Associate Chief Librarian for Science Research and Information, Librarian III or IV

Job Tittle:  Associate Chief Librarian for Science Research and Information, Librarian III or IV  

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)  

Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto.

The University of Toronto Libraries system is the largest academic library in Canada and is consistently ranked in the top ten among academic research libraries in North America. The system consists of 40 libraries located on three university campuses: St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This array of college libraries, special collections, and specialized libraries and information centres supports the teaching and research requirements of over 300 graduate programs, more than 70 professional programs, and about 700 undergraduate degree programs. In addition to more than 12 million volumes in 341 languages, the library system currently provides access to millions of electronic resources in various forms and over 31,000 linear metres of archival material. More than 150,000 new print volumes are acquired each year. The Libraries' data centre houses more than 600 servers with a storage capacity of 1.5 petabytes.

The opportunity

Reporting to the University Chief Librarian of the University of Toronto Libraries, the Associate Chief Librarian for Science Research and Information provides outstanding leadership to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics libraries at a university ranked as a global leader in multiple STEM disciplines. As a member of the University Chief Librarian’s Executive Leadership Table, they also play a key role in advancing the overall strategic goals of the central UTL libraries in support of the academic mission of the University. UTL seeks an innovative, experienced, and knowledgeable library leader to build library services that meet the evolving needs of faculty and students during a time of exponential change in these disciplines.

The Associate Chief Librarian for Science Research and Information has leadership, management, policy, planning and implementation responsibilities for the STEM libraries in the central UTL libraries system, and responsibilities for coordination with all UTL libraries in these subject areas. They are responsible for overseeing the operations of the Gerstein Science Information Centre, the Noranda Earth Sciences Library, the Engineering & Computer Science Library, the Mathematical Sciences Library and the Dentistry Library and collaborate with the respective library heads and managers to ensure proactive information and research services and comprehensive collections. Additionally, the incumbent manages the relationships between UTL and the Health Science Information Consortium (HSIC) and the Centre for Research and Innovation Support (CRIS), collaborating with their respective Directors. They also have a dotted line responsibility, providing guidance and support to the A. D. Allen Chemistry Library, and the Physics Library.

Principal responsibilities:

1.    Provides vision as well as administrative and strategic leadership to the STEM libraries in the central libraries system, ensuring innovative services and diverse collections that support the success of faculty, students, staff, entrepreneurs, and other researchers in STEM. Coordinates with all UTL libraries to ensure consistently outstanding service delivery.

2.    Builds relationships and collaborates with leadership across UTL, in relevant academic departments and with university administration (e.g. Office of the Vice President, Research and Innovation) and others as appropriate to identify forward-thinking priorities and set strategic direction for the STEM libraries. Cultivates partnerships with the interrelated community of U of T researchers and instructors, as well as the sciences, engineering, health sciences, related interdisciplinary areas, and entrepreneurship communities across the tri-campuses to shape scholarly services in support of the research and instructional mission of the University.

3.    In service of faculty and students, directs a dynamic cohort of skilled staff across multiple STEM libraries.  May be directly responsible for supervising individual libraries as needed. Fosters a culture of innovation, experimentation, curiosity, engagement, and collaboration to achieve objectives. Promotes continuous professional growth and learning at all staff and levels.

4.    Enhances the Libraries’ relationship with the Health Science Information Consortium, and the Centre for Research and Innovation Support to improve services for faculty and students.

5.    Advocates for the needs of the STEM libraries to decision-making bodies within the Libraries, at the university, and outside of the institution. Promotes the STEM libraries, and libraries generally, at local, national, and international levels.

6.    With other library and scholarly units, deeply engages with key issues in scholarly communications, bringing knowledge, understanding, curiosity, and leadership around evolving scholarly communication practices, particularly as they pertain to Open Science, Open Data, Generative AI and Research Data Management.

7.    Supports the University Chief Librarian and Chief Administrative Officer to create welcoming spaces for faculty and students through capital planning in the STEM libraries in the central libraries system. Coordinates with facilities administrators to ensure faculty and students have superior learning, innovation, and collaboration spaces.

8.    Serves as a member of the University Chief Librarian’s Executive Leadership Table and participates on other relevant administrative and senior management committees as required.

9.    Provides leadership in professional library associations and at professional conferences as appropriate.

10.    Participates in advancement activities by cultivating relationships with donors.

Required qualifications:

An-accredited Master’s level degree in library, archival or information science. Must qualify for the rank of librarian III as per the Policies for Librarians.
Demonstrated capability of understanding the impact on the library of the university mission and strategic goals, setting long-term goals in that context, and making decisions that align with the overall vision of the university and library.

Demonstrated knowledge of the research and service needs of STEM disciplines, as well as other related subject areas. 

Significant administrative and managerial experience. Demonstrated planning, analytical, decision making, judgment, organizational and problem-solving skills. Proven ability to lead and to manage in a unionized environment.

Demonstrated leadership abilities, particularly in team building and creating a common vision, bringing together science libraries’ staff to offer proactive collections and services for the benefit of a broad and diverse research community.

Demonstrated commitment to mentorship and staff development and growth. Capacity to thrive in an environment of ongoing change and ambiguity, and to nurture that capacity in others.

Outstanding interpersonal, intercultural, and communication skills. Proven ability to foster inclusion and respect, build positive relationships, navigate challenges with empathy and understanding, and motivate the active engagement of a diverse range of individuals.

Demonstrated commitment to the values of inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility.

Demonstrated deep understanding of research, teaching, learning and information priorities in STEM libraries. Knowledge of best practices and emerging developments in service delivery. Record of effective collaboration involving diverse faculty, library staff, students and other campus stakeholders. Proven ability to cultivate positive partnerships with the science, engineering, health, and broader libraries’ communities.

Expertise with collections and service offerings in STEM libraries, and an understanding of how technology will impact scholarly communications in the near and longer term. Familiarity with scientific developments in industry, and how those advances will impact research, teaching and learning in STEM-related fields. Passionate about expanding access to research findings through traditional and emerging technologies, and through partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

Demonstrated understanding of the evolving scholarly communications environment and open access initiatives. Awareness of emerging technologies to support digital research and demonstrated understanding of the role of libraries in collecting and preserving non-traditional scholarship for future generations. Experience with capital projects and library renovations.

Preferred qualifications:

Relevant research experience and expertise. Publication, teaching or other significant contributions to the profession that demonstrates substantial subject mastery.

Significant experience in relevant professional associations.

Successful record of donor relations. 

Significant demonstration of management experience in a science library.

An undergraduate degree in the sciences, engineering, or health sciences and/or an advanced subject degree in a relevant subject area and/or significant professional experience in a STEM library.

Appointment Details:

The administrative appointment begins on July 1, 2024 or as soon as possible after that date. It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian III or IV level, subject to review and
experience. The appointment will be for a period of five years. Librarians are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association. Experience and qualifications determine salary and appointment level. Minimum salary: LIB III: $ 102,023; LIB IV $120,209.

Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please attach a single electronic file (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of Surname, FirstName, 36471]

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.  If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected] .