Department

ISAC Data Research Center (DRC)

About the Department

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures was founded in 1919 by James Henry Breasted with the financial support of John D. Rockefeller Jr., and was originally envisaged as a research laboratory for the investigation of the early human career that would trace humankind’s progress from the most ancient days of West Asia and North Africa. The goal of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures is to be the world’s leading center for the study of the ancient civilizations of West Asia and North Africa by combining innovation in theory, methodology, and significant empirical discovery with the highest standards of rigorous scholarship.

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum was opened to the public in 1931. The majority of ISAC's collections are from its expeditions in West Asia and North Africa during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. A major reinstallation of the Museum, including the construction of a climate-controlled wing for housing collections and archives, took place in the 1990s and early 2000s. A complete renovation of the Museum was completed in 2019 in celebration of ISAC's centennial. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures is a unit within the University of Chicago and the name of the corporation is 'The University of Chicago.' The corporation was originally incorporated on September 10, 1890.

Job Summary

The principal goals of the ISAC DRC are the provision of robust consultation in research design, data modelling, and database applications; surveying and monitoring of emerging tools and technologies; development, delivery, and support of interdisciplinary projects; solicitation and collaboration with area expertise; and the creation, preservation, and stewardship of the digital data for ISAC.

The DRC Director and Head of the Research Archives Library provides strategic, operational, and financial leadership for two of ISAC’s central research support units. This role advances the integration of digital research practices across disciplines by overseeing services in data modeling, digital tool development, and scholarly infrastructure, and library and archival stewardship, including physical and digital collections. The Director supervises staff across three units (library, archives, data services), leads high-impact research and digital initiatives, and ensures that ISAC’s researchers, students, and public users have access to exceptional services, tools, collections, and platforms.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning: Develop and implement a unified strategic vision for the DRC and Research Archives that aligns with ISAC’s academic mission in collaboration with the ISAC Director and advisory committee, aligning with the University's mission and goals. Anticipate evolving needs in research services, digital infrastructure, and scholarly communication.

Library and Archive Leadership: Provide senior leadership for the DRC, Research Archives, and Archives, including oversight of physical and digital collections, collection development, cataloging, metadata creation, digital preservation, and reading room services. Develop and implement best practices for integrating analog and digital archival content into ISAC’s research ecosystem.

Project Management: Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of DRC, library, and archives projects, including digitization projects, repository development, and implementation of AI-assisted discovery tools, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic objectives. Coordinate with stakeholders to manage project scope, timelines, and resources. Oversee interdisciplinary and grant-funded projects involving textual, archaeological, geospatial, and archival data.

Collaboration and Networking: Foster collaborations across the University of Chicago and with national and international research institutions, museums, and digital consortia. Represent ISAC in academic conferences, grant networks, and scholarly infrastructure initiatives.

Operational Management: Oversee daily operations of the DRC, Research Archives, and Archives, including managing personnel, workflows, facilities, and user services, ensuring compliance with University policies and procedures.

Financial Oversight: Manage the DRC’s budget inclusive of Research Archives, Archives, and Data Services, secure funding through fundraising efforts in partnership with ISAC Development, and ensure fiscal responsibility.

Staff Supervision: Directly supervise 3+ professional staff members, including librarian, archivist, and web application developer, as well as 10+ part-time staff members, providing guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to enhance team performance. Foster staff development and a culture of innovation and service.

Supervises the building and expansion of library collections, consults in a specialty field, and plans one or more primary library programs.

Interviews, hires, and trains employees; sets and adjusts staff schedules, and manages disciplinary policies.

Manages the building and expansion of library collections, consults in a specialty field, and manages one or more primary library programs.

Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Degree in a field of the humanities relevant to ISAC’s mission, such as archaeology, philology, or digital humanities, with advanced training or experience in library and information science, digital humanities, or scholarly infrastructure.

Experience:

Leadership experience in strategic planning, project management, academic research design, information science, data management, and research libraries or archives. Demonstrated expertise in project management, database administration, metadata and digitization, and leading interdisciplinary teams in a university or research institution. Proven track record in developing and sustaining digital scholarship, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary research.

Preferred Competencies

Extensive expertise in academic research, digital scholarship, data management, database administration, metadata standards, information science, and web-based applications in humanities.

Established experience with budgeting and fiscal planning in a higher education setting.

Expertise in bibliographic systems, archival metadata standards (e.g., MARC, EAD), and collection management platforms.

Ability to unify services and strategy across digital and analog domains.

Deep familiarity with AI-assisted discovery and enrichment tools for digital collections and research support.

Strong interpersonal skills, experience supervising diverse teams, ability to lead a team of professionals.

Exceptional communication skills with the ability to engage diverse range of stakeholders.

Demonstrated capability to liaise effectively between faculty, students, colleagues, information technology, and technical staff.

Ability to work collaboratively on fundraising and development initiatives.

Working Conditions

The position is based on the University of Chicago campus with standard office hours. The role may involve extended periods of sitting and computer use.

Application Documents

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Library

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$90,000.00 - $105,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

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.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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