Career Center

The Director of Sciences, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) works with liaison librarians in their department, and others in the Libraries, to link faculty, staff, and student researchers with a rich array of services and expertise based on the information needs of the disciplines they cover. The SAgE department advances the research, teaching, and learning in a range of disciplines within the College of Biological Sciences (CBS); College of Continuing & Professional Studies (CCAPS);  Extension; College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS); College of Science & Engineering (CSE); and three schools within the College of Education & Human Development (CEHD). They also perform outreach beyond the university through community outreach, connecting to the public and researchers nationwide. SAgE liaisons provide course-integrated instruction, complex and advanced research consultations, and manage highly specialized collections.

Directors collaborate across the University Libraries to imagine, define, implement, and support the next generation of services, tools, and collections that will enhance teaching, learning, and research. Directors contribute to Libraries-wide planning, organizational wellness, and to the development and leadership of major strategic initiatives. This position has a critical responsibility for collaboration and building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership 40%

• Provides leadership in building a sustainable programmatic plan for the Sciences, Agriculture, and Engineering Department. In collaboration with the relevant stakeholders (internal and external), develops near- and long-term plans to enable the department to serve the current and future interests of the academic community.
• Facilitates research excellence through cultivating multidisciplinary services and creative and collaborative solutions for meeting specialized needs across SAgE.
• Collaborates with the AUL and Directors for Research to set research services priorities and develop a holistic and interconnected approach to services that supports faculty, staff, and students from all disciplines and backgrounds.
• Contributes to the overall leadership of the University Libraries in planning, policy development, and resource allocation.
• Facilitates collaboration within the Libraries organization to ensure that necessary expertise and multiple perspectives can inform and enhance decision making.
• Contributes to the goals and strategic initiatives of the Libraries through sponsorship of and/or active participation i/n committees, working groups and task forces.
• Facilitates successful group processes including meeting management, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Identifies opportunities for programmatic engagement and career development for library staff members across the organization.

Management and Supervision 30%

• Coordinates overall operational activities of the SAgE Department, facilitating relationships with other groups in the Libraries, evaluating needs and processes, managing the resources (personnel and non-personnel) of the department, and implementing policies and procedures.
• Provides direct supervision of staff within the department.  Writes position descriptions, hires, assigns job responsibilities, and conducts performance evaluations.
• Coaches and mentors staff, providing guidance and support for their professional development to generate an overall strategic perspective and cultivate the skills and perspectives necessary to engage relevant user communities.
• Prepares narrative and statistical reports for the SAgE Department Sciences and prepares additional documentation on activities and progress as required.  Prepares recommendations and proposals for long range projections in terms of staffing, space and equipment, and collection facility needs.
• Regularly reports on the efforts and impact of services for Libraries leadership and campus.
• Consults with collections coordinators to build and manage library collections within the SAgE Department focus areas.

Campus & Community Engagement 20%

• Develops effective relationships with relevant campus academic programs through systematic outreach and communication to promote current services and collections, identify opportunities for partnership, and highlight the capabilities of the University Libraries.
• Foster connections within external networks, such as the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), and  Association of Research Libraries (ARL).
• Extensive knowledge and ability to speak to a range of library issues, including scholarly communication, the University Digital Conservancy, Data Repository for the University of Minnesota (DRUM), the development of new online tools, the Libraries’ suite of research services, and the integration of information literacy skills into the curriculum.
• Assesses user needs, including trends in academic teaching and research programs, to develop and maintain relevant, high-quality services that address emergent research practices.
• Analyzes trends in academic teaching and research programs, stays abreast of trends in scholarship, and uses this knowledge to respond to campus needs.
• Contributes to the University of Minnesota’s commitment to serve the citizens of Minnesota by promoting services and resources that will benefit the broader community.
• Cultivates mutually beneficial partnerships with consortia, research networks, peer institutions, and local communities to advance collaborative solutions to shared information and curation challenges.

Service to the Libraries, University, and/or the Community 5%

• Establishes a record of visible active contribution to the Libraries, the institution, and/or the broader community that extends beyond assigned responsibilities.

Professional Development and Contribution 5%

• Contributes to the advancement of librarianship through visible professional activity, particularly as it contributes to the achievement of library and University objectives.  Evidence of such contributions would typically include work in relevant professional or scholarly organizations, publications, and/or evidence of scholarly reflection and output.

Salary & Benefits: This is a full-time, 12-month, continuous appointment track academic professional position with  probationary appointment at the Assistant Librarian rank with the potential for appointment at  the Associate Librarian rank.  The salary minimum for this position is $83,000 plus depending on qualifications.  The Libraries offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits, substantial moving allowance, and possibility for flexible work location arrangements.

Required:

• Master’s degree from an American Library Association accredited library school or on an advanced degree with relevant experience(e.g.,Library Science, Higher Education, etc.).
• Advance leadership and excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to effectively work with and engage a diverse population.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and lead effectively in a team environment.

Preferred:

• Experience managing a variety of staff to include supervisors, staff, and student workers.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring employees.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic vision and leadership.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

Connections working at University of Minnesota Twin Cities