Research Services Coordinator (3 positions)

Description

The George Washington University Libraries (GW Libraries) is seeking nominations and applications for three managers to serve as Research Services Coordinators. GW Libraries has embarked on an exciting path, serving as a catalyst to spark innovation and new ideas throughout the George Washington University community. Fundamental to our vision is the proactive role that GW Libraries play in sustaining and expanding our intellectual partnerships with faculty and students across the university. This requires an empowered, agile and highly collaborative staff that is willing to lead change and evolve in responding to an ever­-changing information landscape.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
Research Services Coordinators will facilitate the work of the research services librarian teams. They will share responsibility for ensuring that the teams stay on track with meeting their objectives and goals, providing guidance to them as necessary. The Coordinators will be responsible for managing the individuals that comprise the teams to enable their long-­term professional growth and individual accountability for their contributions. The Coordinators will work together as a team to guide the groups that have been formed and to help individuals balance “core” services with strategic initiatives. As adjustments are needed across the teams, the Coordinators will work with each other and with appropriate team leads to match the groups and individual librarians. The Coordinators will maintain a strategic perspective, helping to broaden interactions between the teams, other units in the GW Libraries and the campus to achieve the strategic objectives of these organizations. Coordinators will also be involved with core activities of reference, instruction and collection development, thus they must have familiarity with providing these services. The Coordinators will report to an Associate University Librarian for GW Libraries.

The Research Services Coordinators contribute to planning, policy development, resource management and decision­-making for the GW Libraries, which is comprised of the main library (Gelman) and the libraries of the Mount Vernon (Eckles) and Virginia campuses.
Coordinators will serve on Library, University, and consortium committees, as well as representing the Libraries and the University in a variety of groups and forums.

Minimum Qualifications:

• ALA­ accredited MLS in library or information science or equivalent.
• Five years of experience as a professional librarian or archivist in increasingly responsible positions.
• Expertise in collection development, reference, or instruction.
• Familiar with current issues, including trends in areas such as scholarly communications, collection development, innovative approaches to instruction in information fluency, data management and related services, and virtual services.
• Have a strong track record of collaboration and sensitivity in working with individuals.

Advertised Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience.
Other Benefits:
http://www.gwu.edu/employee-benefits

Comprehensive benefits package includes 22 days/year paid annual leave plus 12 days per year paid sick leave; medical; retirement contributions; tuition assistance.

Other Information:
In summer 2014, the Research Services librarians reorganized into a team structure that involves flexible, goal-­driven groups. Moving from a more traditional structure of reference, instruction and collection development, this new approach empowers staff to take greater ownership of the Libraries’ strategic goals, foster strategic thinking, and promote accountability and transparency. Essential user services and operational tasks remain core activities for the librarians, but are now realized in the context of strategic priorities that support the mission of the broader institution.

The teams will be reviewed and revised annually by the research services librarians on the basis of collective strategic thinking and environmental scanning. Projects for FY 2014-­15 include an analysis of our print and electronic collections in light of spending, usage and curricular demand; an assessment of the reach of our library instruction program; the development of new services for graduate services; an evaluation of the web presence of our department’s services; and the development of outreach around issues of open­-access and scholarly communication.

Each team has a team leader as well as documented goals, objectives, outcomes, and timelines for their work. Individual librarians serve on at least one team, though many serve on more than one team.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Only complete applications will be considered. To be considered, please complete an online faculty application and upload a cover letter that includes an assessment of skills related to basic qualifications, and curriculum vitae.

Review of applications will begin August 3, 2015 and continue until the position is filled. Only complete applications will be considered.

Employment offers are contingent on the satisfactory outcome of a standard background screening.

Appointment: Three-year, limited-term appointment with possibility of renewal.