Job Posting: Assistant Director for Discovery Services

[Scott Salzman]

Assistant Director for Discovery Services

The James B. Duke Library at Furman University, a top-ranked liberal arts university, seeks an energetic and innovative individual to lead its newly created Discovery Services division. This division works to enhance patron resource discovery and create, enrich and curate digital collections used for instruction and research. The successful candidate will demonstrate both collaborative leadership and technical skills to provide direction for the library’s web presence, discovery tools and management of digital assets.

The newly created Discovery Services Division consists of Web Services and Emerging Technology, The DigiCenter, Cataloging/Metadata, and Systems.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director for Discovery Services guides the division through planning and implementation of new technology and discovery-related services and through management and support of legacy technologies. The AD ensures the quality and reliable delivery of library technology systems and services to the university community. This position works with librarians, faculty and staff in the creation and implementation of discovery strategies that support the university’s teaching and learning mission and its commitment to academic excellence. The AD reports to the Director of Libraries and serves as a member of the Library Leadership Council with the Assistant Directors for Collection Services and Outreach Services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

●     Develops a strategic vision for discovery building on its current strengths, addresses new opportunities, judiciously pursues the transformative possibilities of adapting technology to better serve the university community.
●     Works with Furman University Libraries' faculty, students and staff to evaluate the Libraries' discovery environment, develops and implements strategies and innovative solutions to improve the user experience and maximize system functionality.
●     Cultivates strong cooperative relationships with Information Technology Services personnel.
●     Collaborates in the development and implementation of innovative initiatives and services. Develops RFPs for library systems, software, and services. Negotiates with vendors of such and, with the Chief Information Officer, develops contracts for procuring systems and services from selected vendors.
●     Establishes and maintains open communication channels within the division, and across the library, and contributes to a consultative and collegial work environment.
●     Works with division members to develop annual performance goals, monitors progress, and provides guidance and redirection as needed. Encourages, seeks, and facilitates professional development opportunities for division members. Performs annual evaluations for direct reports.
●     Motivates and inspires others to embrace changes that will enhance the library’s virtual and relational presence in the university community.
●     Promotes local and unique collections by partnering with Special Collections and Archives to incorporate these materials into mainstream discovery channels.
Attributes
The successful candidate will demonstrate:

●     willingness to assist with the work of the division.

●     outstanding people, project, process, and change management skills and talent for collaborating with a broad range of constituencies.

●     excellent organizational, analytical, time management, and written communication skills.

●     exceptional interpersonal skills including the ability to motivate others to embrace change.

●     knowledge of the changing nature of library services, trends, and technologies flexibility and creativity in a changing technological and organizational environment.

●     enthusiasm for exploration of new opportunities to better serve our library patrons.
Qualifications
Required: ALA-accredited MLS degree or relevant graduate degree. At least five years of experience working in an academic library and three years of supervisory experience. Significant recent operational experience in one or more areas of the division. Significant hands-on experience in applying Web best practices. Demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and oversee complex projects, meet deadlines, and prioritize work in alignment with the service goals of the division, library and university. Demonstrated knowledge of relevant standards for digital practices.

Application Deadline
Review of applications begins immediately and will conclude on July 16, 2012.

Planned Starting Date
January 2, 2013

Libraries
The Furman University Libraries consist of the James B. Duke Library, the Sanders Science Library and the Robert J. Maxwell Music Library. Library personnel include 13 library faculty and 17 support staff.


Current Discovery Services

The Libraries use Innovative Interfaces’ Millennium, Summon, LibGuides, and LUNA Insight and is in the process of migrating its website to Sharepoint.

Environment
Furman University is a highly selective, independent liberal arts college. It is distinguished by its commitment to engaged learning, a problem solving approach to education. Furman’s 750-acre campus in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation. The campus is located fifteen minutes from downtown Greenville, one of the South’s most prosperous cities with a metropolitan population of over 630,000 and an excellent array of cultural events, restaurants and shopping. Additional information is available on the university’s homepage at http://www.furman.edu/

Salary
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Librarians have faculty status (without tenure), 10 paid holidays, 20 days vacation and an excellent benefits package, including tuition assistance and domestic partner benefits.

Application
Review of applications begins immediately and will conclude on July 16, 2012. Please submit a cover letter, a resume/cv and the names, addresses (including e-mail) and phone numbers of three references to HumanResources at furman.edu<mailto:HumanResources at furman.edu>. For additional information contact Janis Bandelin, Director of Libraries, janis.bandelin at furman.edu<mailto:janis.bandelin at furman.edu>, 864-294-2191. Furman University is an equal-opportunity employer.










Scott Salzman

Systems, Web Services & Emerging Technologies Librarian

Furman University Libraries

http://library.furman.edu/

(864) 294-3204





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2012-05-18
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