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Director of Digital Scholarship

Director of Digital Scholarship

University of Chicago Library Job Location: Illinois Apply By: Open until filled Date Created: 02-25-2021

Description

General Summary: The Director of Digital Scholarship provides leadership and vision for digital scholarship at the University of Chicago Library and manages the Center for Digital Scholarship (CDS). The Center’s mission is to serve as a hub for the expertise, services, technology, and spaces that equip faculty and students to integrate digital tools and methodologies into their teaching and research.  The CDS connects scholars with a network of experts from the Library and across campus in areas such as geospatial analysis, digital media production, data mining/refinement/visualization, digital content acquisition or creation, metadata and description, digital accessibility, rescue of at-risk data contained in legacy media formats, licensing, copyright, open access, and the sharing and preservation of research outputs.

The Director of Digital Scholarship chairs the Library’s Digital Scholarship Advisory Committee and works with them to develop and execute a strategic vision for digital scholarship services, and to lead the design and coordination of programs that meet the needs and priorities of the University community. The Director oversees the Scholarly Communications Librarian, who is responsible for the institutional repository (Knowledge@UChicago), and the Dissertation Office, and partners with other units to deliver programs and services. In particular, the Director works closely with department heads throughout the Library whose staff are involved with supporting digital scholarship, as well as with the campus Academic Technologies Solutions team and the Research Computing Center to coordinate services and ensure a seamless support environment for faculty and students.

The Director develops outreach and communication strategies to promote digital scholarship programs and services to the campus community and undertakes ongoing assessment to ensure they are meeting the needs of diverse faculty and students. The Director will represent the Library’s digital scholarship activities at national and international conferences and will participate in inter-institutional collaborations that provide national or discipline-specific infrastructures for digital scholarship activities. The Director contributes to the culture and operations of the Library by participation in Library committees, strategic activities, and diversity initiatives.

As director of the CDS, the Director of Digital Scholarship will:

  • provide leadership and management of departmental staff and inter-departmental teams
  • work strategically with library units and campus partners to develop an integrated suite of services that support digital scholarship
  • partner with the Director of the Digital Library Development Center to plan for and manage technologies necessary to support digital scholarship initiatives
  • identify service, space, technology, and staffing needs for future growth of the CDS and participate in library planning to ensure that digital scholarship goals and needs are integrated into the Library’s strategic plans

In partnership with library and campus partners the Director will:

  • initiate strong working relationships with departments and services across campus in order to identify current and emerging scholarly trends and projects for which digital tools and methodologies could be transformative
  • leverage partnerships with computing or IT-related units in the library and across campus to research, recommend, test, and implement new technologies in support of digital scholarship
  • provide curriculum-integrated instruction and research support to faculty in close collaboration with subject and functional specialists
  • provide expert consultation, support, and training on digital scholarship tools and techniques
  • identify and evaluate emerging tools and methodologies in order to integrate them into the CDS supported services

Qualifications

Required:

  • Master of Library Science or equivalent degree from an ALA-accredited institution or an advanced degree in a relevant discipline
  • Minimum of 4 years of experience in an administrative position that includes successful management and supervision of personnel, as well as demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Preferred:

  • Significant and progressively responsible experience engaging with and managing digital scholarship services and technology-rich spaces at a major academic institution.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the scholarly application of digital tools (textual and spatial analysis, data visualization, publishing, etc.), metadata and data encoding standards, data management and curation practices, and digital preservation
  • Ability to work cooperatively and in a team-oriented environment and to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse colleagues, faculty, staff, and students
  • Professional engagement in digital scholarship at the local, regional, national, and international level
  • Evidence of a strong and inclusive user service philosophy, and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation
  • Experience with proposal development and grant writing
  • Ability to advise on hardware and software selection and implementation as a part of continuous innovative service development

Application Instructions

The Search Committee will evaluate candidates’ record and academic accomplishments in providing effective, user-oriented digital scholarship services; ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively in an evolving environment; ability to provide vision and leadership; and commitment to providing inclusive services to a diverse community. The Committee will also evaluate candidate's understanding of trends, processes, resources, and technologies related to digital scholarship; oral and written communication skills; ability to plan, implement, and communicate about programs and collaborative projects; and ability to create engaging and informative promotional and educational materials.

To Apply: Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, and reference contact information online through the University of Chicago's Academic Recruiting website: apply.interfolio.com/84659. Review of applications will begin after March 25. 2021. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Salary and Benefits: Appointment salary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include retirement plan, insurance, and paid time off.

Questions: Contact Kara Hastings, HR Generalist, khastings@uchicago.eduEqual Employment Opportunity Statement

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.

For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-1032 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.

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