Curator, Drawings & Archives

Description

The Curator for Drawings & Archives is responsible for leading and expertly maintaining the fundamental collection-related activities of Avery's Drawings & Archives (D&A) Department; collaboration with and outreach to Columbia University faculty and students; and engagement with D&A’s international audiences of scholars and practitioners.

The Curator is also charged with:

• Managing departmental staff.
• Overseeing conservation, processing and digitization projects executed in collaboration with other Columbia University Library employees.
• Strengthening core collecting areas and exploring new areas of collection growth, including the development of born-digital collecting policies and Avery-specific born-digital workflows.
• Providing course-integrated instruction for D&A, with emphasis on service to the teaching and research programs of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) and the Department of Art History and Archaeology.
• Collaborating with Avery’s Head of Exhibitions & Digital Asset Management in response to external requests for exhibition loans; preparing objects for loans and assigning insurance values.
• Representing the Department at external venues (e.g., professional conferences) and within the greater architectural and library communities.
• Developing public programs and events in collaboration with Columbia University faculty and Avery Library staff that promote awareness and understanding of D & A collections and bring attention to the contemporary relevance of the collection’s holdings in diverse ways.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and strongly encourages individuals of all backgrounds and cultures to consider this position.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in relevant field (MLIS/MSIS, MA, MS or PhD) and expertise in American architectural history and theory, with an emphasis on architecture in the United States.
• Ability to interpret architectural scholarship for the general public.
• Thorough knowledge of architectural records, archival materials, and preservation practices.
• Strong organizational skills; excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively with diverse groups, across a complex organization. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous project management experience and experience building and stewarding collections.
• Familiarity with digital project development and management, and digitization and web technologies.
• Supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of online sources, databases, and sites relating to special collections.