Job Description
Description
Summary
Conservation, part of the Preservation Department, encompasses the full range of activities required to maintain and improve the physical condition of the University of Chicago Library’s collections, including assessments and treatments that restore the condition and usability of library materials in their original formats. This work directly supports the library’s mission to preserve and provide long-term access to its collections.
The Head of Conservation will report to the Director of Preservation and lead a comprehensive conservation program and laboratory, delivering a broad spectrum of physical treatments across all University of Chicago Library collections. The program spans basic stabilization, intermediate repair, and complex conservation treatment for both general and special collections materials, all carried out in accordance with accepted professional standards.
In this role, the Head of Conservation brings deep professional expertise to determine appropriate treatment courses for library and archival materials. Responsibilities include specifying treatments, overseeing laboratory operations, supervising staff and student workers involved in conservation activities, and personally executing a wide range of conservation treatments on paper-based materials.
The Head of Conservation works closely and collaboratively with Collection Development librarians, the Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center (HHGSCRC) staff, D’Angelo Law Library staff, Access Services staff, and the Kim-Park Program for the History of the Book in the Library to prioritize materials for treatment, design treatment plans, and set program policies and goals. The Head also works with other colleagues on campus such as the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, the Smart Museum of Art, and the Visual Resources Center.
Responsibilities
Planning & Management
- Lead the Library’s Conservation Program for circulating and special collections, establishing goals, treatment priorities, and initiatives aligned with departmental and Library objectives, including grants and special projects.
- Direct Conservation Laboratory operations, including budgets, resource allocation, workflow efficiency, and safety protocols.
- Hire, supervise, and develop conservation staff, including coordinating training and mentorship opportunities for staff, interns, and fellows.
- Establish treatment criteria, quality standards, and documentation practices consistent with the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
- Conduct collection condition assessments, perform complex conservation treatments, and maintain treatment records and program statistics.
- Evaluate and implement emerging conservation techniques, oversee outsourced treatments, and manage vendor selection and assessment.
- Serve as a subject matter expert on broader preservation issues, including environmental controls and storage best practices, while maintaining expertise in conservation research and professional practices.
- Maintain expertise in emerging conservation research, practices, and technologies through professional development, scholarly literature, and engagement with the field.
Partnership & Collaboration
- Partner with the Director of Preservation, Preservation managers, and staff on departmental initiatives, projects, policies, and procedures.
- Coordinate with Collection Services, the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), D’Angelo Law Library, Maps Librarian, and other Library colleagues to establish conservation priorities and treatment goals.
- Work with SCRC Collection Management on needs assessments, grant opportunities, treatment planning, and preservation considerations for exhibitions and digitization projects.
- Support Access Services in use-driven treatment selection and appropriate materials handling practices.
- Provide technical guidance and consultation to Library staff on conservation-related matters.
- Represent the Conservation Program on Library committees and working groups, as appropriate.
Additional Responsibilities
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required
- Master’s degree in art or museum conservation, or an MLS with an advanced certificate in conservation, from an accredited institution.
- Seven years of conservation experience in a research library or archive.
- Experience supervising and mentoring staff and interns.
- Demonstrated leadership in local and national conservation organizations.
- Advanced conservation treatment skills across a broad range of library materials, demonstrated by a portfolio.
- Working knowledge of chemistry as it applies to library and archival materials and conservation techniques.
- In-depth knowledge of the materials and methods used to create library and archival materials, including bookbinding, papermaking, manuscript production, and printing history.
- Experience with instrumental analysis in materials science, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and polarized light microscopy, and familiarity with other analytical techniques such as FTIR and mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS).
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred
- Familiarity with multi-spectral imaging.
- Working knowledge of photography.
Application Instructions
To Apply: Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, and reference contact information online through the University of Chicago’s Academic Recruiting website: apply.interfolio.com/196292. Review of applications will begin November 22, 2026. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.
Salary and Benefits: $80,000 – $90,000. The position also includes a relocation allowance for qualifying expenses.
This position is benefits-eligible. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Questions: Contact the University Library Human Resources department at libraryhr@uchicago.edu.
