Director of Preservation Services

The New York Public Library

. Oversee operations and services of the Barbara Goldsmith Preservation department, including the Conservation Lab and Collection Management/Registrar services .

Posted 9/29/2026full-timeLong Island City • New York • United StatesLead💰 $175,000 - $185,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in preservation management, including strategic planning, policy development, and resource management, while fostering collaboration and inclusion among diverse teams. Proven ability to oversee collections care, emergency preparedness, and operational efficiency in a research library environment.

Highest-signal resume keywords

ALA-Accredited MLS10+ Years Research Library ExperiencePreservation PracticesPeople ManagementStrategic Planning

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Collections ManagementDisaster Recovery ProceduresDigital Preservation StrategyBudget ManagementProject Management

Soft Skills

Interpersonal CommunicationTeam CollaborationProblem-SolvingNegotiationInfluencing Stakeholders

Industry Keywords

Preservation ProgramConservation LabResearch CollectionsTotal Cost of StewardshipCollections Control

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Oversee operations and services of the Barbara Goldsmith Preservation department, including the Conservation Lab and Collection Management/Registrar services
Unify and align staff around NYPL’s preservation program, policies, best practices, and strategic initiatives
Build collaboration with research centers, Exhibitions, BookOps, Facilities, Capital Planning, ReCAP, and partner institutions
Develop an updated preservation policy for internal and external audiences
Identify resource, workflow, system, and storage gaps and develop improvement plans
Develop a long-term roadmap for preservation and care of research collections
Align the Preservation department’s organizational structure and capacity with strategic initiatives
Develop a 10-year collections storage master plan
Oversee collections emergency preparedness and disaster recovery planning, including staff training and compliance
Contribute to the Total Cost of Stewardship model
Support Exhibitions and Outgoing Loan programs by optimizing workflows and safe movement of collections
Improve workflows for collections control and movement of special collections
Lead collections control and condition review processes supporting digitization
Contribute to the digital preservation strategy
Manage budgets and grants, coordinate fine art insurance, and support fundraising
Develop staff, foster inclusion and professional growth, and manage organizational change
Represent NYPL at preservation conferences and committees
Perform other related duties as required

Requirements

What you’ll need

ALA-accredited MLS and substantial research library experience or Master’s degree and relevant, substantial experience
10+ years of experience in an academic or research library setting, with increasingly responsible managerial responsibilities in preservation
7+ years of successful people management experience
Experience preserving research library materials in all formats, including conservation practices, assessing storage environments, disaster recovery procedures, digital materials, and special collections
Experience in strategic planning, policy and procedures development, resource management, and problem-solving within collaborative team-oriented environments
Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and setting clear performance goals
Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Knowledge of current issues and evolving trends in preservation practices and technical standards
Leadership in project management, negotiation, and influencing stakeholders to achieve organizational goals and objectives
Ability to align cross-functional stakeholders and foster productive teamwork
Experience analyzing workflows and systems and implementing organizational change to improve operational efficiency
Must oversee approximately 27 staff through two direct reports

Benefits

Comp & perks

Hybrid schedule: 3 days required in the office, 2 days remote
M-F, 9-5, 35 hours
Non-Union position
Exempt FLSA status
Professional growth and training opportunities
Opportunities to represent NYPL at local, national, and consortial conferences and committees
Support for early-career practitioners through training opportunities