Dean of Libraries and Learning Commons

About the role

The Dean of Libraries and Learning Commons will provide visionary, strategic and operational leadership to support the academic mission of the university and advance the library as a dynamic hub for learning, research, and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the comprehensive operation of the library, including research and instruction services, collections and scholarly communication, information technologies and digital initiatives, archives and special collections, and makerspace services.
• Ensure that library resources and services effectively support teaching, student success and engagement, faculty research, and institutional priorities, while fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across all library units.
• Represent the library internally and externally, advocate for its value and impact, and lead strategic planning and resource management in a rapidly evolving higher education and information environment.

Requirements

• An ALA accredited Master’s Degree in Library Science
• 5 years of administrative and management experience in academic libraries
• 5 years of progressively responsible administrative or leadership experience in an academic or research library
• 5 years of demonstrated experience supervising library faculty and/or staff
• 3 years of demonstrated experience managing budgets and overseeing resource allocation
• 5 years of successful implementation of library systems, data integration and emerging technology to enhance library services
• 3 years of demonstrated experience with strategic planning, assessment, and/or organizational development in a library or higher‑education environment
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of current trends, issues, and best practices in academic librarianship, including digital scholarship, information technologies, and scholarly communication
• Strong leadership and team‑building skills, with the ability to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative work environment
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to represent the library to internal and external stakeholders
• Commitment to and demonstrated success in fostering equity, inclusion, and access in library services, collections, and work culture

Qualifications

• Additional graduate degree
• Has held faculty or the equivalent professional status as a librarian or has experience in academic libraries where librarians hold faculty or equivalent professional status
• Experience integrating library services into curriculum, pedagogy, and research activities across modalities (online, hybrid, in‑person)
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of trends in open access, research data management, scholarly publishing, and digital repositories
• Strong understanding of and experience in assessment, accreditation, and data‑informed decision‑making
• Demonstrated experience with fundraising, donor relations, grant writing, or securing external funding