Director, Information Technologies and Services

Description

Virginia Tech, founded in 1872 as a land-grant institution, is currently ranked as a Top 30 Public University by US News & World Report and a Top 30 Public Research University by the National Science Foundation. As the Virginia Commonwealth's most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech serves a diverse population of 30,000+ students and 8000+ faculty and staff from over 100 countries, and is engaged in research around the world. Nestled on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains in southwest Virginia, Blacksburg is the home of Virginia Tech. Blacksburg is consistently ranked among the country's best places to live and has earned a reputation nationwide as a well-managed and forward-looking community due to the town's award-winning services, reasonable cost of living, safety, moderate climate, and abundant leisure activities.

The Virginia Tech Libraries (www.lib.vt.edu<http://www.lib.vt.edu/>) are an increasingly integral partner in the research and learning enterprises at Virginia Tech and are in the midst of reprogramming, rejuvenating, and pursuing new strategic directions in research and digital curation, teaching/learning and literacies, learning spaces, and collections access. The Libraries are members of the Association of Research Libraries, Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, Center for Research Libraries, Coalition of Networked Information, Digital Library Federation, DPN - the Digital Preservation Network, HathiTrust, the LOCKSS Alliance, the MetaArchive Cooperative, the National Information Standards Organization, the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations and the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition. The Libraries serve the main Blacksburg campus, VT's National Capitol Region programs, and its School of Medicine and Research Institute in Roanoke, VA. It also serves extended locations in Switzerland, Dominican Republic, Senegal, Egypt, and a developing campus in India. The Libraries employ close to 185 FTE employees (150 library faculty and staff and 35 FTE students) and operate an annual budget of approximately $18.8 million.

Among the Libraries' new developments are:

• An approved Library fee, generating new funds to transform the VT Libraries
• The founding of the Center for Digital Research and Scholarship (CDRS), a 20-employee college-level research and service center
• New learning spaces in the Library, including a Scale-Up classroom in partnership with the College of Science and forthcoming multimedia studios in partnership with the Institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT)

The Director for Information, Technologies and Services (ITS)

Under the general direction of the Dean of University Libraries, the Director of Information Technologies and Services (ITS) is responsible for the planning and management of the department's activities and employees. The Director provides managerial leadership and expertise in strategic technology management to enhance the growth and effectiveness of the Libraries' services. Among other direct reports, there are two ITS unit heads reporting to the ITS Director; the Head of Desktop and Commons Technology and the Head of Server, Network, and Application Systems. Together, these three positions form the management team of ITS.

With her/his management team, the Director leads and/or oversees projects including: planning and deployment of new technologies in the Libraries' rapidly-evolving learning spaces; management and assessment support for the web scale discovery system (Summon); future evaluation of the current integrated library system (ILS); rapid expansion of the Libraries' research and curation technologies as well as e-Learning and collaboration technologies; and improvements in areas such as e-resource management, library technology development support, and mobile / tablet support. The position is responsible for vendor relationships and contractual agreements, including Cloud-based services, as well as interfacing with other major IT units within the university. The Director serves as a member of the Library's Administrative Council, the Library Director's Group, and serves on other Library committees as appropriate. The department is comprised of approximately 13 FTE employees.

The Director will lead and manage in the following programmatic areas: Desktop and Commons Technology; Server, Network and Application Systems; Library and E-Resource Systems; and Database Administration and Data Integration. They are described further below:

Desktop and Commons Technology. Led by the Head of Desktop and Commons Technology, this unit manages the computing hardware and software used by library employees and provides training sessions and troubleshooting services. The unit anticipates and investigates hardware and software needs with regard to employee productivity; coordinates the relationship with VT Learning Technology's Computer Integrated Learning Spaces (CILS) unit, who manages the desktop computers in the Libraries' learning spaces; and manages the non-income generating hardware and software present in the Libraries' public spaces (i.e., monitors, scanners, printers, laptops, tablets, etc.).

