commonwealth supported by
the Library of Virginia
Highlights of the Collection:
• George Mason's annotated Declaration of Rights
• Legislative petitions from enslaved and free Black Virginians
• The State Art Collection with over 400 paintings and sculptures
• Rare, historic maps documenting the evolution of Virginia's development
• Thousands of newspapers, photographs, letters, and journals documenting the livesof everyday Virginians
For more about the Library please visit: https://www.lva.virginia.gov
THE ROLE OF THE DEPUTY STATE LIBRARIAN & CHIEF OF COLLECTIONS ANDARCHIVES AND THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Deputy serves in a dual capacity both as the second-most senior leader in the Libraryof Virginia and also the head of the Collections and Archives division that is at the heart ofthe Library. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of executive leadership skills necessaryto be a successful deputy to the Librarian of Virginia , along with the expertise in collectionsand archives to enable a strategic revitalization in the division.
Serving as Deputy and Representative of the Library The ideal candidate will possess the executive presence and senior administrative experience to serve in the Librarian of Virginia's absence. The Deputy will also serve as one of the Library's most visible representatives to the public, donors, and other state agencies and entities. That work will include delivering presentations to a variety of public audiences, leading tours of the Library's facilities and collections, and participating in the Library's important donor relations.
Participating on the Senior Leadership Team
The next Deputy will also join a newly composed Senior Leadership Team which features amix of longtime Library leaders as well as more recent additions. Other members of theSenior Leadership Team include the Chief Communications Officer, the Chief of LibraryDevelopment, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief of Researcher Engagement, and aChief Technology Officer, each of whom reports to the Librarian of Virginia. This is a neworganizational model, and the ideal candidate will serve as a collegial and contributivemember of the Senior Leadership Team and take advantage of this unique opportunity tofacilitate collaboration across the Library's functional areas.
Collaboratively Shaping the Future of the Library
The Deputy will join the Library at an exciting time in its trajectory as it embarks on arenewed effort to serve the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. Severalhighlights of the Library's recent strategic changes include the development and launch ofa new strategic plan , the expansion of the State Records Center , and a building renovationwhich is currently at the earliest stages of planning. This opportunity to join the leadershipof the Library offers an exceptional chance for an energetic and entrepreneurial candidateto build and shape the future in terms of what the library offers and the way that the public interacts with the collection.
Leading the Collections and Archives
The Deputy will coordinate all Library activities in the areas of acquisition, bibliographicaccess, preservation and conservation, manuscripts and special collections, collectionstewardship for print and electronic resources, publications, exhibitions, and statearchives and government records. The ideal candidate will possess professionalexperience in collections and special collections as well as expertise in current bestpractices in areas including acquisitions, discovery and accessibility, and metadata andcataloging.
Leading in a Dynamic Environment
The next Deputy will lead a division that is in the process of restructuring. Among theDeputy's first responsibilities will be to hire three new director-level positions: a Director ofManuscripts and Special Collections, a Director of Preservation, a Director of CollectionStewardship. These three new directors will join the existing Director of GovernmentRecords Services/State Archivist to give the Deputy a total of four direct reports with fiftyplus staff in their reporting lines. The ideal candidate will be able to build and developdepartment-level leadership to facilitate the communication of vision and empower thedepartments to proactively advance the Library's strategic plan.
Updating the Library's Collection Strategy
The Deputy will be responsible for establishing a new collection strategy in collaborationwith the State Librarian and the Library's staff that meets the present needs of the library'susers while also maintaining compliance with the Code of Virginia's mandate to serve asthe state archives. The collection was originally founded with the purpose of being - andcontinues to be - the most well-regarded single source of materials related to Virginia'speople and history. In recent years the incoming volume has become larger than thecurrent staff can support and a backlog of processing has accumulated. The idealcandidate for this position will be able to understand the changing needs of users, both interms of access and the materials they desire, as well as possessing a forward-lookingvision for the way that the physical and digital collections can interact and are madeavailable.
Facilitating Collaboration with Other Agencies and Organizations
The next Deputy will have the opportunity to facilitate collaboration with other agenciesand organizations. The ideal candidate will recognize that the Library of Virginia is a node in a network of research institutions that feature complementary collections and servicesand be able to pursue collaborative ventures with museums such as Colonial Williamsburgand the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Virginia and regional and national research libraries, and national and international consortia.
