Executive Director, Library & Information Technology Association (LITA)

Description

The Library & Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association, seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial, forward-thinking Executive Director. As the technology division of ALA, LITA reaches across all library types to lead in exploring and enabling new technologies to empower libraries. LITA boasts an exceptional portfolio of products and services: online continuing education; conference programming at ALA events as well as LITA’s own conference; timely and relevant publications, such as the (refereed) research journal Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL); and stimulating member engagement and leadership opportunities.

The LITA Executive Director provides operational, fiscal, policy, and procedural leadership to LITA. In this position, you will manage the day-to-day operations of the division, including a staff of two and an annual program budget of $400,000. You will provide leadership on issues important to LITA and its nearly three thousand members, including representing and advocating for their interests in ALA and externally. You will work with the LITA Board of Directors to ensure the growth and stability of the Association, and to support its aspirations and strategic initiatives.

This is a fulfilling and challenging job that affords national impact on library technologists. As the successful candidate, you will be not only organized, financially savvy, and responsive, but also comfortable with technological change , project management, community management, and organizational change.

The Executive Director is the primary interface point between the membership and the association, and establishes the framework for that relationship. In that capacity , you will provide counsel and insight to the LITA Board of Directors, as a full and visionary partner in implementing the organization’s strategic priorities and ensuring the growth and stability of the Association. You will support our several dozen committees and member-driven interest groups, promoting their success through communication and policy. You will work with passionate, creative librarians across the United States and beyond on cutting-edge issues in library technology.

The Executive Director is also responsible for operational excellence within the Association. You will supervise two staff positions responsible for continuing education, publishing, membership marketing, and programs. You will have primary logistical responsibility for the annual LITA Forum and LITA’s participation on the ALA Annual Conference. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, you will create yearly budgets and make high-level decisions about how to spend the Association’s money to best serve its mission.

About LITA

LITA is both a distinctive professional association of approximately three thousand members, and a division of the American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world. LITA members are also ALA members, and may belong to additional ALA units representing diverse library types, librarian roles, and professional interests. This uniquely positions LITA both to advance the interests of technology-oriented librarians and to situate them within a broad professional context.

The LITA Executive Director reports to the ALA Senior Associate Executive Director. whose portfolio includes the eleven divisions, ALA Information Technology and Telecommunications, ALA Conference Services and key ALA Offices (Accreditation, Diversity/Literacy/Outreach, Human Resources Development and Recruitment, and Intellectual Freedom), as well as Round Tables coordination.

While this position affords opportunity to have national and lasting impact in collaboration with outstanding librarians and library staff, it also faces serious challenges. Over LITA’s almost-50-year history, technology has gone from being a well-defined niche of library practice to a pervasive force in libraries and culture; more recently, the economic situation has been difficult for membership organizations generally. LITA must redefine themselves for the next 50 years in a competitive landscape. The successful candidate will bring vision and ambition commensurate to this challenge.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated member service orientation;
• Management experience;
• Demonstrated leadership ability;
• Strong communication, advocacy, and interpersonal skills, both face-to-face and online;
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, and build and leverage partnerships;
• Strategic planning experience;
• Demonstrated ability to promote and manage change;
• Experience working in a community or field with relevance to library technology: nonprofit ethos, cultural heritage organizations, or member-driven initiatives;
• Willingness to address performance issues and work with people to improve them;
• Comfort with "bugging" volunteers to get their status, finding out what is blocking them, and helping them get over roadblocks;
• A high level of comfort and expertise with technology tools for group communication and workflow, including: email management, online meetings and conferencing, and spreadsheet and document editing; this is not a “techie” position, but does require flexibility in learning new software;

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, or equivalent;
• Project management skills;
• Advanced skills using social media for organizational communication and visibility;
• A track record of leveraging technology, including emerging technology, in project management;
• Community management skills, particularly with online and distributed communities;
• Comfort with risk-taking, iteration, and innovation;
• Experience working for a professional or nonprofit association, and working with organizational Boards of Directors;
• Experience with revenue-based budgeting, financial planning, and forecasting;
• Experience with fundraising;
• Experience leading organizational growth or transformation.

Starting Salary: Negotiable from $90,000, based on experience.

Closing Date: Consideration of candidates will begin May 1, 2015 and continue until the position is filled.

How to Apply

For consideration, interested candidates should apply online including a resume, cover letter and reference list (upload on the same screen as the resume).

OR

Send cover letter, resume, and the names of three professional references to:

American Library Association
Human Resources Department
LITA/EXEC
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611

FAX: 312-280 -5270
Email: dhoppe@ala.org


The American Library Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications are invited from women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities.