The Ohio State University Libraries aspires to be the model library advancing the educational, research, and engagement missions of a 21st-century public, land grant, urban, community engaged university. We seek a dynamic, growth-oriented, and values-driven leader to provide strategic direction for our Content and Access division in support of this vision. Reporting to the Vice Provost and Dean of University Libraries, the Associate Dean will lead organizational efforts to advance knowledge creation, enable student success, and broaden community engagement through the active use of analog and digital collections in support of the university’s transformational academic plan and ambitious research agenda.
The Associate Dean will partner to create a shared vision for and advance the development and implementation of processes and workflows supporting acquisitions, description, preservation, discovery, and access for collections to ensure robust library support for the research, teaching, and learning needs of the university community. As a senior leader within the Libraries, the Associate Dean will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of trends and emerging solutions in areas relevant to collection development and management and library technical services; engage in appropriate national and consortial dialogs; seek mutually beneficial collaborations with peer institutions; and contribute to the discipline and practice of librarianship through active professional engagement.
A member of the Libraries’ senior administrative group, the Associate Dean will join a team that practices shared leadership, intentional communications, and participatory decision making and models The Ohio State University’s shared values.
Responsibilities:
- Leads the Content and Access division, comprised of approximately 70 library faculty and staff supporting the access services, acquisitions, bibliographic description, collection development, copyright, electronic resources, metadata, preservation, and scholarly communications functions.
- Leads the division in developing strategic directions, implementing efficient and effective operations, and assessing service quality.
- Oversees the Libraries’ materials budget and fiscal controls related to it.
- Partners with the Associate Dean for Research and Education and the Associate Dean for Special Collections and Area Studies in leading the creation and assessment of organizational collection development and management strategies and policies.
- Partners with the Associate Dean for Special Collections and Area Studies and the Assistant Dean for Technology and Digital Programs in advancing the preservation, discovery, and access of digital content.
- Provides leadership within OhioLINK and Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Library Initiatives, among other collaborative efforts.
- Fosters a supportive, collaborative work environment, and encourages cross-divisional partnerships.
Required Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Library/Information Science from an ALA-accredited graduate program.
- Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in a large academic or research library or comparable experience elsewhere.
- Knowledge and understanding of significant trends and issues in collection development and/or library technical services librarianship.
- Demonstrated success in planning, oversight, and administration, including effective leadership, supervision, coaching, and budgetary skills.
- Ability to inspire, build trust, lead organizational change, empower professional growth, and engage employees and stakeholders in delivering user-centered services.
- Strong commitment to actuating Ohio State’s shared values and promoting an organizational culture of excellence and impact, diversity and innovation, inclusion and equity, care and compassion, and integrity and respect.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, written, and collaboration skills for communicating complex issues and perspectives to a diverse range of constituencies.
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
- Record of research, publication, and scholarly achievement sufficient to warrant appointment with tenure at the Associate Professor level.
Desired Qualifications:
- National or international reputation in collection development and/or library technical services librarianship.
- Significant record of participation in relevant collaborative initiatives and professional associations.
Discover Ohio State
Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes’ list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.
The Ohio State University’s Shared Values include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.
Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.
The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to focus on supporting new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State University.
In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).
Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. In addition to its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to Ohio State ATI in Wooster.
About The Ohio State University Libraries
The Libraries promotes innovative research and creative expression, advances effective teaching, curates and preserves information essential for scholarship and learning at Ohio State, and shares knowledge and culture with the people of Ohio, the nation, and the world. Libraries faculty and staff live these values in all that we do: Discovery, Connection, Equity, Integrity, and Stewardship. Learn about our strategic directions here https://library.osu.edu/strategic-directions.
The Libraries’ greatest resource is our faculty and staff. Their expertise produces value beyond the collections and their commitment to continual improvement and innovation is one of the most significant ways the Libraries meets the diverse and evolving information needs of university students, faculty, and staff, alongside scholars throughout Ohio and the world.
As a global leader, the Libraries is actively engaged in local, statewide, national, and international initiatives to help shape the future of academic research libraries. These activities and the innovations that result enhance our ability to acquire, manage, and preserve emerging information resources, support knowledge creation, and enable its effective transmission to future learners. Information about the Libraries is available at https://library.osu.edu.
The Libraries strives to provide welcoming, supportive environments for all to pursue and share knowledge. The Libraries is guided by our strategic priorities that facilitate, celebrate and honor diversity, inclusion, access and social justice. All positions are expected to contribute to building and advancing this environment, and we encourage candidates to apply who share these values.
Appointment
This is a full-time, regular, 12-month appointment as a tenure-track faculty member. The candidate will be required to meet university and Libraries requirements for promotion and tenure. Faculty rank at either Associate Professor or Professor are dependent on qualifications and experience.
The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. We believe the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, and intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.
Salary
$145,000 to $170,000 annual salary negotiable.
Application
Please submit cover letter, CV and references with application by July 28, 2024.
To learn more and apply, please visit: https://osujoblinks.com/l1rt
The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other basis under the law.