Minimum Qualifications
• An advanced degree in library or information science or in an area relevant to theLibrary of Virginia's collections
• Significant progressive leadership experience suitable for appointment at the levelof Deputy State Librarian, which should include administration/management and/orsupervisory experience in a research library, museum, archive, or consortium.
Additional Considerations
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating team communications with staff, external
organizations, project partners, and other constituents
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and experience dealing with the
public
• Experience advocating for funding or participating in donor relations
• Experience successively building and motivating a team
• Experience in the implementation and execution of a strategic plan
• Experience in a public-facing role as a representative of a library, archive, or
museum
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
Academic Search is assisting the Library of Virginia in this search. Nominations andexpressions of interest may be submitted in confidence to LVADeputy@academicsearch.org. When submitting a nomination please include thenominee's name, position, institution and contact information.
Confidential conversations about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting Dr. EricRichtmyer at eric.richtmyer@academicsearch.org or by phone at 202-263-7485.
Application Procedures: To apply, please submit electronically to www.jobs.virginia.gov the following: 1) A cover letter, 2) comprehensive vita or resume, and 3) names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of 3 recent professional references. No paper applications, faxes or emails will be accepted.
The position is open until filled, but to assure full consideration please submit applicationsby October 20, 2025.
Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting,and maintaining a competent and diverse work force.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Eric Richtmyer
Phone: 202-263-7485
Email: eric.richtmyer@academicsearch.org
In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
State Role Title:Deputy State Librarian
Hiring Range: Commensurate with experience
Pay Band: UG
Agency: The Library of Virginia
Location:The Library of Virginia
Agency Website:www.lva.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Library of Virginia in Richmond seeks applications and nominations for the position ofDeputy State Librarian and Chief of Collections and Archives (hereafter, Deputy). Reportingto the Librarian of Virginia, the Deputy serves as his principal library advisor and holdsdirect responsibility for overseeing the entire scope of the Library's vast collections andarchives, in both print and digital form, including their acquisition, access, preservation,stewardship, and exhibition.
THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA
Founded in 1823, the Library of Virginia is the Commonwealth's official library and archives,preserving 400 years of Virginia's history, government, and people and making themaccessible worldwide. The Library's collections, containing more than 134 million items,document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Ouronline resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year, and our on-site records,exhibitions, and events bring in thousands of visitors annually.
By the Numbers:
• 444,500 square feet in our Richmond headquarters, including two climate- controlled archival floors preserving centuries of history
• 134 million items in our collections, from 17th-century founding documents tocontemporary art and literature
• 55 miles of shelving housing Virginia's historical records and treasures
• 300+ Public, academic, and K-12 libraries across the Commonwealth supported by
the Library of Virginia
Highlights of the Collection:
• George Mason's annotated Declaration of Rights
• Legislative petitions from enslaved and free Black Virginians
• The State Art Collection with over 400 paintings and sculptures
• Rare, historic maps documenting the evolution of Virginia's development
• Thousands of newspapers, photographs, letters, and journals documenting the livesof everyday Virginians
For more about the Library please visit: https://www.lva.virginia.gov
THE ROLE OF THE DEPUTY STATE LIBRARIAN & CHIEF OF COLLECTIONS ANDARCHIVES AND THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Deputy serves in a dual capacity both as the second-most senior leader in the Libraryof Virginia and also the head of the Collections and Archives division that is at the heart ofthe Library. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of executive leadership skills necessaryto be a successful deputy to the Librarian of Virginia , along with the expertise in collectionsand archives to enable a strategic revitalization in the division.
Serving as Deputy and Representative of the Library The ideal candidate will possess the executive presence and senior administrative experience to serve in the Librarian of Virginia's absence. The Deputy will also serve as one of the Library's most visible representatives to the public, donors, and other state agencies and entities. That work will include delivering presentations to a variety of public audiences, leading tours of the Library's facilities and collections, and participating in the Library's important donor relations.
