Associate Dean of Libraries: Collection and Technology Strategies

at  Central Washington University

JOB SUMMARY

Central Washington University is recruiting an Associate Dean of Libraries: Collection and Technology Strategies to join our CWU Libraries team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We’re offering a salary, depending on experience, from $90,662 - $135,993 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

WHO WE ARE:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students’ Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.
Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You’ll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.
Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.
Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• An ALA-accredited M.L.S. or equivalent degree.
• Record of professional and scholarly activity sufficient for appointment at the rank of associate professor or professor, in accordance with CWU’s policies and faculty collective bargaining agreement.
• Significant experience in collection development and/or technical services operations (including electronic resource management) within an academic library.
• Demonstrated understanding of day-to-day operations within collection development, technical services, and information technology.
• Demonstrated understanding of emerging issues and trends within collection development, technical services, and information technology.
• Knowledge of academic library practices across all library services and functions.
• Ability and skill in inclusive team building, supervision, fostering effective communication, belonging, and collaboration across diverse departments and with people with broadly varying technical skill levels.
• Proven fiscal management experience for collection and/or system budgets; and experience developing a long-range plan for financial sustainability.
• Close understanding of the academic library’s role in teaching, learning, and research.
• Demonstrated knowledge of higher education and curriculum.
• Demonstrated leadership and analytical skills, and creative and innovative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and complete tasks and projects on time and within budget.
• Commitment to working for and with diverse populations and exceptional service orientation.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience working in a library consortia environment.
• Experience or working knowledge negotiating vendor licenses and contracts.
• Experience with integrated library, material selection, and discovery systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• In-depth knowledge and ability in academic library planning, implementation, policy development, and best practices.
• Experience and demonstrated skill in hiring, orienting, training and development, organizing workloads, delegating responsibility, providing guidance and direction, monitoring and evaluating performance, coaching and counseling, and taking disciplinary action as necessary.
• Experience with outreach to faculty and academic program leaders on campus to foster inclusive collaboration.
• Supervisory experience in a union and/or collective bargaining environment.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with Alma/Primo.
• Experience writing and administering grants for academic libraries.
• Experience with accreditation processes.
• Additional advanced subject degree(s).
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWU’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students through various activities.

THE ROLE:

The Associate Dean of Libraries is responsible for contributing to and implementing the libraries’ plans. The Associate Dean of Libraries: Collection and Technology Strategies provides fiscal oversight for the libraries $1.5 million system and collection budget and plays a leading role in shaping and implementing a strategic vision for library collections and systems, including assessment for relevance to curriculum and representation of diverse authors and content, open access, open educational resources, advancements in discovery and artificial intelligence, and other emerging strategies. This position leads the libraries’ information resource strategy, including assessment, selection, acquisition, licensing, and metadata management; and the libraries’ technology services strategy, including web and database services, discovery and authentication systems, connectivity, and employee and patron hardware and software troubleshooting and support. This position works closely with libraries faculty and supervises collections unit specialists and information technology unit specialists within CWU Libraries, identifies staffing gaps and efficiencies, and advocates for additional resources as needed. Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, the associate dean is a member of the libraries’ leadership team and represents the libraries in the dean’s absence. All employees are expected to support CWU’s commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

SUPERVISOR DUTIES:

• Actively engages in recruitment and hiring new employees.
• Clearly defines performance expectations, ensures accountability, and provides ongoing informal feedback, coaching, and mentoring. Conducts formal performance evaluations.
• Ensures employees have necessary resources.
• Oversees and directs the work of staff; serves as mentor, coach and leader, and resolves complaints or issues.
• Promotes professional development opportunities.
• Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation and engagement.
• Communicates information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community.
• Takes corrective action in a timely manner.
• Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance.
• Schedules employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked. approve payable time and absence requests.
• Adjusts leadership style as needed to achieve results.
• Recognizes value of and promotes diverse workforce. Values and encourages diverse perspectives, creativity and teamwork.
• Perform other duties as assigned.