Director, Digital Services

Description

Position Description

Libraries and Cultural Resources at the University of Calgary invites applications for a full-time continuing position (permanent position) as Digital Services Librarian at the rank of Associate Librarian, with an initial 5 year appointment as the Director, Digital Services. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2021 

Nature of the Work: 

Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) is a leader in the development of innovative information resources and services, locally, nationally and internationally. In a converged environment, it successfully incorporates the resources and services of libraries, institutional and research archives, rare books and special collections, art galleries, and a university press to provide outstanding support for scholarship, learning, and the creation of knowledge. 

This is an incredibly exciting time as LCR invests in its technological infrastructure and seeks new and innovative ways to actualize the digital in the Taylor Family Digital Library. In the past three years, LCR has implemented a new library management system and a new institutional repository. Currently LCR is implementing a digital asset management solution, and seeking a digital preservation system. Innovative user centric approaches such as book lockers and a chatbot are being sought and implemented. The use and application of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important. 

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian, Technology, Discovery and Digital Services, the position is responsible for providing leadership and overall management of the digitization, repository and journal publishing team.  The position maintains scalable and sustainable systems, services, infrastructure, procedures, and training, and provides management, operational and technical support, to ensure the successful delivery of systems and services. In addition, the position is responsible for developing and integrating a content infrastructure for digital learning objects to support new models of learning ensuring that the objects are organized, curated, and preserved for retrieval and re-use. The position collaborates with the Technology, Discovery and Digital Services leadership team to move forward unit, LCR and university goals.

The Digital Services unit supports the research and teaching mission of the University of Calgary, and makes accessible significant and unique materials including digital learning objects that contribute to the advancement of teaching, learning and research, and the cultural heritage of Alberta communities. Through collaboration with external partners, and internal departments such as the University of Calgary Collections, Archives and Special Collections, and the Nickle Arts Museum, digitization projects create online tools that support research and contribute to an expanding communal body of knowledge. Repository Services is responsible for the digital archive of the University of Calgary’s intellectual output, including thesis and dissertations, digital learning objects and research outputs, including data. Journal publishing is an Open Access publishing service that handles 30 local, national and international journals.

As an academic staff position, appropriate participation and involvement in scholarship, teaching and service is expected. 

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide overall management of the Digital Services unit, exercising considerable independent managerial discretion.
• Recommend short and long-term repository and digitization initiatives to replace or enhance existing systems and/or processes.
• Facilitate planning for digital projects.
• Manage systems implementation, upgrade and migration.
• Manage the Digital Asset Management System.
• Develop and refine the current repositories to cater for future developments, including digital learning objects, research demands and evolving standards.
• Deliver client support for training and troubleshooting on supported software.
• Keep up-to-date on technology trends related to digitization, object repositories and metadata, digital archiving, and digital preservation.
• Act as the liaison for Libraries and Cultural Resources with national and international digitization and repository organizations
• Language of Work: English

Qualifications/Expertise Required: 

• Masters from an American Library Association accredited program in librarianship, or recognized equivalent.
• Five years experience managing digitization projects and repository systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of digital scholarship trends and academic library requirements and priorities.
• Familiarity with current trends and developments in digitization and in institutional and other repositories.
• Knowledge of metadata concepts and standards, including descriptive metadata, technical metadata and preservation metadata.
• Capacity to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ability to operate within a complex work environment, working both independently and within a team setting.
• Proven ability to successfully manage multiple competing priorities with minimal supervision and direction.
• Established record of successful project management.
• Established record of scholarship and professional service
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills

Salary and Benefits: 

Position will commensurate with qualifications and experience, at the rank of Associate Librarian. The salary range for the rank of Associate Librarian is $71,084 to $99,679 per annum. The University of Calgary’s comprehensive benefits and pension program is designed to promote a productive level of health and well-being to staff members through coverage for health, dental, life insurance, income protection for disability, and retirement income planning. For salary and benefits information, please refer to: https://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/files/hr/tucfa_schedule_a.pdf Application Procedure

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application online through the 'Apply Now' link. Please submit a letter of application addressing background and experience relevant to the position, a current curriculum vitae and the contact information, for three professional references, in one pdf.

Application Deadline: May 10, 2021

For further information, contact:

Susan Powelson, 
Associate University Librarian 
Libraries and Cultural Resources 
email spowelso@ucalgary.ca 

Additional Information 

Business Address: 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
Job Location:  Main Campus
414 University Court NW
Calgary TN2 4N2

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

Additional Information

To learn more about academic opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Academic Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary
 
The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
 
About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.