Associate Dean of Libraries: Collection and Technology Strategies

Central Washington University is recruiting an Associate Dean of Libraries: Collection and Technology Strategies to join our CWU Libraries team in Ellensburg, Washington. This position plays a key role within the libraries administration, helping to lead the strategic vision for library collections and technology, to support student and faculty information access and success 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

CWU Libraries is a student-focused resource hub dedicated to supporting the academic and personal success of the Central Washington University community. With a commitment to accessibility and innovation, CWU Libraries offers dynamic collections, an array of services, and versatile study spaces. Brooks Library includes spaces in partnership with units across the university, including the Wildcat Pantry, the Learning Commons, University Dining, and the Freedman- Remak Student Athlete Academic Success Center; where we foster a collaborative environment where students, faculty, and staff are empowered with the tools and support necessary for success. Join our team and contribute to a culture of learning, belonging, discovery, and growth.

www.lib.cwu.edu

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

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.

Library Planning, Management, and Administration:
- Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the libraries' strategic planning and assessment activities to ensure that collections and systems support and enhance the mission of the university.
- Assist the dean with overall administration of the libraries.
- Plan, promote, and assess the libraries' collections and systems in support of student success, belonging, research, and stewardship of resources.
- Maintain current awareness of professional standards and best practices of the profession of librarianship and seek improvements and efficiencies appropriate to the larger mission of the libraries.
- Serve as an active member of the libraries' leadership and supervisor teams.
- Represent the libraries in library consortia, professional organizations, funding organizations, and other external groups. Participate in appropriate professional activities and professional involvement and activity at the state and national levels.
- Participate in committees, fostering a collaborative working relationship within the libraries and between the libraries and university.
- Foster an organizational climate based on respect, service, and teamwork, in which diversity, communication, and innovation thrive.
- Serve as acting dean as requested in the absence of the Dean of Libraries.

Collection Strategy:
- Provide fiscal oversight for the libraries $1.25 million collection budget.
- Lead the strategic vision for library collections including diversification, open access, and other emerging strategies.
- Maintain vendor relationships and lead electronic license negotiations.
- Manage the collections services unit, identify staffing gaps and efficiencies, and advocate for additional resources as needed.
- Lead day-to-day collection development and technical services operations, including selection, acquisition, licensing, and metadata management.
- Coordinate collection assessment activities, analyze the data collected, draw conclusions, make recommendations, and assist with communication plans based on that data, aligned to the university and libraries mission, plan, and goals.

Technology Strategy:
- Provide fiscal oversight for the libraries $250K system budget.
- Lead the strategic vision for library systems, including discovery, artificial intelligence, and other emerging strategies, to support student and faculty information access and success.
- Manage the technology services unit, identify staffing gaps and efficiencies, and advocate for additional resources as needed.
- Support technology services operations, including web and database services, discovery and authentication systems, connectivity, and employee and public hardware and software troubleshooting and support.

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.

• 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.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position has a minimum annual salary of $90,662 and maximum annual salary of $135,993. The Hiring Department's expected hiring range is $90,662 - $135,993. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.