Head of the Digital Library

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for the Digital Scholarship and Technology Services division at Washington University Libraries, the Head of the Digital Library plans, implements, directs, and sustains programs, partnerships, and initiatives for the Digital Library at Washington University Libraries, in alignment with Libraries’ objectives and institutional goals for teaching and research. The incumbent will be a key leader in the development and expansion of the Digital Library and its comprehensive program of services, including digital publishing, repository services, metadata curation, and digital library application development.

The incumbent works collaboratively within the Libraries and with faculty and others in the University community to develop innovative digital solutions for creating, managing, and disseminating digital resources that provide content for research and teaching efforts at Washington University and its related stakeholders.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Managerial Duties:

• Managerial Leadership: Provide leadership, vision, and direction for the Digital Library; lead the work of unit staff and programs, and facilitate organizational contributions of the unit with visible leadership that promotes a culture of performance; initiate and lead the planning, implementation, and assessment of unit services and activities in alignment with Library strategic directions. Lead the planning, development and implementation of a comprehensive Library-wide scholarly communication program, including research services, education and outreach programming, and policy protocols.
• Performance Management: Hire, train, direct, and mentor unit staff to carry out duties at the expected high level of performance, and regularly assess staffing performance effectiveness with clearly articulated performance expectations and regular, timely feedback in alignment with organizational processes and standards.
• Workplace Management: Develop, implement, and assess short- and long-term strategies for conducting unit services and key project activities; manage and regularly evaluate assignment of work and responsibilities for effective accomplishment of unit objectives; and manage an inclusive and equitable work environment for operations.
• Managerial Communication: Consistently demonstrate accurate, timely, informed, bi-lateral communications relevant to unit, organizational, and institutional issues, and manage unit awareness of organizational communications, including unit requirements and goals resulting from organizational strategy.

1. Unit Leadership Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and coordinate a comprehensive and strategic program for the Digital Library, which encompasses Repository Services program, Digital Publishing program, Digital Library content strategy, protocols and policies, and Libraries-wide procedures. Plan, implement, and manage digital projects that integrate the infrastructure and/or resources of the Digital Library, including coordination of project managers and staff for digital projects.  Lead content strategy for the digital assets contained in the Digital Library that WU Libraries and community generate and use for research and teaching. The incumbent coordinates the lead staff for the Repository Services, Digital Library development, and Digital Publishing program, and provide guidance and collaborative strategic direction on these programs.  The incumbent will develop and manage the protocols and workflows for ongoing digital projects in the Libraries, including analyses of requirements, development of timelines, tracking and reporting progress, assessment, and evaluation of projects’ successes.
• Develop, implement, and communicate policies and procedures for Digital Library standards, workflows, metadata, and content asset management in collaboration with relevant Library stakeholders, and in alignment with WU Libraries’ strategic plan objectives and priorities.
• Direct and manage Library and stakeholder engagement, interfaces, and protocols related to research support services for Libraries staff and University community members on resources and tools delivered by the Digital Library. Work collaboratively within the Libraries and across the University community to develop strategic services, programming, and technical infrastructure for digital projects and digital repository services that meet University needs for digital asset management and discovery of Libraries’ digital collections, and to enable preservation and access to relevant collections in the Libraries and across the WU campus.
• Consult and collaborate with institutional and external partners to develop digital resources nationally. Represents the Libraries on campus, nationally, and internationally, and engage in professional activities outside of the University to stay abreast of digital library developments. Performs other duties as assigned and as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and information science, an advanced graduate degree in a relevant field, or equivalent combined amount of education and experience
• Minimum of 3 years’ supervisory experience, particularly over staff involved technical project work
• Demonstrated ability to manage and implement effective digital projects, both independently and in a team environment, and also coordinate multiple and simultaneous projects
• Experience in leading initiatives for technology application in scholarly research and teaching
• Experience in working with faculty and researchers to develop work plans for digital projects, including articulating workflows, obtaining resources, and setting objectives for digital projects
• Knowledge of trends, issues, and resources in digital library development, scholarly communications and open access, and/or research data management in academic libraries
• Demonstrated experience with implementation and use of digital tools, methods, and approaches utilized in digital scholarship research
• Ability to learn new technologies and instruct others in their uses
• Experience in managing user-centered services
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage projects
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative team-based environment, and to communicate well with IT and non-IT staff
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent oral and writing communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced graduate degree or coursework in information science, humanities, or social sciences
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital preservation standards and best practices
• Familiarity with application and implementation of standards-based non-MARC metadata (e.g. Dublin Core, METS, PREMIS), and ability to investigate and learn new metadata standards as required
• Experience with digital publishing and content management platforms, such as Open Journal Systems, Omeka, Scalar, or Wordpress
• Demonstrated experience and familiarity with repository software and platforms (e.g., Islandora, Fedora Commons, Samvera, DSpace)
• Familiarity with document processing tools and languages, such as XML and XSLT
• Familiarity with web design and web development
• Familiarity with database design and management