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 innovative leadership, management, and strategic direction for the Access Services Department. Oversees the following departmental functions: circulation, stacks management, course reserves, document delivery, and interlibrary loan. Formulates departmental goals and objectives in support of the mission and goals of the Library and the University. Establishes, implements, and evaluates departmental policies and procedures to effectively meet user needs and expectations. Ensures Access Services has the resources and staffing necessary to fully meet operational standards and create a positive user experience. Provides leadership in implementing and updating relevant systems.
Essential Functions
- Provides innovative leadership, management, and strategic direction to the Access Services Department.
- Leads initiatives that advance and transform Access Services activities and create a welcoming user experience.
- Aligns departmental planning, priorities, goals, objectives, and services with strategic initiatives of the Libraries, the University, and consortial partners.
- Formulates, revises, and implements policies and procedures in response to evolving operational needs. Interprets such policies and procedures for students, faculty, and staff, as necessary.
- Develops departmental metrics for success and analyzes trends to continually evaluate services and their impact. Uses data and assessment techniques to advocate for and support evidence-informed decisions around staffing, resources, services, spaces, programs, and user experience.
- Establishes regular reporting mechanisms to communicate effectiveness of departmental activities to administration and other stakeholders.
- Creates a positive team environment that fosters collegiality and innovation. Mentors and develops staff talent, and engages staff in collaborative strategic planning, decision making, and delivery of user-centered services.
- Collaborates with the Head of Student Success and Engagement to incorporate student success initiatives into Access Services activities and with the Open Education Librarian on open education initiatives.
- Delegates responsibilities effectively, empowering staff to make independent decisions at appropriate operational levels and holding staff accountable for successful completion of assignments. Establishes balanced and equitable workloads, providing guidance and direction, monitoring and evaluating performance, and coaching and counseling as needed.
- Coordinates movement of UMass materials into the Five College Libraries Repository Collections (FCLRC), working with the FCLRC Collection Manger and external vendors. With the Head of Information Resources Management (IRM), coordinates the activities of internal staff and groups connected to each collection move.
Other Functions
- Works creatively, collaboratively, and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality, and inclusiveness within the UMass Amherst Libraries and the campus.
- Participates in the Libraries' Department Heads Meeting and other committees and working groups. Serves as a member of other library committees, task forces, and working groups.
- Represents the Library on appropriate campus, Five College Consortium, Boston Library Consortium, and other relevant committees, working groups, meetings, and conferences.
- Maintains current knowledge of evolving trends and best practices as they relate to collections strategies and services. Attends professional development activities as assigned or required to meet departmental goals and objectives.
- Performs other related duties as assigned or required to meet department and university goals and objectives.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library science program, or equivalent accredited degree from another country, or advanced degree in a relevant discipline and appropriate equivalent experience.
- Minimum of two (2) years of successful supervisory, management, and leadership experience, preferably in a large academic library.
- Experience with a minimum of two (2) of the following areas: management of public services, circulation, course reserves, collection maintenance, interlibrary loan/resource sharing, or other related areas.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to effectively prioritize and balance multiple assignments and projects.
- Demonstrated ability to set staff performance expectations, articulate vision, set and achieve goals, and direct work in a high-production, rapidly evolving setting in a positive, constructive, flexible, and cooperative manner.
- Ability to set departmental goals in accordance with Library and University goals, develop metrics for success, analyze trends, and initiate, develop, and assess innovative services.
- Strong service orientation and commitment to the professional development of both self and supervised staff.
- Demonstrated understanding of best practices, issues, and national trends in academic research libraries and in access services.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work successfully in a collaborative environment with people from a broad range of culturally diverse backgrounds including colleagues, administrators, students, faculty, donors, and alumni.
- Demonstrated organizational ability, initiative, flexibility, and ability to work independently and collaboratively to achieve Library and University strategic goals.
- Demonstrated ability to use data and assessment techniques to support evidence-informed changes to services or programs.
- Excellent interpersonal, analytical, written, and oral communication skills, including the ability to cultivate a positive, constructive, flexible, and cooperative work environment.
- Understands and contributes to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.
- Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and adheres to both law and university policy.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Experience working in a unionized setting preferred.
Work Schedule
- Monday - Friday, daytime hours.
Salary Information
- Librarian II or III.
- Librarian II salary floor: $61,500.
- Salary commensurate with experience.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.