Assistant Director, Digital Product Strategy

Description

Position Summary

Collaborating with the Director for Library Technology and Digital Strategies (LTDS) and the Assistant Director for Library Technology, this new and exciting role will provide strategic direction for processes around implementation, improvement, extension, and integration of Emory Libraries’ end-user products and/or programs. This portfolio supports faculty, staff, and students in their teaching, learning, research and scholarship endeavors. As a member of the LTDS's leadership team, we will team up to advance the strategic and annual planning for the Division.

In this role you will lead a Digital Product Strategy Department, which includes major product and program development for end-user technology. Together with your department's staff, we will cultivate roadmaps for your portfolio to develop the larger technology roadmap. Working jointly with Library Technology Department, internal library partners, the Project Management Office, and the wider Emory community you will promote a portfolio of creative end-user products and programs.

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

Staff Management

You will be responsible for the hiring, mentoring, and evaluating departmental staff. At Emory Libraries, we believe it is important to ensure staff receive the support they need to be successful in their careers. Together we will work build a cross collaborative division whose employees complement one another's skills.

Portfolio Management

You will sponsor the end-user technology portfolio maintained by LTDS and construct a meaningful portfolio by mentoring your staff to establish relevant product and programmatic goals.

Together the LTDS leadership team, will establish standard methodologies and procedures for portfolio management within the division. We will develop the processes for taking in new initiatives while also communicating the impact of change to internal and external partners as well as leadership. We will handle issues surrounding resourcing, staffing, challenges, risks, etc. for new technology initiatives. We believe that we should constantly evolve, so together, we will seek out opportunities for process improvement and develop standard methodologies rooted in service design principles ensuring promised value is delivered.

Product Management

You will mentor Digital Product Strategy staff in developing product and/or program roadmaps and ensuring projects stemming from those roadmaps are appropriately resourced. To do this, you will work with LTDS leadership to document available resources and associated constraints while advocating for or negotiating with the Director of LTDS for additional resources or adjustments to the division's strategic direction.

You will champion consistent and visible documentation, harmonize disparate advisory groups, and provide support for strategic initiatives. Your department will blend traditional project management principles and practices with an Agile development approach to deliver an appropriate balance of agility and predictability. You will guide staff, so they can appropriately communicate priorities, objectives, challenges, and results to Emory Libraries' and its partners.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participates in appropriate professional and scholarly associations and organizations including maintaining membership and/or accreditation; attending meetings, conferences, workshops; and serving in appointed or elected positions.
• Maintains up-to-date professional knowledge and skills in areas related to primary job assignment as well as maintains general knowledge of current trends in higher education, academic libraries, and information and educational technology.
• Adheres to guidelines outlined in the Handbook Governing the Librarian series for Faculty-Equivalent Librarians to ensure appointment, appointment renewal and promotion-in-rank
• Participates in library and campus communities as appropriate for service purposes.
• Engages with relevant technology communities as appropriate (DLF, Code4Lib, Samvera, ELUNA/IGeLU, etc.).

Required Qualifications

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in Library and Information Science OR equivalent education and experience (subject expertise combined with appropriate teaching experience and/or library experience).
• Experience with developing operational processes and procedures in the support of software and systems, both vendor hosted and custom developed.
• Working knowledge of Agile Scrum methodologies and/or service management processes (e.g. ITIL framework);
• Experience with project management, program management, and product management (Agile methodologies preferred).
• Ability to build and sustain effective interpersonal relationships with library staff, faculty and students, off campus faculty and administrators, campus administrators, etc.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse educational environment and workplace and an ability to work effectively with a diverse faculty and student population.
• Capacity to thrive in an ambiguous, future-oriented environment of a major research institution and to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current trends and issues in academic libraries, higher education, and relevant subject disciplines.
• Evidence of active participation, involvement, and leadership in local, state, regional, national, or international professional or scholarly associations.
   

Required for Supervisory & Managerial Positions

• Experience and demonstrated skill in supervision, including hiring, orienting, training and development, organizing workloads, delegating responsibility, providing guidance and direction, monitoring and evaluating performance, coaching and counseling, and taking disciplinary action as necessary. Ability to be proactive, flexible, and collaborative as a supervisor in order to accomplish departmental, library, and institutional goals. 
• Experience specifically with leading librarians or staff in library systems, academic technology, and/or information technology roles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge and direct experience with integrated library systems, repositories, and related search and discovery products (such as Alma, Primo, Samvera, etc.);
• Understanding key trends in software development including experience with version control, test-driven development, continuous integration techniques and other best practices in software development.
• Experience in supervising and managing librarians and staff including coaching, motivating, and mentoring.

Diversity Statement

Emory Libraries recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values integral to achieving our mission to enrich the quality of life and advance intellectual discovery by connecting people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. We champion an inclusive work environment through competency training, reassurance of personal growth, restorative communication practices, and diverse recruitment and retention. We offer exhibits, collections, programming, and research assistance that speaks to the rich needs and identities of patrons from the Emory community and beyond. We encompass opportunities that strengthen these values. We invite you to bring your true self to the library and feel welcomed when you arrive.