Participating on the Senior Leadership Team
The next Deputy will also join a newly composed Senior Leadership Team which features amix of longtime Library leaders as well as more recent additions. Other members of theSenior Leadership Team include the Chief Communications Officer, the Chief of LibraryDevelopment, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief of Researcher Engagement, and aChief Technology Officer, each of whom reports to the Librarian of Virginia. This is a neworganizational model, and the ideal candidate will serve as a collegial and contributivemember of the Senior Leadership Team and take advantage of this unique opportunity tofacilitate collaboration across the Library's functional areas.
Collaboratively Shaping the Future of the Library
The Deputy will join the Library at an exciting time in its trajectory as it embarks on arenewed effort to serve the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. Severalhighlights of the Library's recent strategic changes include the development and launch ofa new strategic plan , the expansion of the State Records Center , and a building renovationwhich is currently at the earliest stages of planning. This opportunity to join the leadershipof the Library offers an exceptional chance for an energetic and entrepreneurial candidateto build and shape the future in terms of what the library offers and the way that the public interacts with the collection.
Leading the Collections and Archives
The Deputy will coordinate all Library activities in the areas of acquisition, bibliographicaccess, preservation and conservation, manuscripts and special collections, collectionstewardship for print and electronic resources, publications, exhibitions, and statearchives and government records. The ideal candidate will possess professionalexperience in collections and special collections as well as expertise in current bestpractices in areas including acquisitions, discovery and accessibility, and metadata andcataloging.
Leading in a Dynamic Environment
The next Deputy will lead a division that is in the process of restructuring. Among theDeputy's first responsibilities will be to hire three new director-level positions: a Director ofManuscripts and Special Collections, a Director of Preservation, a Director of CollectionStewardship. These three new directors will join the existing Director of GovernmentRecords Services/State Archivist to give the Deputy a total of four direct reports with fiftyplus staff in their reporting lines. The ideal candidate will be able to build and developdepartment-level leadership to facilitate the communication of vision and empower thedepartments to proactively advance the Library's strategic plan.
Updating the Library's Collection Strategy
The Deputy will be responsible for establishing a new collection strategy in collaborationwith the State Librarian and the Library's staff that meets the present needs of the library'susers while also maintaining compliance with the Code of Virginia's mandate to serve asthe state archives. The collection was originally founded with the purpose of being - andcontinues to be - the most well-regarded single source of materials related to Virginia'speople and history. In recent years the incoming volume has become larger than thecurrent staff can support and a backlog of processing has accumulated. The idealcandidate for this position will be able to understand the changing needs of users, both interms of access and the materials they desire, as well as possessing a forward-lookingvision for the way that the physical and digital collections can interact and are madeavailable.
Facilitating Collaboration with Other Agencies and Organizations
The next Deputy will have the opportunity to facilitate collaboration with other agenciesand organizations. The ideal candidate will recognize that the Library of Virginia is a node in a network of research institutions that feature complementary collections and servicesand be able to pursue collaborative ventures with museums such as Colonial Williamsburgand the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Virginia and regional and national research libraries, and national and international consortia.
Minimum Qualifications
• An advanced degree in library or information science or in an area relevant to theLibrary of Virginia's collections
• Significant progressive leadership experience suitable for appointment at the levelof Deputy State Librarian, which should include administration/management and/orsupervisory experience in a research library, museum, archive, or consortium.
Additional Considerations
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating team communications with staff, external
organizations, project partners, and other constituents
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and experience dealing with the
public
• Experience advocating for funding or participating in donor relations
• Experience successively building and motivating a team
• Experience in the implementation and execution of a strategic plan
• Experience in a public-facing role as a representative of a library, archive, or
museum
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
Academic Search is assisting the Library of Virginia in this search. Nominations andexpressions of interest may be submitted in confidence to LVADeputy@academicsearch.org. When submitting a nomination please include thenominee's name, position, institution and contact information.
Confidential conversations about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting Dr. EricRichtmyer at eric.richtmyer@academicsearch.org or by phone at 202-263-7485.
Application Procedures: To apply, please submit electronically to www.jobs.virginia.gov the following: 1) A cover letter, 2) comprehensive vita or resume, and 3) names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of 3 recent professional references. No paper applications, faxes or emails will be accepted.
The position is open until filled, but to assure full consideration please submit applicationsby October 20, 2025.
Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting,and maintaining a competent and diverse work force.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Eric Richtmyer
Phone: 202-263-7485
Email: eric.richtmyer@academicsearch.org
In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.