Jobs

Events / Officers / YRCA / Quarterly / PNLA-L / Membership / Leadership / Links
Home

Director, Library Digital Initiatives (Full Time, Continuing)

Extension:

Additional details provided to clarify position scope and responsibilities.  Competition is extended to 5 p.m. (PST) on March 5, 2010. Applications will continue to be reviewed during this extension period.  Previous applicants need not reapply.

UBC Library

The University of British Columbia Library is the second-largest academic library in Canada and consistently ranks among the top university research libraries in North America. UBC Library has 21 branches and divisions, including two campuses (Vancouver and Kelowna), three off-site hospital libraries, Robson Square Library and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, its newest multi-purpose teaching and learning facility.

Our collections include 5.6 million volumes, nearly 300,000 electronic books, nearly 46,000 electronic journals, 26,000 numeric databases, 430,000 digital pages, and over 800,000 maps, audio, DVD/video and graphic materials.

More than 300 knowledgeable employees – librarians, management and professional staff, support staff and student staff – provide users with the excellent resources and services that they need to further their research, teaching and learning.

For more information about UBC Library, please visit www.library.ubc.ca.

Overview of the position:
University of British Columbia Library is seeking an energetic, creative and experienced leader for the role of Director, Library Digital Initiatives.  The Director will be capable of envisioning, developing and implementing the UBC Library’s digital strategy and infrastructure all within the context of a rapidly changing environment.  In addition, the Director will serve as an Associate University Librarian within the Library; actively participating in overall strategic management and decision-making as a member of the Library Operations Management Group (LOMG). 

This work will include providing stewardship and leadership to creating and developing the Libraries’ digital services program; providing conceptual direction to the library’s existing and future digitization services and projects, and defining and shaping the work of staff engaged in digital initiatives.

The position will collaborate with staff and departments to assess the appropriateness and applicability of digital initiatives projects and will steward the planning, development and implementation to ensure projects support the library’s goals. Additionally, the position will provide leadership to the development of supporting metadata thereby enabling effective creation and management, search, discovery, and presentation as well as long term digital preservation.

The Director will provide strategic leadership to specific activities involving copyright, standards, digital projects and cIRcle and will be involved with matters relating to usability studies, materials preparation,  costing/budget analysis; proposals for digitization work. This position also participates in the work of the Library Operations Management Group. 

The Director, Library Digital Initiatives will advocate for the program and give presentations locally, nationally and internationally. The Director will lead cooperative activities within the University and the Community essential to program development. The position will represent UBC Library nationally and internationally and undertake professional responsibilities which will foster long term relationships and support the goals of the UBC Library.

This position reports to the University Librarian, works Library-wide and closely with all levels of staff to develop and implement digital initiatives strategies and projects and provides strategic leadership to staff involved in library wide digital activities and projects including cIRcle, Scholarly Communications, Copyright, Standards, Digitization Projects.

A detailed job description and organization overview can be viewed at www.library.ubc.ca/careers/.

Qualifications and requirements:
A graduate degree in Library Science from an accredited institution is required along with demonstrated experience in strategic visioning and developing of the digital library and related initiatives.

A creative and innovative approach to leadership, stewardship and collaboration is required.  Proven experience in building diverse collaborative groups and developing strong working relationships locally, nationally and internationally is required. Ability to build collaborative professional working relationships and facilitate decision making in a complex environment is necessary.

Exceptional oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills and analytical and problem solving skills are essential.

Demonstrated experience in strategic visioning and planning and project leadership is required, along with the ability to successfully develop and implement projects meeting established goals and outcomes within predetermined budget and time deadlines.

Significant knowledge of the current and emerging trends in digitization, digital preservation, library technologies including metadata, Canadian copyright as it pertains to digital media and other legal issues, principles and practices is required.  Experience with and strong understanding of management and preservation of electronic publications and records is desirable along with knowledge of file formats, image capture and delivery technologies, web services techniques, protocols and standards.

Proven leadership, administrative, and managerial skills, gained through at least 5 years experience in mid to senior library management positions required along with the ability to function effectively as a member of a senior management team working within a collegial environment.

Experience working within an academic or research library setting is desirable. Human resources management and staff development and collaboration especially in a large library and in a unionized environment, is highly desirable. A proven commitment to service excellence and a vision of research library services in the 21st century and the skills to advocate for and communicate that vision are desirable.

Terms of Appointment:
This position will be filled as a full time ongoing position. If eligible and qualified, the successful applicant may be appointed with a confirmed appointment. Otherwise, there will be an initial three-year probationary appointment.  Normally, such an appointment is reviewed by the end of the second year of appointment, and a recommendation is made at that time to grant or not to grant a confirmed appointment.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

Applications for this exciting opportunity to be submitted by e-mail in one consolidated file (PDF or Microsoft word format) and will include:  A letter of application, including a statement of citizenship/immigration status, indicating the candidate’s education, training, and work experience in the areas listed above; a detailed and current curriculum vitae; and the names of three referees, including at least two professional, with their email addresses.

To ensure full consideration, complete applications are to be submitted by 5 p.m. (PST) on March 5, 2010 to:

            Human Resources – UBC Library
            2nd Floor, Koerner Library
            1958 Main Mall
            Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z2
            Email:  library.hr@ubc.ca