Associate Director – Global Studies

The New York Public Library

Associate Director overseeing international collections development and research efforts at NYPL. Collaborating with global teams and managing research library collections from diverse regions.

Posted 5/28/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $130,000 - $145,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Manage a growing team of area studies curators developing international collections in print, e-resources, and special collections
Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with colleagues across the Library in public service and special collections departments to develop and promote international collections
Collaborate with peers among the ReCAP partners (Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale) to advance the Library’s strategic goals around coordinated collection development
Manage approval plans and vendors for materials from Western Europe, China, and South Asia
Establish vision, priorities, and guidelines for the ongoing work of the Global Studies team, including the transition from print to electronic
Coordinate with education, public service, programming, and exhibitions departments on outreach and interpretation for international collections
Collaborate with partners in the Special Collections Processing and BookOps Cataloging departments on approaches to processing materials in languages other than English
Foster greater understanding of collection development tools and vendors to empower staff across the Library in building international collections
Manage collections budgets and work closely with the Library’s Development team, curators and other stakeholders on fundraising initiatives and managing grants
Utilize data and assessment to support evidence-based changes to collections and services, including the development of new services and collecting areas
Develop and support staff, fostering inclusion, professional growth, and a collaborative culture
Perform other related duties as required

Requirements

What you’ll need

ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science or an advanced degree and relevant and substantial research library experience
10+ years of professional and relevant library experience in area studies collection development
7+ years supervisory experience
Experience in budget management
Experience in donor relations and stewardship
Demonstrated expertise with collection development practices, especially for non-English language materials, in an academic or research library setting
Reading and writing knowledge of additional languages relevant to the library’s holdings

Benefits

Comp & perks

Be **Helpful** to patrons and colleagues
Be **Resourceful** in solving problems
Be **Curious** in all aspects of your work
Be **Welcoming** and **Inclusive**
Office work environment
Travel to NYPL sites as needed
Schedule: M-F, 9-5; Hybrid 3-onsite / 2-offsite as workload permits

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

collection developmentbudget managementdata assessmentdonor relationsgrant managementsupervisory experienceresearch library experiencenon-English language materials expertiseinternational collections managemente-resources management

Soft Skills

collaborative relationshipsleadershipcommunicationinclusionprofessional growthteam managementoutreachinterpretationstrategic planningcultural understanding

Certifications

ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library Scienceadvanced degree in relevant field