Job details

Head of Library Digital Scholarship and Communication Services

The Head of Digital Scholarship and Communication Services is a position that leads the W. Frank Steely Library’s efforts in planning, implementing, and managing an active, comprehensive research services program that meets the educational needs of the campus. This is a unique opportunity to shape the library’s growing role leading digital scholarship services, including support for digital tools and collections, maker technology, and open educational resources. The individual will provide leadership for associated library technology and software and make recommendations for establishing new services related to digital scholarship.

Reporting to the Dean of the Library, the Department Head will lead a team of faculty librarians and staff who hold functional roles. The successful candidate is a dynamic, student-focused educator with demonstrated leadership skills, who continually transforms and assesses research services by using quantitative and qualitative data to inform planning while actively monitoring the campus curriculum. With enthusiasm, the Department Head will build an understanding of the library’s role in advancing the institution’s focus on undergraduate research. This position serves on the Library’s leadership team and will contribute to the development and implementation of the Library’s vision and goals.

The W. Frank Steely Library provides a wide range of library services to support the University’s commitment to its Success by Design strategic framework, which promotes student success by embracing inclusiveness, equity, global awareness, and academic needs of students and faculty in each academic college. Library faculty and staff have enhanced traditional services to better address 21st century information needs and are collaborative partners across campus. The library’s seventeen faculty members and eighteen staff members are leading NKU’s campus-wide Quality Enhancement Plan on Information Literacy and the implementation of an open educational resources platform for academic libraries throughout the state of Kentucky, and manage NKU’s makerspace for prototyping and fabrication.

NKU is a public comprehensive university located in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area. The university delivers innovative, learner-centered education and engages in impactful scholarly and creative activities, all of which empower students for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives while contributing to the social and economic vitality of the region. NKU has almost 14,000 students, over 2,000 faculty and staff. It offers 79 undergraduate degree programs, master’s degrees in 21 disciplines, graduate certificates in 15 areas, two doctoral programs, a law degree, and in a partnership with the University of Kentucky and St. Elizabeth Hospital opened a medical school in the fall of 2019.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership in Digital Scholarship & Communications

Supervises a team of librarians and staff responsible for implementing research services and outreach, including workload distribution, goal setting, performance evaluation, teaching observations, and professional development.
Provides leadership for the development, maintenance, and support of digital scholarship services for both undergraduate and graduate programs, including face-to-face and virtual modes of delivery.
Envisions, investigates, and launches new services aligned with the research and scholarship lifecycle, supporting areas including scholarly communications, data management, and geospatial information.
Oversees the Stego Studio makerspace and program, a student-focused state-of-the-art facility supporting prototyping, design, and creation across the disciplines.
Supports the growing open educational resources (OER) program to enhance textbook affordability and social justice.
Provides direction and supports the growth of the digital repository (https://dspace.nku.edu/)
Oversees library-led support for citation management services.
Oversees training and professional development for librarians and staff on aspects of digital scholarship and communications, including best practices.

Liaison Responsibilities & Leadership in Organizational Culture

In collaboration with other library department heads, serves as a Research Help Coordinator responsible for co-managing a suite of services, including walk-up help, chat service (local and consortial), and consultations.
Serves on/collaborates with campus committees, related campus departments/units, and Library committees and task forces.
Liaises with campus departments and centers, and external partners to create programming and services to support the educational mission of the university.
Leads the effort for Library to be recognized across campus as an active contributor to undergraduate and graduate research initiatives.
Communicates with clarity and transparency to internal and external stakeholders.
Actively promotes an environment of continual improvement by engaging in ongoing learning, information sharing, and professional development.

Other

Contributes to research tutoring and consultations.
Other duties as assigned.

Service

Participates in Library and campus-wide committees and NKU faculty governance.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library or information science program or an ALA-approved foreign equivalent.
Demonstrated experience in digital scholarship, scholarly communications, open educational resources, maker technology, or another relevant functional area.
Supervisory experience and/or evidence of the ability to be an effective team leader who fosters an inclusive, efficient, and collegial workplace.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience planning for, launching, and assessing new research or digital scholarship services.
Experience managing and growing a digital repository or related technology.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge and understanding of key issues and trends in research support, digital scholarship, and scholarly communications.
Ability to lead and manage complex teams.
Knowledge and understanding of key issues and trends that affect academic libraries or higher education.
Ability to work well both independently and in a collaborative environment and to contribute to professional service.
Exemplary interpersonal and written communication skills plus a demonstrated commitment to professional development/achievement.
Ability to create an exciting, future-oriented library.

We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis. Although the position will remain posted until filled, priority consideration will be given to applicants who apply before June 5th, 2023.

Any candidate who is offered this position will be required to go through a pre-employment criminal background check as mandated by state law.

Minimum Education Master's Degree Preferred Education Master's Degree

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