Post date: March 27,  2026

The University of Houston (UH) Libraries seeks a collaborative, forward thinking leader to serve as Head of the Special Collections department, which oversees rare books, archival collections, and University Archives. The Head of Special Collections provides strategic leadership, vision, and operational management for the department in alignment with the Libraries’ strategic goals. 

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Special Collections and Preservation, the Head of Special Collections collaboratively develops priorities, initiatives, and workflows for the department and engages in all aspects of special collections stewardship. This includes guiding collection development across all collecting areas, providing high-level oversight of archival processing and space management, and supporting research, engagement, and instruction. The Head of Special Collections works collaboratively with the Preservation and Reformatting department on shared approaches and initiatives related to collection care, reformatting projects, digital preservation, and collections-related disaster planning. This position also manages all department personnel, providing coaching and support for effective goal setting and professional development.

The Head of Special Collections is a promotion-eligible librarian position. Librarians hold academic rank pursuant to the University of Houston Libraries’ Bylaws and are expected to develop a record of service, scholarship, and professional involvement. UH Libraries supports the ongoing professional development of librarians, and our goal is to recruit librarians committed to continuous learning.

The University of Houston prepares students to thrive in a globally interconnected world while contributing impactful research and innovation to the region and beyond. We welcome candidates who are prepared to engage in this environment.

Compensation: Salary is dependent on qualifications and rank. Department head salary ranges are $90,000-$92,000 for Assistant Librarians, $97,000-$99,000 for Associate Librarians.

For more position details or to apply, please click here.