Server, Network and Application Systems. Led by the Head of Server, Network, and Application Systems, this unit engages in managing servers, storage infrastructure, the Libraries enterprise-wide software (ILS, etc.) and administrative software systems. It provides: general technical support for the Libraries' web sites; secures the deployment of hardware, software, and related services; responds to accountability audits; manages access; monitors for intrusions; and oversees server architecture and virtualization. The unit works cooperatively and collaboratively with the Libraries' Center for Digital Research and Scholarship (CDRS) in regards to digital object management, server side/storage concerns, and application software installation and maintenance (i.e., OJS, OCS, Drupal, Omeka, DSpace, Fedora, VIVO, etc.). It works in a similar fashion with the Libraries' employees involved in e-resource management, discovery systems, and the ILS to ensure server and network-related needs are met.

Library and E-Resource Systems. This programmatic area is not a unit, but rather a departmental level responsibility, working closely with the Collections and Technical Services Department. ITS supports access to commercial databases and e-resources such as e-journals and e-books that are available through content providers as well as locally loaded databases. Other supported systems include inter-library loan, document delivery, web scale discovery systems (Summon), web localizing tools (LibX), other OpenURL-based systems, EZproxy, and the ILS (III Sierra).

Database Administration and Data Integration. This programmatic area is not a unit, but rather a shared responsibility between ITS, CDRS, Collections and Technical Services, and Special Collections. With these departments, ITS undertakes importing, exporting, batch loading, and integrating and transferring data between information systems, particularly data managed by the Libraries. This involves library data, research data, digital collections files, institutional repository content, and other data types.

QUALIFICATIONS: Required - Master's degree in Computer Science, Library and Information Science, or Management Information Systems or equivalent combination of education and experience. Demonstrate a capacity to translate the Libraries' vision and strategy for the Information Technologies and Services Department. Lead ITS' employees toward successfully achieving the Libraries' strategy along with its associated goals and objectives. Must collaborate successfully with other library units in a supportive, collegial, team-based environment and proactively forecast their technology needs. Ability to create and manage work processes, procedures, and project management routines at the departmental level. Must possess strong analytical, interpersonal and problem-solving skills as well as exceptionally strong oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee complex projects in a fast-paced team environment. Demonstrated ability to work with employees in articulating and achieving goals. Demonstrated IT project management experience. Working knowledge of programming techniques and languages, SQL, and managing server systems, particularly in Linux and Unix environments.

Preferred - Demonstrated knowledge of data modeling, database design, and business analysis techniques. Experience with leading staff who analyze and determine appropriate hardware, software, and network infrastructure for implementation. Strong knowledge of the life cycle management of digital content; i.e., how digital resources are acquired, described, preserved, and delivered to support learning, teaching and research. Demonstrated commitment to user-centered services. Prefer experience with library systems and digital library management, such as integrated library systems from Innovative Innovative Interfaces, Ex Libris, or SirsiDynix, repository systems such as DSpace, EPrints, and FedoraCommons, publishing systems such as OJS and OCS, content or digital collections management systems such as Drupal and Omeka, interlibrary loan systems and other products typically used in university library settings. Demonstrated ability with managing open source software projects. Working knowledge of discovery and indexing applications, such as Apache Solr Lucene. Project management training or certification desired.

Salary: Salary commensurate with credentials and experience. Salary range of $90,000-$100,000. Faculty Rank: Administrative and Professional Faculty appointment. Lecturer rank. Benefits: University benefit information can be located at http://www.hr.vt.edu/benefits/index.html

Quick link to apply:

http://listings.jobs.vt.edu:80/postings/41398

Applications must be submitted online at http://www.hr.vt.edu/employment. The application package needs to include a resume, cover letter addressing the candidate's experience with the responsibilities associated with the position, and the required and preferred qualifications, names of three (3) references and their contact information. Review of applications will begin as received and continue until the position is filled.

Virginia Tech has a strong commitment to the principle of diversity, and in that spirit seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should notify the hiring department by the application deadline.