Associate Dean for Administration, Planning & Assessment

Description

The Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Libraries invite applications and nominations for the Associate Dean (AD) for Administration, Planning & Assessment (APA).  For this faculty appointment, the Libraries are seeking an innovative leader to provide executive leadership, oversight, and coordination for the University Libraries planning, administrative, assessment and finance functions, ensuring that all administrative services are integrated, timely, high-quality, and cost-effective. The AD (APA) works closely with the Dean and the other Associate Deans to develop strategies and ensure that the Libraries’ resource allocation decisions align with, support, and are informed by long-term strategy. 

Carnegie Mellon University is one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative institutions of higher education and stands among an elite group of top-tier international universities. In its over 100-year history, the institution has evolved from a small technical school to a leading global research university known for its preeminence in technology, business, humanities, and the arts. Recognized for its exceptional academic programs, collaboration across disciplines, and innovative leadership in education and research, the Times Higher Education of London ranked CMU No. 24 in the world, and No. 17 among U.S. universities in 2018.

The AD will be well supported by leadership who recognize the important role the libraries can play on campus. The Libraries also benefits from faculty experts across a number of fields related to information access and dissemination and a community actively engaged in these topics. The next AD (APA) will collaborate to develop leadership, planning, and fiscal management to capitalize on this momentum.  The AD will share CMU’s core values of dedication, innovation, and collaboration, supporting a campus climate renowned for an intensive and engaged approach to human development, problem solving, and real-world impact.

The AD will be part of a strong leadership team within the CMU Libraries, determine the degree of integration necessary in this portfolio, provide leadership that unites, supports, and empowers library faculty and staff to deliver excellent service, build relationships across campus, value and advance diversity and inclusion efforts within the Libraries.  This person will appreciate the relationship between assessment and planning, and financial and other administrative functions, and leverage those to drive towards the University’s strategic plan ambitions for a library of the 21st century.

THE ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING

Reporting to the Dean of the CMU Libraries, the AD (APA) will provide strategic direction for the financial, administrative, assessment, and planning functions of the University Libraries. The Associate Dean’s role will include:

• Leadership of library planning and strategic review processes, with other Associate Deans and under the overall guidance of the Dean of University Libraries.
• Development of an applied research program in assessment, including, but not limited to, trends and usage of print and electronic information resources, quality of library services, and impact on the University’s educational and research missions.
• Leadership of library assessment activities to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Oversight of all aspects of financial management in the University Libraries, including budgetary and planning processes that ensure alignment between resource allocation and overall University Libraries strategic aims.
• Administration of library faculty grant funding, and gift funds.
• Responsibility and leadership for physical plant development, remodeling of library facilities, and allocation of space and related resources in accordance with strategic and academic priorities.
• Oversight of a University Libraries Project Management Office, ensuring that projects are planned in accordance with strategic and academic priorities and executed and completed in a timely manner and in line with those priorities.
• Oversight of faculty and staff member professional development.
• Management of the Dean’s Office and supervision of administrative staff.
• Participation in outreach and advocacy through leadership or participation on various university committees and task forces.

The AD (APA) will be a member of the library faculty. Initial appointment rank and salary are commensurate with experience.

To be considered for reappointment or promotion, you will be expected to demonstrate excellence in librarianship and in research or scholarship. For more information, please visit:

https://www.cmu.edu/policies/faculty/appointments-librarian-and-archivist.html

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The specific opportunities and challenges for the next AD (APA) include:

Help develop a strong leadership team within the CMU Libraries

The AD (APA) will be joining the CMU Libraries at an opportune time in their evolution. As part of the new administrative team, the AD will participate in planning and strategy development for the Libraries and oversee an administrative staff.  Along with the other associate deans, the AD will develop a strong, high-functioning team that will work well together and communicate effectively with each other and the Dean of Libraries.

Determine the need for integration within the departments in this division

Each department reporting to this AD has its own unique characteristics with some overlap with the others, some not. One of the tasks of the AD, with input from the departments and the dean, is to determine to what extent they should be integrated together and where functioning separately will make them more productive.

Build relationships across campus and beyond

An important part of the AD’s role will be an ongoing effort to engage broadly across the CMU’s campus to build relationships and services that substantially contribute to the academic life of the campus, along with increasing outreach efforts to build partnerships and negotiate the library’s role across campus. It will be critical in this role to effectively engage in cross-campus conversations and negotiations with CMU’s academic deans, computing services, HR, and finance divisions, concerning funding models, purchase agreements, shared licenses or other matters of fiscal relevance to the libraries. The AD will also be expected to be active in national and international fora, ensuring that CMU Libraries plays an active part in advancing best practice, and bringing current innovations to campus.

See the future of libraries

This AD will be aware of library trends and will be on the watch for new services, new products, new programming that the CMU Libraries should be aware of and consider implementing.  Insofar as possible, the AD will be aware of where libraries and library services are going in the future and lead the departments in this division accordingly.

Provide leadership that unites, supports, and empowers library faculty and staff to deliver excellent service

The successes of the CMU Libraries are a reflection of a talented, high-achieving, and loyal faculty and staff who are committed to providing exemplary service. Transparency, consultation, and fairness in communication and actions will all be essential in harnessing energy effectively and in allowing good ideas to emerge. The AD will address the increasing level of expertise required for faculty and staff by supporting and facilitating professional development that develops role flexibility, advances technical skills, builds job satisfaction, responds to emerging needs, and empowers members across the organization to innovate and learn from one another.

As a faculty member of the CMU Libraries, the AD will continue to advance their own scholarship and publishing.  The expectation is that roughly twenty per cent of their time will be involved in activities related to scholarship.

Value and advance diversity and inclusion efforts

Inclusive excellence is one of the underlying goals of Carnegie Mellon. Committed to the principle that diversity and inclusion are essential to a fulfilling educational environment, increasing the diversity of the student body, faculty, and staff has been and continues to be a priority on campus.  The Libraries have made significant progress in promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion and the new AD will be invested and highly involved in continuing success in these efforts.

Qualifications

The following qualifications are required for the next Associate Dean for Administration and Planning:

• Master’s degree or doctoral degree in a relevant subject area such as information science, higher education, administration or other relevant field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience.
• Experience in financial administration, planning, reporting, and assessment.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to effectively supervise, evaluate, motivate, and mentor library faculty and staff.
• A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in supporting a diverse workforce and serving the needs of a diverse population.
• Evidence of research, publication, and service consonant with university standards for faculty appointments.

In addition, the following qualifications are preferred:

• Strong leadership skills, including keen analytical and conceptual abilities and demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, inspire innovation, and delegate responsibility appropriately.
• Experience working in academic research libraries or a research or higher education environment.
• Knowledge of trends and practices in teaching and scholarly research, scholarly publishing, libraries and higher education.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially with faculty, staff, and students.
• Track record of building relationships and working in partnership with multiple internal and external constituencies, including University faculty, administration, staff, students, academic institutions, professional associations and corporate partners.
• A successful history of staff recruitment, development, and team building
• Personal equanimity in dealing with a broad spectrum of personalities, strong listening skills, and an approachable leadership style.

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications submitted by August 31, 2019 will receive priority consideration. Please submit the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Three professional references
• Diversity statement (This should be a brief discussion of your vision for diversity, equity and inclusion in the Libraries and this position. It may include a statement of values, relevant information about your background and experiences, ideas for serving a diverse campus community or plans for bringing new perspectives to research, education, and service.)

Questions may be directed to Nikhil Shirali (Talent Strategy/ Office of Human Resources).