Associate Director and Head of Collections

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Associate Director & Head of Collections position. The Associate Director & Head of Collections is a full-time, year-round position. The expected salary range for this job opportunity is: $85,000 - $90,000 per year.

The salary offered will vary based on a number of factors, including but not limited to relevant education, training, and experience, tenure status, and other nondiscriminatory business considerations. Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Click here for Benefits Information.

Reporting to the director of the Amherst Center for Russian Culture (ACRC), the Center’s Associate Director and Head of Collections (AD) has overall responsibility for overseeing the Center’s logistical operations and collection maintenance, providing support of longer-term projects and programs, and supervising the budget, which is developed 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 as developed in consultation with the director and the advisory board. The AD develops and maintains the Center’s communications and publicity, develops and implements policies regarding patron and visitor access of the Center, oversees collection’s management and policies, and supervises Center employees, including both staff and student workers. The AD will also supervise projects related to collection’s maintenance in consultation with the director and colleagues in Frost and the Mead Art Museum. Additional responsibilities may include: working with donor relations, support of student projects, and developing the Center’s work in the areas of 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 the identification of materials, the management of correspondence, or the negotiation of contracts, the latter being executed in consultation with the College’s CFO and legal counsel.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Associate Director Duties

• 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

Collections

• 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.

Qualifications:

Required

• 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

Preferred

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

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen.) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Amherst College is committed to an inclusive hiring process and will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates throughout the application and interview process upon request.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.