Assistant Dean for Collections & Digital Initiatives

Description

Ohio University Libraries seeks a proactive and dynamic Assistant Dean for Collections & Digital Initiatives. The successful candidate must be comfortable in a fast-paced atmosphere, energized by an exciting future, and be able to engage our stakeholders and provide leadership and strategy for the management and development of collections and digital initiatives.

As a part of the senior management team, the Assistant Dean reports to the Dean of Libraries and works closely with the Assistant Dean for Research and Education on the development and evaluation of programs, staff, budget and other resources in support of the Libraries’ mission. He or she works effectively with students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds, including nine librarians and 20 support staff in acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, digital initiatives, and preservation.

The Assistant Dean for Collections and Digital Initiatives has excellent communication skills and clearly articulates collection development strategy. She or he establishes relationships and builds upon existing partnerships across the University and with OhioLINK and other library consortia in the selection, acquisition, description, and discovery of collections. She or he works closely with subject librarians to ensure that the scope and caliber of the Libraries’ collections meet the teaching and research needs of the multiple constituencies of the Ohio University community in a cost-efficient manner.

The Assistant Dean for Collections and Digital Initiatives collaborates with the Assistant Dean for Research and Education, the subject librarians and archivists, and the Libraries’ department heads for the advancement of digital initiatives, leveraging Ohio University Libraries’ significant special collections and anticipating the requirements of born-digital collections. He or she provides leadership in the development of a strategic, scalable, and sustainable digitization program that builds new partnerships across diverse interdisciplinary audiences and further integrates the Libraries into the teaching, learning and research activities of the University community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program (or equivalent program) required by the time of application.
• At least five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in one or more related areas in an academic or research library;
• Proven success in project management that includes planning, developing, and evaluating programs and supervising personnel;
• Experience with the evaluation and assessment of library resources;
• Knowledge of current and emerging information technologies, publishing practices, and scholarly communication trends;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Demonstrated commitment to data-informed decision making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional advanced degree;
• Familiarity with library digital initiatives particularly within the humanities;
• Commitment to diversity and creativity in hiring and managing staff.