Director, Research Library Partnerships Programs

Program Leadership and Coordination

Provide day-to-day leadership for the overall RLP program, ensuring that activities across multiple focus areas are aligned, complementary, and delivered on schedule. Develop and maintain an integrated annual calendar of RLP engagements—such as webinars, partner forums, focus group meetings, and working group milestones—in collaboration with Senior Program Officers. Act as the central point of coordination to prevent duplication, manage dependencies, and ensure a consistent partner experience across the program.

Operational Management and Delivery

Oversee the operational planning and execution of RLP activities. This includes managing logistics for virtual and in-person events, coordinating platforms and tools, supporting communications and materials, and ensuring appropriate follow-up and documentation. The RLP Director acts as the operational anchor for the RLP, enabling SPOs to focus on content leadership and partner engagement while ensuring that program delivery is reliable and effective.

Team Leadership and Support

Lead and support a small team of program staff, including Senior Program Officers, by facilitating regular coordination meetings, supporting shared planning, and encouraging cross-program learning. Provide guidance on project planning, partner engagement practices, and internal collaboration. While SPOs lead substantive agendas within their domains, the RLP Director helps prioritize work across the portfolio, balancing strategic goals with available capacity and resources.

Membership and Partner Management

Serve as the business and operational manager for RLP membership. Maintain accurate records of partner institutions, contacts, and engagement history, and coordinate closely with OCLC colleagues on billing, renewals, and membership status. Support partner recruitment and onboarding efforts by working with Member Relations and responding to inquiries from prospective partners, articulating the value and structure of the RLP program. This role emphasizes relationship stewardship and continuity rather than sales.

Engagement Metrics and Program Assessment

Establish and maintain a systematic approach to tracking partner engagement and program performance. Define and monitor key indicators—such as participation levels, attendance, feedback, and collaborative outputs—and use this data to inform planning and improvement. Work with SPOs and the Executive Director to identify trends, address gaps in engagement, and demonstrate the impact and value of the RLP to partners and internal stakeholders.

Communication and Reporting

Carefully coordinate RLP communications to partners and internal audiences, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with OCLC messaging and brand guidelines. Support the development and distribution of newsletters, announcements, and summaries of outcomes, and collaborate with communications colleagues to amplify RLP work through appropriate channels. Internally, prepare concise updates and briefings that highlight RLP activities, insights, and accomplishments.

Continuous Improvement and Adaptation

Support the ongoing evolution of the RLP by soliciting and synthesizing feedback from partners and staff, coordinating annual partner surveys, and contributing to program review and planning processes. Explore and propose new affiliation models to support a more inclusive Library Partnership program (including public and national libraries), and evolve the programming portfolio, engagement approaches, and value proposition accordingly. Work with the Research and Programming leadership team and SPOs to adjust program structures and approaches in response to partner needs and broader developments in the library community.