Assistant University Librarian - OCAD University
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Salary: $94,867 - $104,571
Employment Term: Full-Time, Temporary, 2-year contract with the possibility of permanent afterwards.
Employer Contact: Alli O'Shea, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, OCAD University
Position Summary:
Reporting to the University Librarian, the Assistant University Librarian (AUL), is an effective manager and supervisor who will improve the execution of core administration and operational services and functions. The AUL provides leadership in the implementation of the Library’s technical services, digital and electronic resources, systems, and access services teams.. The AUL supports the University Librarian in the administration of the library by creating and coordinating processes for assessing library collections, technical, and access services, and by aligning content in a user-focused and evidenced-based manner. The AUL establishes policies and best practices for managing the full life cycle of dynamic and complex content, including tracking and reporting library analytics and bibliometrics, quality assurance, outreach, and communications.
Summary of Responsibilities:
Leadership, Supervision, and Management
- Working closely with the University Librarian and other library stakeholders, collaborate with library staff on the implementation of the strategic and academic plan
- In collaboration with the University Librarian, provide strategic leadership and stewardship to the realization of the vision of the library, and portfolio goals
- Hire, onboard, coach and supervise the library technicians and support staff, including collaborating on staff performance objectives, monitoring progress on goals and objectives, and evaluating employee performance
- Develop and manage staff service point schedules and staffing, including daily attendance tracking and submissions
- In consultation with the University Librarian, determine the skills needed for staff development, training, and work to enable a highly supportive work environment
- Collaborate with OCAD U departments to ensure that Library Services units and functions serve and advance all Library units, programs, services, and initiatives effectively and efficiently
Analytics and Quality Assurance
- Manage appropriate, relevant, qualitative, and quantitative data—including, but not limited to developing, tracking, storing, analyzing, interpreting, publishing, visualizing, adjusting, and archiving such data—that improves decision making, and puts the University Library’s employees in a position to forecast and act upon important trends in ways that provide a competitive advantage to the University, its stakeholders, and primary community members
- Lead collections analysis and inventory projects with Librarians for evaluation of current print and electronic collections, in all media formats; draft reports and analysis to support effective decision making and budget allocations by the University Librarian
- Initiate and develop survey instruments to assess library services, ensuring opportunities to improve and adapt services to meet the OCAD U community’s needs, year over year
- Lead the maintenance and development of all data collection among library staff in support of annual statistical gathering, utilizing a monthly integrated statistics workbook
- Develop, deploy, and maintain a PowerBi statistical dashboard on the library webpage
Policy Management and Operations
- Establish, oversee, maintain, update annually, and publish a centralized and accessible compendium of Library policies, procedures, and best practices
- In consultation with the University Librarian, and other key stakeholders, establish and manage a method for creating, reviewing, defining, discontinuing, and retiring OCAD University library policies, procedures, and best practices
- Make recommendations to the University Librarian on budget reallocations, opportunities for efficiencies, and cost reduction opportunities
- Provide oversight for the development of electronic collections, discovery tools, and resources that support research, learning and scholarship, research impact, and program assessment, as well as development and support for emerging areas of digitally intensive research and knowledge dissemination
Library Communications
- In support of library strategic priorities, services, and collections, lead and sustain a library newsletter, social media policy and team, and other relevant communication tools and systems to promote library services, collections, programs, and achievements
- Draft and edit an annual report for Library Services
Other administrative contributions
- Perform activities that expand knowledge and abilities in ways that positively impact individual performance, and service to the OCAD University Library, the University, and professional organizations, and colleagues
- Maintain or improve managerial or technical skills through professional development that directly advances the mission, vision, and aspirations of the University Library
- In collaboration with the University Librarian, initiate and support programs that enable transformational, digitally intensive research at scale, working with Library, campus, and external partners
- Lead and participate in projects, working groups and committees related to areas of responsibility
- Maintain good working relationships with Deans, Associate Deans, senior administrators, community groups, and others to support the work of library services
- Participate as a backup for any service point, providing circulation and reference services when needed, this includes working evening and weekend shifts as assigned
- Act as designate for the University Librarian, including providing back up for operational leadership and representation at Senate and other University committees, as needed
- Assist the University Librarian with any other duties as necessary to advance the mission, vision, and aspirations, and successful operation of the University Library
Qualifications:
- ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS degree, or equivalent
- Additional graduate degree in History of Art, History of Design, Computer Science, or similar preferred
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience developing programs and leading teams of librarians, and technical staff in one or more of the following areas: technical services, library systems/technology, collections management and assessment, and/or access services
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in library management and/or leadership positions with proven administrative, public relations, and managerial skills; supervisory and management experience in a unionized environment
- Experience with organizational change and change management best practices with an ability to develop and implement strategic change enablement plans considered an asset
- Proven planning, budgeting, and project management skills
- Alma and Primo certification preferred
- Working knowledge of cataloging and metadata schemas, and technical services standards, preferred
- Demonstrated proficiency with systems and technologies for digital collection management and working experience with rights management systems
- Knowledge of HTML/XML, CSS/XLS, Microsoft Excel, PowerBi, and content management systems
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to function effectively as a member of a management team working within a collegial environment and experience in building and managing relationships at all levels of the organization
- Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills, and proven research abilities
- Demonstrated familiarity with developments in higher education and the issues facing research libraries, preferably in North America, and an understanding of academic and scholarly processes
- Ability to exercise a high level of diplomacy, tact and discretion when working with information of a confidential and/or sensitive nature and in dealing with various levels of senior administration and external agencies
- Ability to create an environment that embraces curiosity, ideas, creativity, and innovation and provides opportunities and flexibility to explore new initiatives
- Demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff, and faculty
Compensation: Commensurate with experience, plus benefits.
Hours of Work: Total of 35 hours per week. This is a two-year temporary contract, with the possibility of becoming permanent afterwards.
The incumbent in this role will be expected to report to work on campus.
Please review the Return to Campus Plan for up-to-date information about OCAD U vaccination requirements.
All OCAD University employees are required to be fully vaccinated as a condition of hire in accordance with OCAD U’s vaccination requirement.
Application Deadline: Interested applicants are invited to submit an updated resume, with a cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.
We encourage members of designated equity-seeking groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire.
In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous administrators, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities
All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted