Collections Director Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Director of Collections #00018
Job no: 5108790
Work type: Full-Time (Salaried)
Location: Richmond (City), Virginia
Categories: Administrative Services, Educational and Media Services
Title: Director of Collections #00018
State Role Title: Education Administrator III
Hiring Range: Commensurate with experience up to $125,000
Pay Band: 6
Agency: The Library of Virginia
Location: The Library of Virginia
Agency Website: https://www.lva.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Library of Virginia is seeking applicants for the Director of Collections position. This is a leadership role which provides strategic leadership for the stewardship, development, description, and discovery of the library's collections across all formats and content types, including special collections and the Virginia newspaper program. Reporting to the Deputy State Librarian/Chief, Collections and Archives, the Director oversees institution-wide acquisitions, cataloging, and metadata services-including print, audiovisual, microform, and electronic and digital resources-and leads a comprehensive, data-informed approach to both collections assessment and ambitious expansion with a unit of 15+ employees.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties
Library-Wide Collections Strategy and Stewardship
• Lead development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of a comprehensive collections strategy.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders on regular review and refinement of collections workflows.
• Use data, analytics, and user feedback to identify collection strengths, gaps, and priorities, supporting evidence-based decision-making.
• Oversee all acquisitions operations, including vendor relations, procurement workflows, licensing coordination, and budget management for library-wide resources.
Acquisitions, Cataloging, and Metadata Services
• Provide strategic direction for acquisitions, cataloging, and metadata activities for all library collections, excluding state and local records.
• Ensure high-quality bibliographic and archival description following current standards
• Collaborate with digital initiatives and IT teams to maintain effective system integrations supporting acquisitions, cataloging, metadata, and digital resource workflows.
• Direct the arrangement and description of personal papers and other archival materials using appropriate national standards and best practices.
• Oversee acquisition, cataloging, management, and access strategies for Virginia newspaper collections in all formats.
Systems and Discovery Coordination
• Collaborate with Research Engagement staff to enhance discovery tools, support user inquiries, and promote collections through outreach and instruction.
• Partner with digital initiatives and IT units to integrate acquisitions, metadata, and archival description seamlessly into digital repositories, discovery layers, and archival management systems.
Leadership and Collaboration
• Supervise professional and technical staff engaged in acquisitions, cataloging, metadata creation, processing, and description across diverse media types and collection formats.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative working environment that supports communication, professional development, and staff engagement.
• Represent collections-related priorities and perspectives in institutional planning, policy development, and cross-departmental initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
• ALA-accredited graduate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in acquisitions, cataloging/metadata services, collections management, special collections, or related technical services functions.
• Supervisory experience managing a diverse team of library, archives, or cultural heritage professionals.
• Experience working in both general collections and special collections environments
• Experience assessing, managing, and improving complex library technical services
• Knowledge of current and emerging bibliographic, archival, and metadata standards.
• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
Additional Considerations
• Experience with Alma, Primo, and Alma analytics.
• Knowledge of Virginia history, literary, and cultural heritage landscape.
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.
State employees who have been affected by Policy 1.3 Layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card) must submit the card BEFORE the closing date for this position. The card may be scanned and attached to the application or faxed to (804) 371-7401. Please include your name and the position number of the fax cover sheet. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please call 804-225-2131 for assistance.
All applicants are subject to a background investigation. The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI); local agency checks; employment verification; verification of education (relevant to employment); credit checks; and other checks requested by the hiring authority. AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Contact Information
Name: Debbie Howe
Phone: 804) 292-6497
Email: deborah.howe@dhrm.virginia.gov
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.
Advertised: 03 Aug 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 21 Aug 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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