Senior Manager, Peter H. Raven Library and Archives

Summary: This position oversees all operations of the Peter H. Raven Library and Archives at the Missouri Botanical Garden. With over 250,000 volumes including a rich collection of rare books dating to the 15^thcentury, the Library holds one of the world's most comprehensive repositories of botanical literature and serves a critical role in supporting the Garden's Science and Conservation work. The Archives document the history of the Missouri Botanical Garden over its 165-year existence and contains over 3,500 linear feet of documents, photographs, artwork, maps, and other historic objects.

The Senior Manager, Peter H. Raven Library and Archives will be responsible for all activities connected with the acquisition, storage, care and access to digital and physical items in the Library and Archives collections, as well as the management and access of their associated data in support of the Garden's staff, students, research visitors, outside users, and general public. The Senior Manager will lead, develop and motivate the Library team, promote the Garden's role in science, conservation, and the humanities to internal and external audiences, and be instrumental in securing ongoing funding.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Senior Vice President of Science and Conservation and the Division's management team, leads the strategic development, delivery, and assessment of goals and objectives of the Library and Archive's programs.
• Responsible for the strategic growth and improvement of the research collection and its long-term care.

• Develops a sustainable operating budget, aligned with available resources.

• Provides leadership to, and directly manages, coaches, and develops, the department's staff.

• Supervises staff involved in all aspects of library and archives research collection management, including such tasks as collection development, library software and metadata management, long-term access, and preservation.

• Identifies and facilitates opportunities for new initiatives and projects for the Department in line with the overall strategy of the Division, including developing partnerships and collaborations with other peer libraries and archives, and establishing cooperative agreements for mutually strengthening all collections and relationships that promote botanical and humanities education and research.

• Takes a proactive role in developing appropriate policies for all aspects of access and use of the research collections and their associated data.

• Takes responsibility for complying with collections-related international, national, and state standards and laws; ensures adherence to professional best practices and ethical standards.

• Identifies funding sources and prepares and submits proposals to raise funds to support initiatives within the Department and the Division, including for the Director's independent research program.

• Initiates, conducts, and publishes independent research that could involve students, staff, and external collaborators and prepares results for publication in books, peer reviewed journals, and other appropriate media.

• Writes, reviews, and facilitates grant proposals, institutional reports, and publicity materials.

• Establishes and maintains contact with professionals, community networks, professional organizations and other institutions with interests similar to those of the Department in an effort to promote strengthened collaboration.

• Appraises, evaluates and reports the Department's activities and results on a regular, systematic basis.

• Participates in professional meetings and delivers lectures to professional organizations and to the general public as appropriate.

• Provides instruction and interpretation of library and archives collections through exhibits, tours, publications, and classes.

• In consultation with the library's conservator, manages and prioritizes book, manuscript, and digital conservation and preservation programs for long-term maintenance of collections.

• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within the Division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees.

• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed; informs employees/students/volunteers of safety guidelines and methods to reduce hazards. Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position supervises library staff, including Library Assistant, Archives Librarian, Serials Librarian, Interlibrary Loan Specialist, Bibliographer, Catalog Librarians, and Library Conservator. May supervise students, volunteers, and interns as needed.

Competencies:

• Leadership: incorporates a cluster of knowledge, skills and abilities required for management of people, budgets and assigned business functions/operations.

• Communication: Combines listening skills, verbal and written communication skills and visitor relation skills.

• Collaboration: Incorporates teamwork, mutual respect, active engagement, cooperation and visitor focus.

• Accountability: Initiative to take ownership of responsibilities, the ability to prioritize and the working knowledge and skills to take action.

• Problem Solving: Blends problem solving skills, judgement and decision-making skills along with creativity and resourcefulness.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum of five or more (5+) years of relevant experience with a record of successful career growth leading to significant management responsibilities and leadership, and a proven track record in strategic business planning preferably in a non-profit, learning organization.
• Seven to ten or more (7-10+) years of experience in staff management, including conflict resolution and other related management experience.

• Strong understanding of financial budget development and management.

• Have a proven record of effective leadership in libraries or other collections dealing with objects of historic importance as well as an established publication record of independent research in botany, history, or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated success in securing external funding, including competitive government grants. Experience in negotiating and managing project budgets.

• Prior experience facilitating and conducting research for academic papers and reports.

• Familiarity with botanical nomenclature and botanical literature is highly desirable.

• Experience working with rare books and special collections management, conservation, preservation, and promotion is desirable.

• Must be able to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure, demonstrate and instill in staff members a high degree of professionalism, integrity, loyalty and service to the organization.

• Excellent writing, presentation, and public speaking skills for a variety of audiences.

• Demonstrates highest level of professional and ethical conduct, including a knowledge and understanding of organizational policies, procedures and systems, as well as maintaining confidentiality.

• Scheduling flexibility is required to work evenings, weekends, or holidays and travel nationally and internationally as needed.

• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receiveall vaccinationsas recommended by your healthcareprovider prior to hire date.The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based onlocalhealth department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtainthe required travel clearances, driving permits, andvaccinationsfor all countries where travel is required.

• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in library sciences required; Master's degree in Library Science (MLS, MSLS, MLIS) or a related field strongly desired. Holders of Doctoral degrees in botany, history, or related fields with experience in historical collections management will also be considered.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Other Skills and Abilities: N/A.

Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English (oral/written) required; a working knowledge of other languages a plus.

Mathematical Skills:

• Requires the ability to comprehend and apply mathematical skills for invoice tracking, budget analysis, and review of statistical equations.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite required. Familiarity with library databases strongly desired.

• Ability to adapt to new technologies developing in the field of digital information science as well as those required by the Garden, including budget management and human resources software, multifactor authentication, etc.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Ability to possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing) and sit for extended periods of the workday.

• Operates copier, printer, fax, and computer.

• Ability to move about facility frequently throughout workday and sit for extended periods of the workday (may sit up to 50% of workday).

• Ability to travel independently for long periods on airplanes, trains and other conveyances both domestic and international.

• May require working long hours to meet deadlines.

Work Environment:

• Office and laboratory environment

• Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a friendly manner, answering questions.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• Garden employees, volunteers, visitors, and donors.

• Collaborators, guests, international scientists, and counterparts.

• Professional organizations.

• Governmental officials.
• Colleges/universities.