Digital Library Federation is hiring: Associate Dean, Student and Faculty Engage

San Jose State University Library has exclusively retained Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the winning candidate for this important hire. Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter to Amy Morse (amy@jackfarrell.com). Please see details on the cover letter below.

Closing date for applicants is Wednesday April 9, 2025

Purpose

As a core member of the San José State University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library Leadership Council, and reporting directly to the Dean, the Associate Dean (AD) for Student and Faculty Engagement plays a crucial role in enhancing the success of students and faculty at SJSU. The SJSU King Library is a highly regarded and sought out partner across campus, known for its programs, services, and spaces that are aligned with the needs of SJSU and the San José community.

In the most recent academic year, the library had over 1.3 million visitors, hosted over 50 exhibits and events, and continued to create innovative library services and programs. King Library is also home to a unique partnership between the SJSU academic library and the San José Public Library, which enhances the role of the library in San José. The position is based in the King Library and relocation assistance is available to the successful candidate.

The AD is a dynamic and collaborative leader who is as comfortable in conversation with stakeholders as they are with examining data to gain insights, and then turning those insights into action. With a strong background in designing and delivering scholarly-focused library services, the AD is a passionate advocate for the diverse scholarly community at SJSU.

The AD is a highly skilled communicator and relationship builder and works closely with their direct reports, including the Library Marketing Team, and partners with colleagues across the library, the university, and institutions such as the San José Public Library. They foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where creativity thrives, feedback is encouraged, and partnerships are forged to amplify the impact of library services.

This position is ideally suited for an individual who is self-motivated to seek opportunities to better their community. Dedicated to continuous improvement, the AD is able to look at library services, spaces, and collections and recognize the SJSU Library’s current strengths while identifying opportunities for improvement. They understand the complex interaction of technology with user experience, and stay current in emerging trends in libraries to deliver and design outstanding and engaging library services.

Furthermore, the AD provides leadership to the library’s Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (RSCA) efforts through support, mentorship and guidance to library faculty and staff throughout the research life cycle. They provide expertise across the granting and research process and proactively identify research or other grant opportunities to support the efforts of the library. The AD motivates a culture of scholarly inquiry within the library develops programs, services and spaces that support SJSU’s research activity, and represents the library to the campus research community by serving on committees such as the RSCA Advisory Council.

This position significantly contributes to the University Library’s commitment to integrating anti-racism practices into library services and operations. The AD supports strategic initiatives aligned with the library’s core values of equity, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that these principles are woven into every aspect of their work. Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to equity and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or service.

Essential Functions

1. Student and Faculty Engagement
1. Provides leadership for and manages services and programs across the university library with a focus on increasing student and faculty engagement.
1. Coordinates library workflows and activities to ensure seamless operations, delivering high-quality services to faculty, staff, students and community members.
1. Provides leadership and drives innovation in the delivery of Research & Reference Services and Information Literacy & Assessment.
1. Evaluates resources and services utilizing various assessment techniques, enhancing or modifying existing offerings based on findings.
1. Partners with colleagues in Acquisitions and Resource Management and the Research and Scholarship group to promote engagement with SJSU library’s collections and materials.
1. Actively communicates with faculty, staff, students, and community members, soliciting feedback to continually improve services.
1. Prepares regular progress reports and informs Dean and library employees of project statuses.
1. Develops, communicates, and maintains guidelines and procedures to support the library’s functions.
1. Develops, cultivates and supports partnerships and ties with various constituencies including the University and its colleges, the University Library Board, the San José Public Library, and the community of the City of San José to achieve excellence in the Library’s instructional service and research mission.
2. Leadership and Collaboration
1. Leads, guides and inspires the Library Marketing Team (LMT) to create captivating online and print campaigns that showcase and elevate the library's services and talented team members.
1. Collaborates with the Africana, Asian American, Chicano and Native American (AAACNA) Studies Center Director to develop exhibits, services and programs that reflect the diverse cultural heritage of the San José community.
1. Directs the User Engagement & Insights Librarian in impactful research projects to gain a deeper understanding of how the library can better serve SJSU’s scholarly community.
3. RSCA
1. Plays a pivotal role in supporting and mentoring library faculty and staff throughout the research life-cycle.
1. Proactively identifies grant and research opportunities, empowering librarians and staff to pursue innovative projects and fostering a vibrant culture of scholarly inquiry within the library.
1. Represents the library on the RSCA Advisory Council, organized by the Vice President for Research and Innovation, to help shape the future of research and scholarship at SJSU.
4. Service
1. Serve on library, university, division and departmental committees to participate in shared governance and relationship building, and to expand professional development, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated effectiveness as a change and continuous improvement leader and as a collaborative and flexible manager, preferably with experience in a collective bargaining environment.
• Strong track record of building and sustaining impactful partnerships and collaborations across academic and/or community organizations.
• Experience with defining problems, collecting data, analyzing findings, and turning these insights into actionable strategies.
• Knowledge of AI and other emerging technologies, along with evolved thoughts of its impact on libraries and research.
• Commitment to successfully collaborate across organizational boundaries and work with teams across the library.
• Excellent communication skills, including communicating with empathy and clarity.
• Knowledge of innovation frameworks, and experience leading library initiatives to fruition.
• Progressive and current record of scholarship, including research, publication and experience in seeking out grant funded opportunities.

Qualifications

1. Minimum Education
1. Master’s Degree in library science or equivalent from an American Library Association accredited program.
2. Preferred Education
1. Masters, PhD or Doctorate in a relevant field.
3. Minimum Experience
1. 3 years of administrative experience within an academic library.
1. Supervising professional/faculty ranked librarians.
1. Record of scholarly, professional or creative achievement in the field of library science or higher education.
1. Partnership development with external organizations, the community, and campus.
1. Working as part of a diverse team.
4. Preferred Experience
1. 3+ years of progressively responsible administrative experience within a university library.
1. Direct supervision of professional librarians in the delivery of research services and collection management.
1. Experience using multiple research methodologies and their application in the assessment of library resources and services.

Closing date for applicants is Wednesday April 9, 2025

Application Procedure

San José State University Libraries has exclusively retained Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the winning candidate for this important position. Interested candidates should provide a CV and 2-3 page cover letter by email to Amy Morse (amy@jackfarrell.com). The cover letter should address: 1) Why are you interested and what excites you about this role?, 2) How are you qualified?, and 3) What is your vision of success in this role? Providing a Diversity Statement along with your letter is optional. For those who choose to include a Diversity Statement, you will find guidelines here SJSU Diversity Statement Guidelines. Thank you. JO 202502011