Digital Initiatives Librarian

Description

The University of Denver Libraries, comprised of the Main Library at the Anderson Academic Commons, the Bonfils Stanton Music Library in the Newman Center, and the off-site Hampden Center storage facility, is a highly collaborative, team-based organization that serves a diverse population, ranging from our students, staff, and faculty to public and other academic patrons from around the country and the surrounding region. The Anderson Academic Commons is the campus centerpiece for collaborative, technology-infused teaching, learning, and engagement. Currently ranked as Princeton Review’s #1 college library, the University of Denver Libraries are central to discovery and creative interaction among students and faculty, and provide collections, services, personnel, and systems that support the teaching and research programs of the University. The institution is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment.

At 5,280 feet, Denver is located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Known as the Mile High City, you can expect to enjoy 300 days of sunshine, greenspace and parks, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, beautiful architecture and spectacular views of the mountain panorama near the city. To learn more, visit: https://www.denver.org/

Position Summary

The Digital Initiatives Librarian leads an innovative Library Technology Services group that develops and maintains a suite of flagship software, liaises with the University’s Information Technology Division (IT@DU), and coordinates support for vendor-provided core applications. With two full-time developers and additional hourly staff, the unit builds, maintains, and enhances Special Collections @ DU (built with node.JS, Elasticsearch and JavaScript), a Drupal-based website, two internal databases (one for instruction assessment, another for donor-management), and several other applications.

The Digital Initiatives Librarian provides vision and direction for this department and for Libraries-wide technology decisions, such as when vendor-hosted, open-source, or home-grown applications are most appropriate. This position manages projects related to these technologies, its priorities being to meet user needs, build service models, and maintain a sustainable and accessible technology portfolio for the department and the Libraries. Working closely with colleagues responsible for user experience, digital collections, archives, and scholarly communication; stakeholders across the university; and external partners such as the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries, the Digital Initiatives Librarian continues a strong and proud DU tradition of technical innovation reaching back to the earliest days of library automation.

As a member of the University Libraries Faculty, the Digital Initiatives Librarian will work in accord with the promotion guidelines and actively engage in scholarly activities through research and publication and participate in professional organizations, as well as library and campus committees. Funding and support will be provided to engage professionally at conferences and workshops.

Essential Functions

• Provide leadership and vision for the Library Technology Services unit.
• Supervise 2.0 FTE staff members with application development responsibilities (and potentially additional non-benefited, hourly employees).
• Manage software development and enhancement projects, including in-house, ensuring they meet user requirements, accessibility needs, and technical specifications.
• Manage software products, coordinating software releases and upgrades.
• Work with IT@DU and vendors to coordinate the maintenance of vendor-hosted solutions, including hardware and authentication.
• Provide collaborative leadership for Libraries decisions related to technology.
• Work collaboratively to ensure Libraries technologies are compliant with Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 requirements.
• Create and manage workflow documentation related to IT projects.
• Work to build highly functioning teams across several departments in the Libraries.
• Serve on library and campus committees and fully participate as an active member of a highly collaborative, team-based organization.
• As a library faculty member, work in accord with the promotion guidelines, engage in scholarly activities through research and publication, and participate in national and regional professional organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices, issues, and trends in library information technology
• Knowledge of best practices in software development and application maintenance
• Familiarity with programming languages, such as JavaScript, Ruby or Python, and front-end web frameworks.
• Familiarity with Drupal
• Familiarity with Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 requirements
• Ability to prioritize work of developers as well as technological needs for University Libraries.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion, and ability to engage effectively with a broad spectrum of culturally diverse groups.
• Ability to work independently and effectively, using tact and excellent judgment.
• Analytical skills for decision making.

Required Qualifications

• A graduate degree in Library Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or other related fields
• Three years of technology experience in libraries or related organizations.
• One year of supervisory experience.
• Working knowledge of IT infrastructure.
• Experience managing software development or directly programming applications
• The successful candidate will demonstrate knowledge, ability, or potential to engage effectively with diverse communities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous leadership experience in library or closely related IT fields.
• Experience with any of the following: ArchivesSpace, Kaltura, Elasticsearch, DuraCloud, Alma
• Experience managing technology projects using established best-practices
• Commitment to professional development and scholarly activities through research, publication, and service to national and regional professional organizations.

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule

University operating hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule is flexible and may vary.

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) March 3, 2023.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:

The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $85,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Diversity Statement (Up to 1 page or 500 words or less)

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a University-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participant’s academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denver’s commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: https://www.du.edu/equity. For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email inclusion@du.edu and/or visit https://duvpfa.du.edu/faculty-resources/prospective-faculty/.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.