University Overview

　　The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

　　Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

　　The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

　　Posted Job Title

　　Vice Provost and Director of Libraries

　　Job Profile Title

　　Director, Libraries

　　Job Description Summary

　　The University of Pennsylvania ("Penn") seeks an accomplished and collaborative library professional to serve as the H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of Libraries ("Director"). This is an opportunity to lead a research library system at the highest level and at one of the world's leading teaching and research universities. The Director will be part of a leadership team at an institution home to innovative and revolutionary educational opportunities, functioning as a hub for human connection and operating at a crossroads where ancient inspiration and future innovation meet today’s brightest minds. Among its peers, Penn Libraries leads the way in collections development, transformative service impact, and effective campus communication. The next director will extend this record of leadership to the campus, the local, national, and global communities, and across the library profession.

　　Job Description

　　The University of Pennsylvania is among the nation’s oldest and most storied universities. With 12 schools located on a single, compact, urban campus alongside the University’s flagship hospital and medical center, Penn is recognized for its integrated and collaborative approach to teaching, research, service, and patient care. Penn champions and advances impact, innovation, and the public good through the efforts of more than 5,500 faculty, 15,200 staff, and 28,700 students.

　　The Penn Libraries are central to this mission. Nineteen physical libraries, approximately 9.8 million volumes (print and electronic), and 350,000 e-journals—as well as millions of digitized images, physical audio and video, microforms, maps, graphic materials, and streaming audio and video—inspire discovery and insight. Libraries personnel (313 FTE) provide counsel, support, and infrastructure that fuel research and knowledge at the leading edge of evolving technology and academic exploration. Penn Libraries’ endowment is $159 million, and its annual budget is $87 million.

　　The Director will be a visionary, collegial, entrepreneurial, and courageous leader who will nurture, sustain, and extend the record of strength established by Penn Libraries and its personnel. This is a liminal moment for the University and the Libraries: a new university strategic framework, In Principle and Practice (https://in-principle-and-practice.upenn.edu/) , was released in Fall 2023 and sets forth a vision of an institution anchored in the campus, local, and global communities; interwoven and interconnected; inventive in confronting society’s great challenges and opportunities; and engaged in service and collaboration. The Libraries themselves are in the midst of a strategic plan (https://www.library.upenn.edu/about/strategic-plan) for building technical, structural, and human capacity, which includes a digital strategic plan (https://www.library.upenn.edu/about/strategic-plan/penn-libraries-digital) that presents a broad vision to plan, implement, scale, and sustain digital technologies and practices.

　　Job Location - City, State

　　Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

　　The Director reports to the Provost, who has formed a consultative committee for this recruitment effort. Isaacson, Miller, the national executive search firm, has been retained to support the work of the committee.

　　Confidential inquiries, nominations/referrals, and applications (CVs and letters of interest) should be submitted electronically through the following link to:

　　Anita Tien, Partner and Andy Marshall, Managing Associate Isaacson, Miller

　　University of Pennsylvania, H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of Libraries search (https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/penn-libraries/vice-provost-director)

　　Department / School

　　University Library

　　Pay Range

　　$50,000.00 - $450,000.00 Annual Rate

　　Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

　　Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

　　Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

　　University Benefits

　　Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

　　Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

　　Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

　　Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

　　Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

　　Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

　　Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

　　University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

　　Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

　　Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

　　Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

　　Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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　　To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

　　The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.