Director, Collections and Open Strategies

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Research, Engagement, and Scholarly Communications, and collaborating with colleagues across the organization, the Director of Collections and Open Strategies provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the Emory Libraries crucial role in the life cycle of research and scholarship, transforming the processes of creating, disseminating, collecting, storing, managing, and preserving scholarship.

The Director will directly supervise the Head of Collection Management, Head of Scholarly Communications, and the Research Data Program Manager, as well as work collaboratively with other divisions and libraries across the organization, to foster shared initiatives enhancing information access, research support, and scholarly output. The director assists the AUL in leading the Research, Engagement, and Scholarly Communications (RESC) Division and assumes responsibility for the division in the AUL's absence or unavailability.

The Director will leverage strategic partnerships and the libraries' technologies to meet the current and anticipated needs of Emory faculty, staff, and students for access to resources and knowledge, as well as the horizontal structures that strengthen the broad community of staff in the Emory Libraries. The Director will collaborate to set priorities to leverage collections and to build sustainable models for long-term access and preservation of local and distributed content. The Director plays a role in negotiating vendor or publisher "big deals" to secure favorable business terms and engage with new collecting models, including promoting innovative open access publishing models. The Director does not determine the allocations for each library's collection budget.

The Director will collaborate across the libraries and the university to develop and direct policies and best practices for the purchasing and licensing of collections in all formats, including digital collections; and to create or improve library services surrounding publishing, intellectual property rights, open access, open scholarship initiatives, preservation, and research data management. They will participate in library, university-wide, and national initiatives that seek to transform scholarly communications. The Director will work to grow Emory Libraries' presence as a hub and leader for research data services and partner with cross-campus groups to advance data sharing.

Emory Libraries requires that our employees recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential core values to achieving our mission to enrich the quality of life in an inclusive work environment through competency training, reassurance of personal growth, restorative communication practices, and embracing the diverse identities of patrons within the Emory community.

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

A. Strategy for Collections, Scholarly Communications, and Research Data

1. Provides strategic leadership for collections, scholarly communications, and research data in support of the mission of Emory University.

2. Promotes the most open and broadest dissemination of scholarship, both consumed and created by Emory scholars.

3. Liaises with campus partners, such as Emory's Office of Research Administration and Office of Information Technology (OIT), on shared goals related to the scholarly communications landscape, including meeting new requirements for scholarly outputs and data as required by granting agencies.

4. Leads the development of collection and open publishing initiatives, objectives, and projects for the library's strategic and annual plan.

5. Develops and maintains working knowledge of the university's teaching, learning, and research programs and initiatives, and its academic goals and plans, to ensure that collections and research services meet and anticipate faculty and student needs.

6. Leads and innovates efforts for diversity and inclusion in building collections, development of digital collections, changes in the scholarly communications landscape, and collaborative research data sharing.

7. Negotiates "big deals" with vendors and publishers to promote equitable access to scholarship and publishing services.

8. Represents the organization in relevant consortial and collaborative venues to develop collective strategy for multi-institutional program development.

9. Keeps abreast of and participates with national and international external groups focusing on relevant areas. Analyzes and communicates trends in collections, scholarly communications, and data management to the campus community.

10. Performs other duties as assigned.

B. Managerial Responsibilities

1. Works closely with the AUL, Research, Engagement, and Scholarly Communications (RESC) to lead the RESC division of eight teams and assumes responsibility for the division in the AUL's absence or unavailability.

2. Directly supervises 3 FTE librarians (the Heads of Collections and Scholarly Communications and the Research Data Program Manager.)

3. Co-leads the leadership team within the Research, Engagement, and Scholarly Communications (RESC) Division.

4. Works with direct reports to coordinate recruitment, hiring, orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation of librarians, staff, and student employees.

5. Conducts annual performance evaluations for direct reports and oversees annual evaluation process within the department/unit.

6. Establishes and maintains communication with department/unit staff to facilitate the work of the library and ensure library staff is informed of library activities and initiatives.

C. Professional Responsibilities

1. Participates in appropriate professional and scholarly associations and organizations including maintaining membership and/or accreditation; attending meetings, conferences, workshops; and serving in appointed or elected positions.

2. Maintains up-to-date professional knowledge and skills in areas related to primary job assignment and general knowledge of current trends in higher education, academic libraries, and information and educational technology.

3. Adheres to guidelines outlined in the Handbook Governing the Librarian series for Faculty-Equivalent Librarians .

4. Participates in library and campus committees as appropriate for service purposes.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.

Emory University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Georgia State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Emory University does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in University programs and in use of facilities without such discrimination. The University also complies with all applicable federal and Georgia statutes and regulations prohibiting unlawful discrimination. All members of the student body, faculty, and staff are expected to assist in making this policy valid in fact. Any inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Office of Equity and Inclusion, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Bldg., Suite 305, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone 404/727-9867 (V) 404/712-2049 (TDD).