Head of Research and Teaching
Job Summary
Captures and advocates for the activities of the dynamic, six member Libraries Research and Teaching (RaT) team of academic subject librarians, serving as a strategic bridge between the team and other Libraries departments.
Essential Functions
Manages the Research and Teaching team in collaboration with the Learning, Research and Technology managers, the Libraries, ITS and campus partners.
Coordinates with campus colleagues to develop innovative teaching practices, including addressing the critical implications of artificial intelligence and developing strategies to support data research needs.
Leads and develops the Ask Us program including managing in-person and email research questions as well as training for referrals from other service points.
Collaborates within the Libraries to develop consistent guidelines for collection development and management.
Develops thoughtful and user centered processes for scholarly support and critical and inclusive assessment that are scalable, sustainable and in alignment with the Libraries.
Updates members of Research and Teaching on information and activities from other departments within the Libraries.
Directs a program of user centered and multi-modal research support for the Smith community.
Collaborates with the Libraries, LRT, ITS and campus partners in the continuing development of service strategies and models in the Libraries.
Provides expert guidance to faculty and students in academic departments on research methods and resources.
Develops online learning content for the Libraries website, including digital learning objects, subject and course resource online guides and other web-based tools and digital information services for assigned academic departments and as part of a team of teaching librarians.
Participates in the Libraries consultation service and contributes to Zotero citation management software support including individual assistance and group workshops.
Additional Responsibilities
Engages in continuous professional self-development and keeps current with emerging library, educational technology, and digital scholarship practices, methodologies, and technologies.
Participates in the work of the Libraries through service on library-wide and Five College consortium committees.
Participates in library wide teams, committees and working groups and professional activities.
Represents Smith College Libraries at conferences and collaborates with national organizations in pedagogy, librarianship, and emerging library practices.
Minimum Qualifications
Masters degree in Library Science, Information Studies, Education or equivalent field.
At least 8 years of experience with teaching in a library setting and 3-5 years of leadership experience with research services in academic libraries.
Preferred Qualifications
Progressively responsible project, service or team management experience.
A strong commitment to public service, knowledge of current issues and methods of teaching information literacy, including applications of artificial intelligence, and experience with providing research assistance.
Strong knowledge of collection development and management practices.
Experience working in highly-structured organizations, program development, assessment, user experience, universal design and managing service models in libraries.
Experience navigating the organizational landscape of collective bargaining units (unions).
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills including service orientation with ability to interact with diverse constituencies.
Subject area expertise in an academic discipline.
Skills Knowledge of or experience with copyright, privacy, scholarly communication and open access.
Understanding of the principles of accessibility and universal access design.
Expertise with technology including knowledge of current libraries discovery systems, the Google suite, Springshare products and ethical applications of artificial intelligence.
Strong cultural competencies and a demonstrated commitment to anti-oppressive professional practices.