Community Engagement and Outreach Librarian

Description

The Public Knowledge Project invites applications for a Community Engagement and Outreach Librarian. Reporting to the Associate Director of Strategic Relationships, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting PKP’s mission of increasing the quality and reach of scholarly publishing. This is a full-time (1 FTE) continuing position, supported by external funds.

This is a critical role at PKP that will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with PKP’s international community and partners and coordinating PKP’s community outreach and education programs. This role is intended to grow PKP’s capacity by soliciting and enabling contributions, both financial and in-kind, from PKP’s wide-ranging community, including users of its software and services, software developers, partners working on aligned initiatives and projects, organizations with aligned goals, and funders. The successful candidate will be able to serve as a representative of PKP in a wide range of settings, be adept at engaging with PKP’s diverse community themselves, and capable of developing and overseeing strategies for PKP to engage with the community more broadly.

SETTING
PKP is a global initiative dedicated to improving the scholarly and public quality of research primarily through the provision of open source software such as Open Journal Systems (OJS), Open Preprint Systems (OPS) and Open Monograph Press (OMP). In 2022, over 25,000 journals are using OJS as their article submission review and publishing platform. PKP supports several publishing related services such as the PKP Preservation Network and ongoing work in XML authoring. PKP is also involved in a number of research projects and provides online educational courses and related resources on scholarly publishing. PKP operates primarily as a remote team with staff and users located around the world. Further information is available at pkp.sfu.ca.

Ranked by respected national surveys as one of Canada’s top three comprehensive universities for the past 20 years, Simon Fraser University has also been consistently named one of British Columbia’s Top Employers in recent years, as well as one of Canada’s Top 100 employers, and one of Canada's top family-friendly employers. SFU offers more than 100 undergraduate major and joint major programs and more than 45 graduate offerings, spanning many disciplines in eight faculties, and has an international reputation for its innovative interdisciplinary and professional programs. SFU has committed to a continuous process of transformation to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion and to serve the cause of social justice.

ASSIGNMENT
●    Build close working relationships with PKP stakeholders, including community members, national and international organizations, and funding agencies.
●    Develop effective plans, policies, procedures, and activities based on current research and best practices to engage members.
●    Identify and solicit different forms of in-kind contributions.
●    Communicate effectively with contributors to ensure that they are matched with suitable, meaningful, and satisfying contribution activities.
●    Evaluate, review, and report on PKP’s membership and education activities.
●    Explore and implement new methods to raise funds.
●    Plan and coordinate events (e.g., conferences, webinars, and development Sprints).
●    Advance the values and goals outlined in the PKP Strategy document.
●    Actively foster an environment of collegiality, respect, and teamwork.
●    Represent PKP at local, national, and international meetings, conferences, and events.
●    Maintain currency with developments in scholarly communication and participate in relevant professional organizations.
●    Develop community learning materials based on current pedagogical research and best practices.
●    Conduct ongoing community learning needs assessments.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required

●    Master's degree in Library or Information Studies from an ALA accredited program, or its equivalent.
●    Three (3) or more years’ experience in outreach or community development and education, preferably in an academic or non-profit environment.
●    Strategic understanding and knowledge of trends in one or more of the following: higher education, academic libraries, open research infrastructure, and scholarly publishing.
●    Demonstrated experience in developing educational and training materials.
●    Experience with any of: successful fundraising activities, coordinating in-kind contributions, grant writing, and/or recruiting donors.
●    Ability to recognize, respect and work effectively with individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
●    Demonstrated ability to maintain effective working relationships across multiple and diverse institutions, across levels within organizations from specialist to executive level.
●    Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing environments and multiple deadlines, and to work well under pressure with discretion, tact, and good judgment.
●    Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills, both orally and written.
●    Demonstrated ability to take initiative, and to recognize and anticipate what needs to be done.
●    Willing and able to travel for business several times a year.

Desired

Applicants are reminded that the points below are merely desired. The Search Committee welcomes applications from candidates who do not have experience or knowledge in these areas.

●    Second graduate degree in a relevant field of specialization related to education, nonprofit management, or scholarly publishing.
●    Demonstrated ability to influence change and build consensus.
●    Demonstrated involvement in professional organizations, service, or scholarship.
●    Experience with PKP software (especially OJS), and/or other post-secondary open source software, e.g. DSpace, Islandora, etc.
●    Possess knowledge of the PKP international community.
●    Experience working with an open source software community.
●    Experience working in a primarily virtual environment.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
This is a full time (1 FTE) continuing librarian position supported by external funds, with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2022.

Librarians are members of the SFU Faculty Association. Terms, conditions and benefits of employment are outlined in the Collective Agreement:  
http://www.sfu.ca/content/dam/sfu/faculty-relations/home/CA.pdf

The appointment will be conducted according to article 36 of the collective agreement. The committee will be chaired by the Associate Dean of Libraries, Digital Strategy. The recommendation for appointment will go to the Dean of Libraries, and on to the VPRI as per article 36.44.

Annual performance reviews, recommendations for continuing status, and applications for leave (if any) will go to the Dean of Libraries, and if required on to the VPRI, as outlined in the collective agreement. Applications for promotion will be considered by the Librarian and Archivist Promotions Committee (according to articles 36.82 and following), and recommendations from the Committee will go to the Dean of Libraries and on to the VPRI.

The successful applicant will be appointed at level commensurate with their experience and qualifications. Current salary scales are available from: https://www.sfu.ca/faculty-relations/salary.html

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Simon Fraser University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from candidates of all genders, visible minorities, persons of First Nations, Inuit, or Métis heritage, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2SIA+ identified persons. We are seeking a candidate who will be working in British Columbia, and able to operate out of the SFU campus as required.

Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see: http://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/faculty_openings/Collection_Notice.html

Information about what to expect when you apply for a librarian position at SFU is available here: https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/overview/employment/what-expect-librarian-position

TO APPLY
To be given assured consideration applications must be submitted by email in one consolidated PDF document with cover letter and curriculum vitae by 4:30 PDT on August 8, 2022 to:

Susie Smith
Email: library@sfu.ca
Phone: 778-782-4658
W.A.C. Bennett Library
Simon Fraser University