Librarian Head, Research Lifecycle

Description

Post End Date:

Note to all candidates: This posting will close at 12:01 am on the date listed .

February 15, 2022

About Brock University

Located at the centre of Canada's beautiful Niagara Peninsula, Brock offers an exciting work environment with strong undergraduate, graduate and interdisciplinary programs and a vigorous research culture. Brock offers all the benefits of a young and modern university in a safe, community-minded city, with beautiful natural surroundings. With over 19,000 students and more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in seven diverse Faculties, Brock excels at providing exceptional experiential learning opportunities and highly rated student and campus life experiences. The University, including the library, has a number of concrete initiatives that are aimed at improving equity and inclusion for all members of the Brock community. One such example is the recently struck President’s Committee on Human Rights, Equity, and Decolonization.

Brock University’s main campus is on land that is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. It is atop the Niagara Escarpment, within a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, overlooking the City of St. Catharines, in the heart of Niagara wine country and is a short drive from Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Buffalo, New York. Niagara is an exceptional location to call home for the next stage of your career. More information on Brock University can be found on the University’s website at https://www.brocku.ca/.

About Brock University Library

The Brock University Library includes the James A. Gibson Library, the Map, Data & GIS Library, Archives & Special Collections, as well as the Makerspace within the new Brock LINC facility. With six departments, a staff of 52 including 20 professional librarians, and an annual budget of over $11 million, the Library provides services and resources to support over 600 faculty and a growing student body. 

Our progressive and talented community of librarians and staff are committed to student success, collegiality, and collaboration. Our values of Innovation, Integrity, Inspiration and Inclusivity guide all that we do.  The Brock Library strategic plan contains four strategic pillars highlighting student success, the research lifecycle, community engagement, and strengthening capacity. The library’s IDEA+D working group has the mandate to identify, develop, and deliver Library initiatives that increase awareness and promote understanding of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) and Decolonization issues.

The Library is currently in the process of implementing a new organizational structure intended to align with the Library’s and the University’s strategic plans. Candidates should be comfortable working in an evolutionary environment in which the organization continues to grow and change in alignment with strategic directions. For further details about the Library, visit https://www.brocku.ca/library.

About the Opportunity

Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time probationary position of Head, Research Lifecycle Department from qualified candidates who have experience with library services, resources, and tools in support of research at a post-secondary institution.

The successful candidate will provide leadership and direction for the operations of Brock Library’s new Research Lifecycle Department. This new department comes into effect on May 1, 2022 as part of the Library’s new organizational design. The Research Lifecycle Department is a researcher-centered department that focuses on data services, research support, scholarly communication, and digital scholarship. This department maintains the Map, Data, & GIS Library, and includes four librarians, three permanent staff members, and part-time student staff.

Through the work of the Research Data Management (RDM) Strategy Working Group, Brock University is in the process of developing an  RDM Strategy aligned with the Tri-Agency Policy. The successful candidate will provide RDM leadership by engaging with the RDM Strategy Working Group, and will provide RDM services through consultations and the development of educational support for researchers.

As Head of the Research Lifecycle Department, the successful candidate will:

• Provide leadership for the Research Lifecycle Department in program development, delivery and assessment, promotion and outreach initiatives, and departmental planning.
• Provide supervision of library staff in the Research Lifecycle Department, including the coordination of workflow and human resources management.
• Oversee the Map, Data and GIS Library and the Library’s Digital Scholarship programming
• Build relationships, identify opportunities and collaborate with researchers and other stakeholders to develop and implement services and infrastructure supporting research at Brock.
• Provide leadership in support of research data management at Brock University in conjunction with campus and external partners such as the Office of the Vice-President Research, Office of Research Services, and Office of Research Ethics.
• Collaborate with colleagues to provide  consultations, support, and training for Brock researchers on research data management.
• Maintain a broad and current understanding of the research and scholarly communication landscape to inform departmental services.
• As spokesperson for the department, promote and increase awareness of Research Lifecycle services and oversee in-person and virtual program offerings.
• Support the Library’s strategic goals through active membership on working groups and project teams. Participate in the development of recommendations for improvements in library-wide policies, procedures, and services.
• Engage in professional development, scholarly and service activities under the terms of the BUFA-Brock Collective Agreement.

This position is available as of May 1, 2022.

Qualified candidates will possess the following:

• A Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library program or equivalent. 
• Leadership and supervisory abilities including knowledge of human resources practices and unionized environments.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.  
• Ability to effectively manage change and support colleagues in a dynamic environment.
• Expertise in research data management, and the understanding of issues related to the role of research data throughout the research lifecycle.
• Familiarity with provincial and national research data management landscape and infrastructure.
• Knowledge of research lifecycle activities, scholarly communication, digital scholarship, maps, data and GIS services and collections, and systematic reviews.
• Understanding of the research landscape including research methods, funding systems and broad disciplinary cultures.
• Ability to advance the library’s role in supporting the research enterprise at Brock.
• Awareness of the importance of inclusivity, accessibility, reconciliation, and decolonization to academic libraries.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Effective analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Qualifications Considered an Asset:

While these qualifications are considered an asset, they are not required and we are committed to helping our future colleague develop these skills if necessary.

• Master’s level education in a relevant discipline.
• Understanding of assessment and evaluation concepts and methods.
• Demonstrated teaching experience.
• Experience working with faculty to support grant funded projects.
• Demonstrated experience engaging in the research lifecycle as a researcher in a post-secondary research environment.

Compensation:

Brock University offers a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package. It is anticipated that this appointment will be made at the rank of Librarian II or III. Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position is included in the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) and is governed by the BUFA-Brock Collective Agreement (https://www.bufa.ca/resources/bufa-collective-agreement/).

Application Instructions:

Applicants are invited to apply by submitting a curriculum vitae and a cover letter through the online application system no later than February 15, 2022 at 12:01am EST. We appreciate all applications received; however, we will contact only those candidates selected for an interview. All interviews for this position will be conducted online, generally over the course of one day. Candidates will deliver a public presentation on a given topic and meet with relevant stakeholders.

Our Commitment

Brock University is actively committed to diversity and the principles of employment equity and invites applications from all qualified candidates. Women, Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons are encouraged to apply and to voluntarily self-identify as a member of a designated group as part of their application. LGBTQ is an umbrella category and shall be read to include two-spirited people. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups can fill out the Self-Identification questions included in the questionnaire at the time of application.

Please note that Brock University requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they are working on campus and/or in-person with other employees, students or members of the public. As a condition of being hired, employees in these types of roles will be required to provide proof of full vaccination, or provide proof of a bona fide medical or Human Rights Code exemption.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

We will accommodate the needs of the applicants and the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process, as outlined in the Employee Accommodation Policy https://brocku.ca/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/Employment-Accommodation-Policy.pdf. Please advise: talent@brocku.ca  to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We appreciate all applications received; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  

At this time, initial interviews will be conducted virtually.

Learn more about Brock University by visiting www.brocku.ca