Job Information
University of Massachusetts Amherst Associate Dean for Content and Discovery in Amherst, Massachusetts
Associate Dean for Content and Discovery
Apply now (https://secure.dc4.pageuppeople.com/apply/822/gateway/default.aspx?c=apply&lJobID=519111&lJobSourceTypeID=801&sLanguage=en-us) Job no: 519111
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department:Lib - Collection Services
Union:Non-Unit Exempt
Categories: Library, Administrative & Office Support, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications
About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
Provide creative leadership, strategic direction to staff in the division including administrative oversight for scholarly collections, cataloging and discovery systems, Access Services, and the Learning Commons in the UMass Amherst Libraries to advance the teaching, learning and research missions of the University. The Associate Dean will set the vision and strategic direction for the division and direct the Libraries’ overall collections strategy - planning, developing, interpreting, and implementing policies and procedures related to the acquisition, description, and discovery of scholarly resources in a variety of formats to ensure the sustainable delivery of resources. The Associate Dean will set vision and direction for Access Services to support outreach and library services. The Associate Dean will also investigate, develop, and implement transformational collections strategies that support our scholarly community as part of an open global information economy. As a member of the Library Leadership Team, the Associate Dean contributes to organizational planning, resource development and policy and represents the organization in relevant consortia and collaborative venues. Active participation in professional service and scholarly contributions at a national level is expected.
Essential Functions
Reports to the Dean of University Libraries and serves as a member of the Library Leadership Team, participating in the overall governance of the UMass Amherst Libraries, including actively contributing to library-wide planning, policy making, programs, and goal-setting.
Provides leadership and oversight for key programs, lending policies, and services that enable the development of collections, metadata and discovery systems, access services, and the Learning Commons that provide the foundation for academic study and scholarly research.
Oversees, either directly or indirectly, the work of the Access Services and Information Resources Management departments, which includes these units: Acquisitions, Circulation Services, Course Reserves, Stacks Management, Discovery & Resource Management Systems, Interlibrary Loan, and Metadata, and the Mount Ida branch library in Newton, MA.
Creates and supports a welcoming and inclusive workplace culture in the Content & Discovery division by gaining a full understanding the work of the units supervised, listening to and incorporating staff feedback on relevant projects and initiatives, supporting continuous professional development, and engaging in transparent decision-making processes.
In collaboration with the Dean and Library Leadership Team, is responsible for the strategic allocation and investment of the Libraries’ collections budget; seeks alternative scholarly models and other transformational strategies to ensure sustainable continued access to resources and uses multiple data points to make data informed decisions.
Represents libraries as a member of the NERL Program Council and in other collective groups. Negotiates license agreements in these collective groups at the discretion of the Dean of University Libraries
Employs new technologies and approaches to resource management, discovery, public services, and user experience to meet the challenge of integrating scholarly resources, services, and programs with new and evolving teaching, learning, and research environments in support of enhancing the mission of the University.
Works with Library Communications to convey the value of the Content & Discovery division and advocate for investment in resources to support the division’s staff, collections, services, and innovations.
Maintains awareness of changes in academic directions and programmatic needs of the University to ensure continued support from Content & Discovery.
Works closely with library units to align collections activities and strategies to meet faculty, student, and staff needs.
Actively seeks partnerships with consortia, publishers, professional societies, and other stakeholders to develop and implement a vision for acquiring, managing, preserving, and making accessible information in an open context that benefits the broader environment for research and learning.
Proactively represents the Libraries at appropriate professional meetings and conferences or in campus initiatives.
Other Functions
- Performs other related duties as assigned or required to meet department and University goals and objectives.
Organizational Values
Commitment to support justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within libraries and institution.
Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships and work collaboratively in a diverse and fast-paced environment.
Purposefully promote a One Library environment for all that encourages inclusion, personal growth, respect, self-reflection, curiosity, and continuous learning.
Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent with both law and with university policy.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Master’s degree in library and information science from an American Library Association-accredited institution or its foreign equivalent, or advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in academic libraries, at least 5 years of which must include administration/management and/or supervisory experience in public services (e.g., Circulation, information service points) or access services (Course Reserves, Stacks Management, Interlibrary Loan) or technical services (e.g., Cataloging and Discovery Systems, Acquisitions).
Demonstrated experience in managing: collections, collections budget, project planning, and staffing resources.
Demonstrated experience with collections strategies and collection development trends.
Experience with analyzing and applying resource usage data to address needs for collection-related data-driven decision-making.
Experience negotiating license agreements.
Evidence of professional service and a record of presentations and/or publications.
Demonstrated ability to take initiative, be self-directed, and problem-solve.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Broad experience in both access and technical services
Experience in patron and vendor relationship management and organizational space planning.
Demonstrated experience in facilitating team communications with staff, external organizations, project partners and consortial constituents, and advocating for resources.
Demonstrated competency with modern collaborative tools and technologies.
Demonstrated knowledge of current trends in project management methods and areas including public, access, and technical services.
Demonstrated knowledge and/or application of emergent library roles and issues including but not limited to open access publishing, open source software, controlled digital lending, e-resource sharing).
Evidence of competence in strategic planning and organizational development in a rapidly changing environment.
Ability to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities, showing initiative and flexibility.
Experience in working with counterparts across consortia, and/or managing projects collaboratively with other campus units.
Experience working in a unionized environment.
Work Schedule
The regular working schedule for this position is Monday - Friday, day hours.
The incumbent of the position is expected to work on a flexible schedule, which includes some evening, weekend, and holiday hours.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information of three (3) professional references.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
Advertised: May 22 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: