Posted 9 May 2013

Associate Dean of Libraries

Central Washington University

Deadline: 'open until filled'

The James E. Brooks Library, located at Central Washington University, is seeking an experienced, flexible, and dynamic leader with administrative and budgetary skills, experience managing a diverse staff, and the ability to help the libraries build upon their current strengths.  The Associate Dean will be responsible for the daily operations of the Brooks Library and its two Center libraries at Des Moines and Lynnwood, assuring effective, efficient general services and responsive support of the instructional role of the larger organization.  Demonstrated ability in grant-writing and seeking external funding; ability and skill in team-building, fostering effective communication and collaboration across diverse departments and with people with broadly varying technical skill levels; in-depth knowledge and ability in academic library planning, implementation, policy development, and best practices; demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, government documents policies and practices; excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.  This is a full-time, 11-month, tenure-track appointment to the rank of assistant or associate professor (DOE).  This position reports to the Dean of Libraries.  The Brooks Library has 10 tenured/tenure-track faculty, 4.50 non-tenure track faculty, 25 FTE classified staff, and approximately 13 FTE student employees.  The Library is a designated state and federal documents depository, houses a collection totaling 1.2 million items, and provides access to 28 million items through its membership in the Orbis Cascade library consortium.  Salary DOE.  

Responsibilities
Associate Dean of Libraries (50%)

• Manage day-to-day operations of Brooks Library and its branches including:  personnel, budgets, planning, and policy development and adherence.  
• Manage library operations budget to assure the best possible use of resources in meeting institutional priorities.  
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the libraries’ strategic planning to ensure that information resources and library services support and enhance the mission of the university.
• Evaluate the performance of department heads and oversee the evaluation process of faculty and classified staff.  Maintain current Performance Development Plans (PDPs) for staff reporting directly to the position, and assure PDPs are kept current by supervisors reporting to this position.  
• Assure active staff development across the operation.  Seek out valuable educational opportunities for staff to enhance and broaden their level of expertise and their knowledge of the academic context for their services.  
• Provide leadership in seeking, developing, and submitting proposals for external funding in support of library goals.
• Develop, evaluate, and implement library policies to carry out the mission of the libraries and the strategic agenda of the university.  Assure that up-to-date library policies and procedures are posted and easily found on the libraries’ web pages.  
• Consult the Library Council and library administration when considering service changes, developments, or reductions to assure consistency with institutional goals.  

Professional Duties/Instruction (50%)

• Provide leadership and supervision for all activities involved in collecting, maintaining, and accessing United States and Washington State depository materials, maps and microforms.  Responsible for ensuring compliance with FDLP regulations and guidelines.  
• Plan, promote, and assess library services in support of the teaching and learning processes.
• Maintain current awareness of professional standards and best practices of the profession of librarianship, and seek service improvements and efficiencies appropriate to the larger mission of the libraries.  
• Assist in the planning, management, and evaluation of the development and use of traditional and digital library collections and services.
• Serve on the libraries’ team for the transition to an Ex Libris integrated library system.  
• Provide library liaison services for assigned university departments to assist in collection development and academic support.
• Represent the libraries in library consortia, professional organizations, funding organizations, and other external groups.
• Participate in college-wide committees, advocating for fostering a collaborative working relationship between library operations and the larger library and college organization.  Supervise personnel and all activities in the Government Publications, Maps & Microforms department.  
• General oversight of Circulation & Media Services and Center Libraries (Lynnwood and Des Moines) and supervision of Leads in those areas.  
• May provide reference services in the main library, including occasional night and weekend hours.
• May provide instruction for some University 101 classes and library credit-bearing classes.
• As a tenure-track faculty member, the successful applicant will be expected to practice effective professional activities/teaching, conduct scholarly/creative activity, and perform professional, university and community service to meet the requirements specified for the awarding of tenure.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Dean of Libraries.  
• Serve as Acting Dean as requested in the absence of the Dean of Libraries.

Required Qualifications

• An ALA-accredited M.L.S. and knowledge of academic library practices across all library services and functions.  
• Minimum three years’ experience in an academic library with a proven record of successful leadership, supervision, and demonstrated ability to manage librarians and staff.
• Experienced, flexible, and dynamic leader with administrative and budgetary skills, experience managing a diverse staff, and the ability to help the libraries build upon their current strengths.
• Demonstrated ability in grant-writing and seeking external funding.
• Ability and skill in team-building, fostering effective communication and collaboration across diverse departments and with people with broadly varying technical skill levels.  
• In-depth knowledge and ability in academic library planning, implementation, policy development, and best practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in, government documents policies and practices.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in higher education services and operations, including organizational change, human resources, budgeting, planning, fiscal management, and policy implementation.
• Evidence of ability to lead and successfully implement change.
• Supervisory experience in a union and/or collective bargaining environment.
• Commitment to working for and with diverse populations and exceptional service orientation.  
• Current awareness of ALA stances and other professional commitments on issues such as patron privacy, fair use, academic freedom, service to underserved populations, and other aspects of the libraries as service organizations.  
• Understanding of the social and legal issues related to library service in an academic environment.
• Understanding and familiarity of USMARC cataloging format; understanding of intellectual property and copyright issues pertaining to special collections and records management.
• Additional advanced subject degree(s).

To apply for this position, you must complete an online application (at https://jobs.cwu.edu) and attach a letter of application clearly demonstrating how education and experience (a) meet the required qualifications, and (b) demonstrate ability to perform the responsibilities as described; curriculum vita; names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of three current references.  Screening begins June 10, 2013.  CWU is an AA/EEO/Title IX Institution.