Assistant Director of ReADS

Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

Position title: Assistant Director of ReADS

Salary range: $60,700 - $106,215

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: November 2022 or later

Position duration: Indefinite

APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: July 27, 2022

Most recent review date: Sunday, Aug 28, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Monday, Oct 31, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The University of California, Santa Barbara, is one of ten campuses that comprise the University of California system and is a member of the Association of American Universities. The University Library at UC Santa Barbara is a member of the Association of Research Libraries.

Individually and collectively, the University of California (UC) libraries provide access to the world’s knowledge for the UC campuses and the communities they serve, supporting UC’s missions of teaching, research, and public service.

The University of California has a deep commitment to its leadership role in the transformation of scholarly communications toward greater openness in the dissemination of scholarship. We continuously strive to enhance service for all members of the UC community, and we recently implemented the UC’s first-ever system-wide integrated library system (SILS). The new system will help technical services across all UC libraries to benefit from the operational efficiencies and transformative opportunities, resulting in an improved end-user experience in discovering and accessing UC’s vast physical and electronic collections. We invite candidates with initiative, inventive thinking, and a passion for collaboration to join the University's global mission of leadership and academic excellence.

The Library is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service.

The Library of the University of California, Santa Barbara, seeks an innovative, user-focused, forward-looking, and collaborative professional for an exciting opportunity to serve as Assistant Director of Resource Acquisition and Discovery Services (ReADS). The position reports to the Director of ReADS.

The Assistant Director will support the Director in leading the operations of the newly created Department of Resource Acquisition and Discovery Services and will provide vision and leadership in developing technical services that will support the innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly activities of the UCSB community. The Department includes a staff of approximately 23 (including 8 Librarians and Library Professionals and 15 Library Assistants) who provide timely access to information resources in all formats for the UCSB Library. Under the general direction of the Director, ReADS, the incumbent directly supervises three Library Professionals, who function as Unit Managers with a total of 15 Library Assistants under their direct supervision.

The successful candidate will support the Director in leading UCSB acquisition and discovery services in forward-thinking directions as information organization, discovery, and access tools change and evolve. The University of California Libraries (UC Libraries) are recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in advancing Open Access and are well on the way to integrating these values into collection strategies. The mission of the Department of Resource Acquisition and Discovery Services is to support UCSB research, teaching, and academic success by making library resources discoverable and accessible. Implementation will require innovative approaches to content management services that meet and support evolving transformations of scholarly communication, ongoing changes in the publishing market, and the transition to Open Access.

The UC Libraries strive to enhance service for all members of the UC community and have recently implemented the UC’s first-ever system-wide integrated library system (SILS). The new system will help technical services across all UC libraries to benefit from the operational efficiencies and transformative opportunities, resulting in an improved end-user experience in discovering and accessing UC’s vast physical and electronic collections. The Assistant Director will play an active role in the post-implementation activities of the SILS project, including decision-making around SILS policies and practices, internal training, and end-user outreach.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides effective management of functional technical services units in ReADS through the coordination of existing priorities and implementation of new strategic initiatives. Participate in ReADS departmental planning activities and the ongoing evaluation of technical services procedures. Uses data and assessment to support evidence-based changes to technical services operations.

Ensures accountability-driven performance expectations for Unit Managers and Library Assistants and develops recommendations related to staffing, equipment, and training. Manages employee hiring, supervision, training, coaching, and professional guidance to direct reports. Supports the Director in ensuring that Unit Managers and Library Assistants have the skills and tools necessary for supporting 21st-century technical services operations in a rapidly changing environment.

Assists the Director in establishing guidelines for the ongoing work of technical services staff in acquiring, describing, and providing access to library research resources and unique special collections in compliance with national and international standards and practices.

Contributes to the ongoing departmental efforts of planning, implementing, and assessing technical services' activities to ensure timely access to materials and to consider emerging trends; Serves as secondary liaison for matters related to technical services operations and priorities.

Creates, implements, and maintains policies and best practices related to library resource acquisition in collaboration with various stakeholder groups. Provides leadership, oversight, and coordination of ReADS’ workflows and processes for ordering and receiving library materials in all formats.

Identifies emerging trends and technologies in library acquisition and implements new tools that have the potential for new and improved management of library acquisition workflows and processes. The incumbent will train and mentor ReADS staff to ensure effective acquisition operations and build an understanding of evolving practices, trends, and standards.

Routinely assesses ReADS acquisition operations and identifies opportunities for improvements to acquisition work practices, and offers viable solutions for implementation. Proactively engages in problem-solving related to acquisition workflows and processes with internal and external stakeholders.

Maintains close working relationships with content providers, vendors, UCSB library staff, and UC partners. Collaborates very closely with the Electronic Resources Manager on e-resources strategy workflows and processes. Collaborates with library staff in Collection Strategies, Special Research Collections, Access Services, and the Library Business Office on seamless and efficient acquisition operations.

Represents the UCSB Library on UC system-wide committees and ad-hoc groups related to technical services; participates in general administrative duties, library-wide activities, committees, and special projects; and represents the Library in local, regional, and national organizations.

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary information can be found at https://ap.ucsb.edu/compensation.and.benefits/ucsb.salary.scales/26A.pdf. Librarians at the University of California, Santa Barbara are professional academic appointees who accrue vacation at the rate of two days per month and sick leave at the rate of one day per month. The University has excellent retirement plans and a selection of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. Benefits information can be found at https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html.

Department: https://www.library.ucsb.edu/

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

An ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library or Information Science (or equivalent foreign degree), or an advanced degree in a relevant field; and,

At least three years' full-time library experience in technical services.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Excellent written communication skills, as evidenced by submitted materials including the CV, Cover Letter, and optional but encouraged statement of diversity.

Preferred qualifications

At least two years’ experience supervising library staff;

At least two years’ professional experience performing the acquisition and management of library resources in an academic or research library or an academic library consortium;

Knowledge of the fundamentals and current trends in library acquisitions;

Strong technical aptitude and ability to learn new programs and tools as necessary;

Demonstrated experience managing the workflow of one or more technical services units, such as acquisitions, electronic resources, metadata management, monographic cataloging, or serials cataloging;

Experience with library services platforms, such as Ex Libris Alma and discovery systems such as Ex Libris Primo;

Demonstrated commitment to achieving equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the community;

Ability to work independently and collaboratively, prioritizing work to ensure that departmental and library goals are realized;

Excellent organizational and analytical skills, proven problem-solving ability, flexibility, and ability to meet deadlines; and,

Understanding of the multi-faceted roles libraries play in higher education and the broader community; knowledge of information technology trends and appreciation of the importance and impact of technology in academic libraries.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter

• Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and/or service.
  (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 2-3 required (contact information only)

References will only be contacted for the finalist.

Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02246

Help contact: ryan.george@ucsb.edu

CAMPUS INFORMATION

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/SARS-CoV-2_Covid-19. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to Appendix F, Section II.C. of the policy for the deadlines applicable to new University of California employees. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.