Please excuse any cross-postings of this ad for the position soon to be available in the University of Arkansas Libraries.
Associate Dean of Libraries
(Director for Resource Management Services)
The University of Arkansas Libraries are seeking a highly experienced and nationally engaged individual to serve as Associate Dean and Director for Resource Management Services (RMS) and lead, shape, and oversee the work of staff engaged in acquiring and making accessible research resources in all formats of the University of Arkansas Libraries. Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, the Associate Dean is a member of the Libraries’ senior management team, which shares responsibility for planning, budget allocation, and the development and leadership of major strategic initiatives. In collaboration with senior management colleagues, the Associate Dean has primary leadership responsibility for intellectual access to materials in a changing mix of user-oriented online environments. Responsibilities include overall management of the materials budget, collection development strategies including storage and access, preservation of library materials, web services, library information technology, and library technical services. The Associate Dean also negotiates contracts and agreements for electronic information resources and other relevant initiatives and acts in the absence of the Dean.
The Associate Dean oversees the creation, acquisition, integration, and life cycle management of metadata and the supporting processes that enable knowledge access. The scope of RMS units comprises acquisitions, including licensing; serials and electronic resources management; cataloging and metadata production, integration, and maintenance; and documents collections accessioning and processing. The Associate Dean oversees the operations of the Libraries’ integrated library system (ILS) and management and maintenance of library information systems and equipment. The Associate Dean is also responsible for designing and overseeing a wide range of special projects, e.g., with affiliate libraries, digital library collections, and specialized resources.
The Libraries’ strategic plan emphasizes the need for continual organizational learning and innovation to meet the challenge of integrating library resources and services with new, ever-changing powerful networked teaching, learning, and research environments. Critical objectives include effective resource discovery and user experience and innovation in acquiring and delivering access to all forms of research resources. The Associate Dean will have the continuing opportunity to manage significant new service development, to employ new technologies and approaches to resource management and discovery, and to redesign organizational structures and staff roles in this environment.
The ideal candidate will possess a strong commitment to providing excellent customer service; demonstrated interpersonal skills encompassing the ability to interact with a variety of colleagues and levels of staff; demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively to develop productive partnerships within and across organizations; ability to use technology in creative ways to solve problems and create efficiencies; data analysis skills, including the ability to organize, present, and analyze financial and usage data; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a complex and culturally diverse higher education organization; and outstanding written and oral communication skills.
Responsibilities of this position include research and creative work and service in keeping with the faculty requirements of the University of Arkansas. The successful candidate must have demonstrated accomplishments in performance, scholarly activity, and professional service to meet criteria for appointment with tenure at the level of Librarian / Professor. A dossier will be required for appointment and hiring.
Qualifications. Required: A master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program or a post-graduate degree in a related field; ten years of progressively responsible experience, five of which should be in a leadership role in an academic or research library or similar institution or an equivalent combination of education and experience; experience with the acquisition and/or management of library information resources; demonstrated experience with management of materials budgets and allocations within a complex resource structure of public and private resources; knowledge of contemporary practices and trends for managing collections of all kinds in research libraries; awareness of major trends in higher education, scholarship, and research libraries; and project management experience, including team leadership of individuals and groups with direct responsibility for program development and successful project completion.
Preferred: Formal project management training. Grant development and management experience. A second master's degree or Ph.D. in any discipline.
Rank and Salary: Twelve-month faculty appointment with tenure at the rank of Librarian / Professor. Salary: $125,000.
Benefits: Relocation allowance available. Benefits include TIAA/CREF, Fidelity Mutual Fund, or the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System, 22 days of annual leave, tuition reduction, and health insurance.
Background: The University of Arkansas places students first by enhancing academic programs, creating an engaging campus life, reducing obstacles, enhancing diversity, improving graduation rates, and marshaling the expertise of the faculty, staff, and students. The University is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high levels of research activity (RU/VH). The University provides a superior campus landscape and environment while designing and building world class facilities. The funding for research awards and research expenditures continues to grow and so do the academic programs offered. The University Libraries share in the stewardship of the University’s goals and takes responsibility for the health of the research and teaching collections as well as programs that further support the academic mission. For more information, visit the Libraries’ home page (http://libraries.uark.edu). The University of Arkansas campus (http://www.uark.edu/) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a student enrollment of more than 26,000, is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System. With a population of approximately 460,000, the northwest Arkansas region is home to two Fortune 100 company headquarters. This thriving region offers numerous cultural venues, such as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Walton Arts Center, and the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History.
Application deadline and contact information. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Completed applications received by May 22, 2016, will receive full consideration. For the full posting or to apply, please go to http://jobs.uark.edu/postings/13201. When completing your application, please upload the following: letter of application (addressed to the attention of Jeff Banks, Assistant Director for Library Human Resources and Diversity Programs), résumé, and names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three current references.
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University welcomes applications without regard to age, race, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
