Associate University Librarian for Student Success

Introduction

The University of Minnesota Libraries seeks strategic leadership for the position of Associate University Librarian for Student Success. This is an exciting opportunity to join a new leadership team at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Reporting to the University Librarian and Dean of Libraries, the Associate University Librarian (AUL) is a member of the Libraries’ senior leadership team and plays a lead role in fostering collaborative strategies to shape a robust and sustainable environment for student success and life-long learning in partnership with our academic and community partners.

About the University of Minnesota

The flagship of the University of Minnesota System, the Twin Cities campus is Minnesota’s only land-grant university and one of the most prestigious public research universities in the nation.

The University of Minnesota is embarking on a new strategic plan. Inspired by the State of Minnesota, MPact 2025 reflects our deepened commitment to research, teaching, and service, open access to opportunity, and forward-thinking innovation to advance the University’s land-grant mission and impact the world.

About the Libraries

The University of Minnesota Libraries develops and supports innovative services, collections, and partnerships that engage 50,000 students, 4,000 faculty, and 16,000 staff in the pursuit of knowledge. As the state’s only research library, it reaches well beyond campus borders to develop and deliver high-demand services and programs to 5.6 million Minnesota residents, 485,000 alumni, and a global community of scholars. The Libraries includes three service areas: Content & Collection Strategy, Research, and Student Success, supported by an administrative unit.

As outlined in our strategic plan, inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility are the guiding principles for every aspect of work in the University Libraries, knowing that this is an ongoing journey. As individuals, and as a whole, we commit to actions that reject racism and advance social justice. Our commitment to IDEA is demonstrated in part by our community outreach, which includes the Mapping Prejudice project, Umbra Search: African American History, and the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project.

Located in the heart of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the University Libraries has a significant presence on the Twin Cities campus, including libraries on the west and east banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, and in St. Paul.

Context

The Libraries’ new strategic plan includes an expansive and holistic approach to student success at the University of Minnesota in support of MPact 2025, the University’s strategic plan. The Associate University Librarian (AUL) provides visionary, strategic, and creative senior leadership for the area of Student Success, working in a highly collaborative model with AULs for Collections & Content Strategy, and Research. The unit integrates experiential learning, course material services, and access services with undergraduate services. The unit comprises staff who provide general and specialized information services, including: makerspaces, media services, technology space support, all aspects of course materials, coordinated access services, undergraduate teaching and support, tutoring support, and instructional design.

With collections of about 8 million volumes, the University of Minnesota Libraries is recognized for rich historical and special collections, innovative technologies, and model programs in support of research and student success. The Libraries’ strategic plan positions the organization as a critical institutional asset and advances collaborative models for creating and supporting knowledge resources for the campus and global communities.

The Libraries’ outreach beyond the University is strengthened by unparalleled infrastructure for resource sharing, information access, content licensing, digitization, and digital preservation within the state and region provided by the state-supported Minitex consortia, a nationally recognized leader in resource sharing and programs.

The Libraries is a member of a variety of groups within the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), HathiTrust, the National Digital Stewardship Alliance, Council of Library and Information Resources/Digital Library Federation, DuraSpace, and the Center for Research Libraries.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the Libraries’ executive group for strategic planning, resource development, policy, and collaborative program development.
Provide leadership for planning, resource allocation/development, and evaluation. Anticipate emerging issues and enable the unit’s ongoing assessment and refinement of plans and activities.
Provide leadership and stewardship for major program development and collaborate to enable and support cross-unit initiatives.
Develop policies and programs that enable an exceptional and coherent user experience, while recognizing diverse needs of multiple constituencies. Ensure responsive environments for learning and research within library facilities.
Nurture an organizational culture of innovation, evidence-based investments, and responsive program development.
Develop and sustain relationships with academic leadership to inform Libraries’ program development and enable partnerships.
Ensure effective support and development for staff and contribute to organization development. Ensure ongoing communication within the unit and Libraries.
Identify opportunities for external partnerships with institutions and organizations to leverage expertise and develop programs at scale.
Actively participate in and contribute to the profession, advancing new program models, inter-institutional initiatives, and relevant public policy.

Qualifications

Required

ALA accredited Masters in Library/Information Science or equivalent advanced degree. Thirteen years of experience within a research library (or related) environment, including administrative experience. Demonstrated knowledge and application of emergent library roles and issues. Strong facility with technology and its application. Evidence of effective human and financial resource management strategies. Record of effective program development and collaboration. Demonstrated ability to support, respect, and commit to embracing diverse backgrounds, values, and points of view in order to build an environment that fosters an inclusive community. Record of leadership and professional contributions.

Preferred

Leadership experience within an organization of comparable scope and complexity. Demonstrated experience with data-driven decision making. Experience in community building and outreach. Record of successful grant application and management.

Salary and benefits

This is a full-time, 12-month, administrative appointment. Salary commensurate with skills and experience. The salary range for this position is $120,000 to $150,000. The University of Minnesota offers excellent benefits, and a substantial moving allowance. Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

To apply

Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Submit a letter of application, resume, and the names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of three current professional references at https://z.umn.edu/ulib421. Click on External Applicants. Enter 342335 in the “Search Jobs” box. Please identify your cover letter with UL421.