Special Collections Director

 

Special Collections Director

Georgia Historical Society

Savannah, Georgia

 

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with the Georgia Historical Society to recruit the organization's next Special Collections Director.

Overview

The Georgia Historical Society (GHS), the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history, seeks an experienced Special Collections Director to oversee its renowned library and archives. This position offers an extraordinary opportunity to lead one of the nation's oldest and most distinguished historical collections during an exciting era of growth and modernization.

Based in historic Savannah, Georgia, GHS was founded in 1839, making it the oldest continuously operating historical society in the South. It is known nationally for its scholarly rigor, public outreach, and stewardship of a priceless collection documenting more than 300 years of Georgia's history.

The successful candidate will be a seasoned professional with archival expertise who thrives in a collaborative, high-performance environment and is motivated by excellence, impact, and mission.

About the Georgia Historical Society

One of the nation's first historical societies, GHS is unique in being a private, nonprofit institution with a statewide educational and research mission. It houses the most significant collection of Georgia-related materials in existence - including manuscripts, rare books, photographs, maps, and digital resources - and serves scholars, students, and the public through its Research Center and statewide programming.

With a staff of 20+ and an annual operating budget exceeding $5 million, GHS has experienced strong institutional growth in both programmatic impact and organizational capacity. Its culture emphasizes integrity, professionalism, and mission alignment, with a team deeply committed to preserving and interpreting Georgia and American history in a factual, scholarly, and apolitical manner.

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Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, the Special Collections Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the GHS Research Center, including its archival, library, and reference services. This senior leadership position ensures that GHS collections are preserved, accessible, and managed to the highest professional standards, and that public service to patrons and researchers is of exceptional quality.

The Director supervises the Reference Desk Manager and Senior Archivist, with overall responsibility for a team of approximately six employed staff plus interns, and volunteers.

This position requires a hands-on, collaborative leader who combines strong archival expertise with administrative and managerial skills. The successful candidate will foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and teamwork within the Research Center and across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Staff Management (35%)

Lead and develop a professional team through structured onboarding, ongoing training, and performance management.Foster collaboration, accountability, and a positive workplace culture aligned with GHS's mission and standards.Oversee staff meetings, goal setting, performance evaluations, and professional development opportunities.

Collections & Access (25%)

Direct all aspects of archival and library operations, including accessioning, cataloging, processing, preservation, and access in keeping with established institutional goals and procedures.Oversee growth and care of collections encompassing manuscripts, rare books, digital materials, artifacts, and microfilm.Ensure patron services reflect the highest professional standards in responsiveness, accuracy, and ethics.Lead improvements in workflow, technology, and user experience.

Facilities & Risk Management (15%)

Oversee maintenance, security, and environmental monitoring of the Research Center.Collaborate with Finance and Administration leadership to assess building conditions, recommend repairs, and prioritize capital needs.Conduct annual risk assessments addressing structural integrity, storage, pest control, and environmental controls.

Strategic Collaboration & Reporting (10%)

Work with the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer to ensure departmental work is aligned with GHS's strategic plan.Prepare reports and presentations for the Board of Curators, executive leadership, and funders.Contribute data-driven insights to planning, evaluation, and institutional accountability.

Finance & Administration (10%)

Contribute to fundraising, grant proposals, and donor stewardship related to the Research Center.Oversee fee collection and ensure fiscal responsibility in all operations.

Technology, Systems, & Compliance (5%)

Oversee ArchivEra and EOS systems for archival and library management.Ensure compliance with copyright law and institutional policy for reproduction, use, and access.Supervise content management for the Research Center's web presence to enhance discoverability and outreach.

Key Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring:

Education & Experience

Master's degree in Library Science or Archival Studies from an accredited institution (archival concentration preferred).Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible archival, library, or museum experience, including at least six years directly supervising paid staff. Demonstrated experience managing a major archival program, historical society, or special collections library.Strong background in archival standards (DACS, EAD), relevant library descriptive standards (MARC, RDA), and digital asset management.Experience with environmental controls, preservation, pest management, and collection care protocols.Active participation in professional archival and library associations (SAA, ALA, or regional equivalents).

Leadership & Professional Attributes

A collaborative and decisive leader skilled at motivating diverse teams.Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.Strong ethical grounding, discretion, and integrity.Comfort operating in a high-performance, detail-oriented environment.Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and a mission-first mindset.

Institutional Culture & Workplace Expectations

GHS is a high-performance, mission-driven organization that expects professionalism, discretion, and collaboration. The culture emphasizes:

Collegiality, attention to detail, and respect for institutional traditions.Clear communication, including a collaborative and documentation-focused work style (email and CC culture).Adaptability, emotional maturity, and intelligence in a demanding and fast-paced environment.

Location & Compensation

This position is based in Savannah, Georgia, with no remote or hybrid option. Very occasional travel may be required. Savannah is a city rich in history and architectural beauty, consistently ranked among the South's most desirable places to live.

Salary range: Expected to be in the $75,000 to $125,000 range, commensurate with experience.Benefits include: medical, dental, vision, retirement matching, long-term disability, life insurance, generous vacation and holiday leave, and parental leave.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

GHS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and childbirth), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), or other protected status. GHS' policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Application Process

The search for a new Special Collections Director is being conducted for the Georgia Historical Society by The Moran Company. To apply for this position, submit a cover letter and resume with full employment history in chronological order by month to Steven Byers through the secure online portal on the Moran Company website. For the best opportunity of being considered, please apply by December 19, 2025. Questions may be directed to Steve.Byers

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