The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) invites nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director. ARL seeks an innovative and collaborative leader who will nurture the excellence of its current programs and advance ARL’s strategic agenda with diplomacy and political acumen. ARL is a private, nonprofit membership organization representing 123 libraries of North American research institutions. Its mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL programs are focused around three areas: scholarly communications; information and public policy; and research, teaching, and learning.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as ARL’s chief executive and is responsible for the effective administration of all ARL operations and programs. The Executive Director is responsible for the recruitment and retention of talented staff, budget development and oversight, and member relations. S/he also serves as the Treasurer of the Association and works closely with two ARL affiliates, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) and the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI). The Executive Director is a leader for the critical issues and policy developments facing research libraries. In partnership with the Board, s/he engages with the ARL membership and external partners to implement ARL’s strategic agenda.
The next Executive Director will join the leadership of ARL at a time when innovations in methods of scholarship, learning, and research—and the technology infrastructure that supports and advances those innovations—are radically transforming the role of the research library and the research librarian. The Executive Director must have the intellectual agility, strategic vision, and leadership skills necessary to take advantage of this dynamic moment on behalf of ARL member institutions. As an authority on the ways in which universities and other research institutions integrate, preserve, disseminate, and create knowledge, the Executive Director will serve as an effective spokesperson for the complicated legal and policy issues facing research libraries in the 21st century.
The successful candidate will have significant experience leading complex organizations and a proven ability to recruit, retain, and motivate talented staff. S/he must have extensive knowledge and understanding of research libraries, their roles in higher education, and the ways in which current and emerging digital technologies are changing the roles of traditional research collections. Strong financial management skills, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a creative approach to problem solving are critical. An advanced degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
The ARL Executive Director Search Committee has retained Auerbach Associates, Inc., to assist with this search. Applicants should provide a cover letter, a résumé or curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for three references. All nominations, applications, and inquiries should be sent, in confidence, to:
Kit J. Nichols, Senior Consultant
Auerbach Associates
65 Franklin Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 451-0095E-mail: sara@auerbach-assc.com
Electronic submissions preferred