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Head, Collection Strategy

Employer
George Mason University
Location
Fairfax, VA
Salary
Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, rank; not less than $72,500/year.
Closing date
Nov 3, 2019

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Job Details

Head, Collection Strategy
The George Mason University Libraries seeks an innovative, collaborative, and forward-thinking individual to lead its Collection Strategy unit. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Learning, Research, and Engagement (LRE), the Head, Collection Strategy (HCS) provides leadership in the broadly defined areas of research materials content strategy and collection development. While directly supervising a small team of two paraprofessional staff and a graduate research assistant, the incumbent will guide and coordinate the selection and collection development responsibilities of 20 subject specialist librarians (who are organized in three disciplinary subject-based teams and spread across three campuses) as well as those of another dozen staff with selection responsibilities. Additionally, the position serves as the primary content and collections contact with VIVA (Virtual Library of Virginia), WRLC (Washington Research Libraries Consortium), and ASERL (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries).
At this time of rapidly changing and developing paradigms of scholarly production and dissemination, the HCS will help direct our efforts towards embracing these changing models of scholarly communication (in collaboration with other key staff including the Director of Mason Publishing and the Director of the Digital Scholarship Center, as well as Libraries' subject specialists).
George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment. The HCS will take a prominent role, working closely with the Head, Resource Acquisition and in collaboration with not only the AUL for LRE but also with other key Libraries' leaders and managers with research collections responsibilities to strengthen existing models of content provision as well as explore and develop new approaches for providing research content to the George Mason University scholarly community.

Responsibilities: The Head, Collection Strategy's primary role is to direct, coordinate and assess the Libraries' overall research materials content strategy and development of all research collections, whether owned, subscribed to, shared, open, accessed or otherwise made available to the George Mason University scholarly community.

Duties: Through leading the continuous development of Mason's libraries-wide collection development and content strategies; the wise stewardship of the Libraries' $9.4 million research materials budget (FY2020); as well as the coordination of collection development activities of approximately 30 subject expert librarians and other staff, the Head, Collection Strategy ensures excellence of all on-site and electronic collections as well as access to collections by distance learners and all other off-site users and researchers. The HCS works closely with the heads of all libraries, disciplinary and other team leads, and with managers across all three divisions of the Libraries in developing afore-mentioned, and future-focused content strategies.
The Head, Collection Strategy works in close collaboration with the Libraries' Head of Assessment and Planning and the Libraries' Assessment Office in the investigation and implementation of new paradigms of assessment for the content, research collections, and related services the Libraries provides. The incumbent also represents George Mason University on the VIVA Collections Committee, the WRLC Coordinated Collections Committee, and with ASERL, CRL, and other collections-focused national and regional entities.

Qualifications- REQUIRED: * ALA-accredited Master's degree in Library and Information Science OR an equivalent certified foreign degree; * Experience of at least three years at a professional level working in some aspect of collection development/management, content strategy, or related area; * In-depth knowledge of academic electronic and print publishing; and experience working with open access, Open Educational Resources, and digital management and intellectual property rights; * Excellent written and oral communication and public presentation skills; * Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively on teams; * Experience managing research materials budgets in the range of millions of dollars; * Demonstrated successful supervisory experience; * Strong commitment to service excellence; * Demonstrated ability to coordinate peer responsibilities and direct activities/projects in a collaborative environment.
PREFERRED: * Highly Desirable: additional advanced degree in a relevant discipline; * Experience developing working partnerships through outreach and engagement with university communities and clienteles; * Demonstrated Project Management skills; * Flexibility, adaptability, and ability to succeed in a dynamic and complex environment. * Experience managing large research materials budgets of $5 Million or more. * Demonstrated knowledge of qualitative and quantitative collection assessment techniques. * Experience with service assessment or improvement. * Established record of research/scholarly publications and presentations at conferences focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning; and * Evidence of relevant professional service activities at the state, regional, or national levels.

Appointment/Benefits/Salary: 12-month professional faculty appointment with rank; health plan options and paid life insurance; several retirement plans, including TIAA-CREF; 24 vacation days and 12 paid holidays; tuition waiver for self.
Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, rank; not less than $72,500/year.

The George Mason University library system, comprised of a large central library and four other distinctive libraries, is located on three campuses in the Northern Virginia-metropolitan Washington, D.C., region. One of Virginia's leading academic research libraries, the Mason Libraries continues to gain steadily in national stature as it undergoes extensive transformation in all areas that are key to a 21st century research library-innovative technologies and services, expert library faculty and skilled staff members, growing collections, publishing, modern facilities, and transformational partnerships. Visit us at library.gmu.edu for more information.

All applications for this position (FA262z) MUST be submitted online at George Mason's employment page (https://jobs.gmu.edu/). Applicants must submit letter of application, resume, and the names, addresses (including e-mail) and phone numbers of three current references. Questions should be directed to Renee Prokop (rprokop@gmu.edu), Human Resources Coordinator, Office of the Dean of Libraries. Review of applications will begin September 3, 2019.

"Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report "Up and Coming" spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition."

Company

George Mason University is a university with three campuses, each with a distinctive academic focus that plays a critical role in the economy of its region. At each campus, students, faculty, and staff have full access to all the university's resources, while duplication of programs and support services is minimized through the use of technology. In addition to the main campus in Fairfax, the university has campuses in Arlington and Prince William Counties.

Company info
Website
Location
4400 University Dr
MSN 3C3
Fairfax
VA
22030
US

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