Head, Collections and Open Strategies

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree and 3 years of related experience. (Librarian II)
• Master's degree and 5 years of related experience. (Librarian III)

Special Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program or international equivalent, or an advanced degree supporting a specialized key program function.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with evaluation, analysis, negotiation, selection, licensing and acquisition of library content in all formats.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current issues and trends in collection development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current issues in “open science”, including open access, open education, and open data.
• Demonstrated understanding of the changing environment for scholarly communications and open publishing models.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion and social justice.
• Supervisory experience.

Not all preferred qualifications must necessarily be met to be a successful candidate.

Job Description:

The Iowa State University Library is seeking applications for the Head of Collections and Open Strategies. The successful candidate (Librarian II or III) will lead a newly created department that will increase the impact and reach of ISU’s research and scholarship by actively supporting, innovating, and advancing open and sustainable models for knowledge generation, dissemination, and publishing. The University Library is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in advancing open access and is well on its way to integrating its open values into its collection strategies. Under direction of the Associate University Librarian for Scholarly Communications and Collections, the Head of Collections and Open Strategies will monitor the expenditure of a $12 million budget, oversee a growing open access program, provide outreach to faculty in support of scholarly communications reform, and serve as an internal resource for content licensing policy and negotiations. The University Library is strongly committed to providing professional development and learning opportunities to ensure the incumbent has the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed across the position’s diverse scholarly communications and collections responsibilities.

Working in a collaborative and service-oriented environment that seeks to enact Iowa State’s land grant mission to share our knowledge with Iowa and the rest of the World, key responsibilities for the position will include: advancing scholarly publishing reform and promoting open and sustainable publishing models; leading collection and open strategies in support of current Iowa State needs; overseeing licensing practice and license compliance; supervising and inspiring a team of collection analysts, scholarly communications librarians and support staff; developing and overseeing the use of evidence based, data driven assessment metrics; ensuring principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are fully integrated in the library’s collections and open strategies; and participating in, and bringing Iowa State’s values and mission to, national and international efforts to create models and infrastructures to advance Open Scholarship.

The successful candidate will possess the ability to interact effectively with library staff and the university community and work both independently and collaboratively in a rapidly changing team-based environment. Additionally, the successful candidate will possess adaptability, problem-solving and decision-making skills; have the ability to formulate and implement innovative approaches and solutions to problems; communicate complex ideas to a wide range of audiences; effectively communicate and collaborate; and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, social justice, public service and the land-grant mission.

ISU students, staff, and faculty strive to overcome historical and divisive biases in our society. Library staff must embrace an environment of inclusion that moves beyond simple tolerance to recognizing the richness in individual identities of people, and diverse perspectives. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.

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