Associate Dean for Student & Scholar Services

Apply now Job no:496972
Work type:Faculty Full-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Faculty, Library Professionals
Division: University Libraries

The University of Denver Libraries, comprised of the Main Library at the Anderson Academic Commons, the Bonfils Stanton Music Library in the Newman Center, and the off-site Hampden Center storage facility, is a highly collaborative, team-based organization that serves a diverse population, ranging from our students, staff, and faculty to public and other academic patrons from around the country and the surrounding region. The Anderson Academic Commons is the campus centerpiece for collaborative, technology-infused teaching, learning, and engagement. Consistently ranked in the Top 5 of Princeton Review’s best college libraries, the University of Denver Libraries are central to discovery and creative interaction among students and faculty, and provide collections, services, personnel, and systems that support the teaching and research programs of the University. The institution is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To learn more, visit: https://library.du.edu/about-libraries/diversity-equity-inclusion .

At 5,280 feet, Denver is located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Known as the Mile High City, you can expect to enjoy 300 days of sunshine, greenspace and parks, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, beautiful architecture and spectacular views of the mountain panorama near the city. To learn more, visit: https://www.denver.org/

Position Summary

The Associate Dean for Student and Scholar Services is a senior leadership position that reports to the Dean of Libraries and leads Libraries user-facing service efforts As an important member of the Dean’s Executive Committee, the position helps lead Libraries-wide vision, mission, budgeting, strategic planning, implementation, and assessment. As a member of a broader Dean’s Office the position also works collaboratively on emergent needs in facilities, services, or personnel, as needed. It carries administrative oversight and support responsibility for the operations of several departments with an emphasis on public-facing services, including instruction, outreach, and reference. Access Services, the Reference Department, the Music Library, Special Collections & Archives, and an Exhibits Librarian all report to this position. This position is responsible for personnel management and performance reviews of library faculty and staff in its reporting line. The Associate Dean seeks to build an adaptive, inclusive, team-oriented, and forward-thinking organization. Currently there are eleven direct reports across these departments, but an anticipated hiring of a head of reference in the coming year should reduce that number to five.

Essential Functions

• Works collaboratively with the Libraries’ Executive Committee and others as appropriate to plan, implement, and assess Libraries-wide strategic initiatives, vision, mission, and values.
• Serves as a leader within the Libraries and on campus for library services to students and scholars
• As one of two Associate Deans, provides administrative oversight, supervision, support and continuity planning for direct reports.
• Works with Dean’s Office team on pressing issues related to facilities or services.
• Works to build an adaptive, team-oriented, and forward-thinking organization.
• Represents, celebrates, and effectively advocates for the work of Libraries employees.
• Represents the Dean internally and at campus and other external levels when needed, including regularly at two university curricula councils.
• Leads and participates in Libraries initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Co-chairs Libraries Leadership Council and leads other management groups, committees, and teams, as appropriate.
• Collaborates with Libraries service points and Anderson Academic Commons service partners to build cohesive academic support services for students and faculty.
• As a library faculty member, works in accord with the promotion guidelines, and engages in scholarly activities through research and publication, participates in national and regional professional organizations, serves on library committees, teams, and task forces, and engages in University service.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to develop and lead strategic initiatives at the library and university level.
• Can work both independently and collaboratively, with transparency and confidentiality as appropriate.
• Excellent active listening, public speaking, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Can adapt to changing needs and lead with integrity, initiative, and compassion.
• Strong understanding of best practices and current trends in reference, instruction, archives, access services and/or resource sharing in academic libraries.
• Ability to lead and empower faculty, staff, students, and community members, soliciting and incorporating feedback through inclusive decision making.
• Ability to strategically and practically analyze and organize work and set priorities for yourself, and collaboratively with groups you lead.
• Ability to use knowledge, experience, awareness, and skills to advance the Libraries’ commitment to diversity and inclusion and effectively engage with a broad spectrum of racially, culturally, and economically diverse colleagues and community members.
• Constructive conflict management skills that respect both the dignity of individuals and the needs of the Libraries.
• Ability to actively engage in the organization including leadership and participation in teams, task forces, and committees, working professionally in support of colleagues, willingly stepping into other roles when needed, and sharing responsibility as a faculty member in the library’s mission, goals, programs, and plans.
• Ability to commit to the standards of professional behavior and responsibility as stated in the university’s Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion, & Tenure.

Required Qualifications

• ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or equivalent international Master’s degree in Library Science/Information Studies.
• Minimum of five years of progressive leadership and management experience in an academic library (e.g. this may include chairing significant committees, strategic planning groups, academic or programmatic reviews, substantive policy changes, reorganizations, budget reduction or increase, service adaptations through pandemic, etc.)
• Three years direct supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience with user-facing services in an academic library.
• Demonstrated success in mentoring and empowering supervisees and/or team members.
• Evidence of previous work advancing commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion in library services and/or organizations.
• Combination of experience, professional service, and scholarly activity that will allow appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three years direct supervisory experience of librarians with faculty or similar status.
• Understanding and appreciation for the interdisciplinary work of libraries, librarians, and staff
• Experience effectively collaborating across library departments (e.g. technical services, facilities, physical and/or virtual service points, etc.)
• Experience with library budgets.
• Experience representing and advocating for library services to the campus, public, or other external stakeholders.

Working Environment

Physical Activities

Work Schedule

The University’s administrative offices are open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule may vary.

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 5, 2024.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:

The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $120,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .

Please include the following documents with your application:

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement .

The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a pilot University-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participant’s academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denver’s commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: https://www.du.edu/equity . For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email [email protected] and/or visit https://duvpfa.du.edu/faculty-resources/prospective-faculty/ .

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.