Careers at UMass Amherst

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Provides creative leadership and administrative oversight for Libraries' Research and Learning Division, including the departments of Academic Engagement and the Science and Engineering Library. Ensures a comprehensive, collaborative, innovative, and responsive information and service environment for the highly interdisciplinary research and learning needs of the campus. Takes a leadership role in developing new programs and partnerships that empower faculty and students, advance scholarship, extend the University’s impact, and ensure that the Libraries evolve in response to a changing environment. As a member of the Library Leadership Team, participates in the overall strategic planning and operational oversight of the University Libraries including staffing, budget, and programmatic directions. 

Essential Functions

• Provides leadership and vision for key programs and services to support the teaching, learning and research activities of students, researchers, and scholars across the university and beyond. 
• Directs the work of the Research and Learning Division, including planning and implementation of liaison activities that support the research and teaching mission of a large, public, research-intensive university.  
• Cultivates and sustains partnerships both within the Libraries and with other campus units to identify collaborative opportunities.  
• Ensures that all division staff provide consistent and responsive service to patrons in active collaboration with other units in the Libraries.   
• Assists in the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan for ensuring that the Libraries’ services support and enhance the mission of the University. 
• Facilitates a comprehensive and programmatic approach to information literacy instruction grounded in the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy, including digital literacies, media literacies, data literacies, source evaluation and identifying misinformation/disinformation.   
• Assists with formulating, revising, disseminating, and implementing library-wide policies, programs, and services by working collaboratively with the Associate Deans for Content & Discovery; the Robert S. Cox Special Collections and University Archives Research Center; and Data, Digital Scholarship & Scholarly Communications.  
• As a member of Library Leadership Team, works collaboratively with other library administrators and senior managers in overall governance of the UMass Amherst Libraries. 
• Advises the Dean of University Libraries in matters requiring confidentiality and discretion in matters that require careful judgment and sensitivity, including participation in labor management conversations as needed. 

Other Functions

• Participates in and fosters a culture of assessment related to library services by using data to make evidence-informed decisions in collaboration with-senior managers. 
• Maintains familiarity with trends in academic research librarianship and programmatic needs of the University to ensure that these are supported by the research and learning services efforts. 
• Provides proactive representation of the Libraries at selected professional meetings as appropriate and conferences or in campus assignments as requested. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned or required to meet department and university goals and objectives.  

Organizational Values

• Commitment to support justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within libraries and institution.
• Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships and work collaboratively in a diverse and fast-paced environment.
• Purposefully promote a One Library environment for all that encourages inclusion, personal growth, respect, self-reflection, curiosity, and continuous learning   .
• Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent with both law and with university policy.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and information science from an American Library Association-accredited institution or its foreign equivalent, or advanced degree in a relevant discipline. 
• Minimum of seven years of progressive experience in research and instruction services in libraries. 
• Minimum of five years of demonstrated leadership and management experience. 
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.   
• Demonstrated experience developing an information literacy or related literacy (e.g., data literacy) program in an academic library. 
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively with multiple constituencies in a complex environment utilizing a variety of skills, such as managing change, setting goals, promoting teamwork, and meeting deadlines." Demonstrated experience with curriculum integration.  
• Experience in assessing and using results to improve services, collections, and workflows.  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact collaboratively with a variety of individuals and groups. 
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, be self-directed, and problem-solve. 
• Knowledge of current trends in higher education, especially related to research and instruction. 
• Evidence of professional service and a record of scholarly contribution through presentations and/or publications. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience writing and administering grants. 
• Demonstrated project management skills. 
• Experience working in a unionized environment. 
• Demonstrated skills in providing creative, innovative, and inclusive solutions in public services.  
• Knowledge of collection development and collection management practices in support of research and teaching.

Work Schedule

• The regular working schedule for this position is Monday - Friday, day hours.
• The incumbent of the position is expected to work on a flexible schedule, which includes some evening, weekend, and holiday hours.

Salary Information

Salary will commensurate with experience.

Application Instructions

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

The University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.