Head of Digital Infrastructure Services (DIS)

Description

The UConn Library seeks a highly collaborative Head for the new Digital Infrastructure Services (DIS) unit. The Head of Digital Infrastructure Services reports to the Associate Dean and will provide creative, collaborative, and forward-looking leadership for innovative technology services in the UConn Library. The successful candidate will understand the broad landscape of trends in information technology and libraries, and have a demonstrated record of successful project management and implementation of technologies and services.  Responsible for proactively assessing, developing, and managing technologies that support the Library’s diverse user communities, the Head of DIS will engage and collaborate with content and service experts to create a high quality and robust integrated information environment in support of faculty and student teaching, learning, research, and scholarship.

The Head of DIS advances the Library’s collective digital and information capacities by strengthening existing workflows for collections management; partnering across stakeholder groups, supporting outstanding digital scholarship , resource acquisition, and discovery; exposing scholarship through an outstanding repository platform; and promoting UConn Library programs, services, and expert staff through a state-of-the-art, user-centered website.

The Head of DIS supervises three full time staff members and contributes to the advancement of the unit and the Library through collaboration and engagement with Library-wide initiatives.  Along with all UConn Library personnel, the successful candidate makes a positive contribution to a culture of inclusion and respect in all interactions within the Library and across the University and exemplifies the UConn Library values of kindness and trust, curiosity and inquiry, equity and inclusion, and having fun.

Responsibilities

1. Coordinates and collaborates with partners in the Library, University IT, and other campus units to ensure that the Library’s digital infrastructure and services are aligned with the University’s technology strategies and infrastructure; meets accepted and emerging security and access protocols; and is responsive to the needs of students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.
2. Responsible for setting strategic goals, allocating resources, and overseeing the successful implementation, maintenance, refreshment, and integration of the Library’s information technology program, which includes on premise, locally hosted, and vendor hosted enterprise services.
3. Provides high-level oversight for the continuous operation of the Library’s website, digital repository, and other locally hosted web services. Works closely with Library and University stakeholders to manage hosted applications such as library services platform Alma, discovery platform Primo, ILLIAD interlibrary loan software, and customized applications for resource discovery, archives content management, course reserves, user authentication and authorization, interlibrary loan, and document lending.
4. Directs, plans, and communicates Digital Infrastructure Services unit efforts. Determines priorities in alignment with Library priorities and services and ensures coordination and alignment of individual and unit goals. 
5. Engages in product, user, and service assessments and ensures that statistics and other data relevant to the goals and work of the unit is accurate and timely.

Shared Expectations for Staff Supervisors

1. Assigns, oversees, reviews, and evaluates work of direct reports.  Establishes work schedule(s) and approve timecard(s).  Maintains supervisory files.
2. Promotes inclusivity and is communicative about priorities, opportunities, and challenges.  Encourages new thinking and ideas and actively fosters open communication.
3. Follows the Performance Management Guidelines as outlined by the Library, Human Resources, and the staff member’s contractually specified evaluation process.
4. Provides training and assistance to each direct report.  Supports involvement in professional development activities and provides internal development opportunities as appropriate to each position.

Shared Expectations for All Staff 

1. Participates in planning and actively contributes to Area and Unit priorities, initiatives, and operations through collaboration and cooperation.
2. Demonstrates reliable and effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
3. Demonstrates active learning in and communication of ongoing trends and developments related to professional and positional responsibilities.
4. Works effectively in current office applications, software, and communication tools as set by the UConn Library and University of Connecticut.
5. Exhibits appreciation of, sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse working environment, inclusive of social, economic, cultural, ideological, gender, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
6. Performs duties parallel to position responsibilities as required.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree and six years of related professional experience, or ten years of related professional experience.
2. Minimum three years of continuous supervisory experience of professional staff, including proven team success and management responsibilities.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of trends and best practices in managing library technologies and systems analysis and development.
4. Demonstrated commitment to a data driven approach, continuous assessment, and improvement of programs and services.
5. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
6. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
7. Demonstrated success with project management.

Preferred Qualifications 

1. Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science, Computer Sciences, Information Technology or Systems, or related field.
2. Minimum of five years professional experience working with library systems or digital libraries/repositories with evidence of strong technology and systems knowledge.
3. Evidence of ability to articulate a system perspective for a multi-campus library and effectively implement a collaboratively-developed vision for library technology in a research library environment.
4. Direct experience with and demonstrated understanding of the ongoing development of integrated library systems or digital preservation technologies; including related search and discovery products (such as Ex Libris, Alma, Primo), digital repositories (such as Fedora, Islandora), or single sign-on services (such as EZproxy, Shibboleth).
5. Demonstrated experience with the implementation and maintenance of open source applications.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of accessibility standards and current best practices in information delivery.

Employment at UConn and Appointment Terms 

UConn is one of the top public research universities in the nation, with more than 30,000 students pursuing answers to critical questions in labs, lecture halls, and the community. Knowledge exploration throughout the University’s network of campuses is united by a culture of innovation. An unprecedented commitment from the state of Connecticut ensures UConn attracts internationally renowned faculty and the world’s brightest students. As a vibrant, progressive leader, UConn fosters a diverse and dynamic culture that meets the challenges of a changing global society.

The main 4,400-acre campus is set in a university town located in the heart of Connecticut; approximately a half hour’s drive from Hartford, 90 minutes from Boston, and 3 hours from New York City.  Storrs offers New England village charm, with outstanding recreational facilities and open space initiatives, farm to table agricultural communities, and excellent public schools.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. The diversity of students, faculty, and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians, and salutatorians who make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top public research universities.

UConn’s faculty and staff are a critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. 

This is a full-time position based in Storrs, Connecticut. The University offers a competitive salary, outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn and a highly desirable work environment. Salary is dependent upon education, qualifications, and experience.

To Apply

Applications must be submitted online using UConn Jobs at http://www.jobs.uconn.edu, Staff Positions, (Reference search #494584) and include a cover letter, detailed resume, and contact information for three professional references.  Candidates should address in their cover letter and/or resume how their candidacy meets the position responsibilities, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications (if applicable).

Nominations and inquiries should be sent in confidence to ellen.silbermann@uconn.edu. To ensure full consideration, inquiries and applications should be submitted by June 21, 2020. Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on June 21, 2020.