Senior Partnering Consultant
Vanderbilt University Job Location: Tennessee Date Created: 08-10-2022
- Work with library leadership to identify KPIs and prepare reports and narratives that demonstrate progress towards the goals.
- Research University, Library, and industry trends and gather benchmark data to make Library leadership aware of opportunities to innovate and to enhance services levels to stakeholders.
- Participate in quarterly library directors' meetings to discuss strategy and plans.
- Contribute to the development and communication of the Libraries' value proposition to stakeholders.
- Understand the key strategic and operational issues facing the Libraries, place them into a broader context, and work collaboratively to explore how data, information, and analysis can best address the issues.
- With an understanding of the goals and constraints of the Libraries, integrate disparate sources of information, including quantitative and qualitative data, to provide evidence-based, actionable analyses and recommendations.
- Share and explain data, analysis, assessment findings, and similar information to leadership in the Libraries. This may include writing compelling narratives, customizing reports, and using a variety of tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualization software.
- Advise on options, risks, and action plans for improving the Libraries' effectiveness.
- Train on data usage, data literacy, data tools, and assessment, and serve as a source of data expertise.
- Identify ways to improve existing data resources and advise and lead on how to collect and curate data to be more effective.
- Work with experts in the Libraries, DSA, and VUIT to ensure that the technical underpinnings and integration of data resources are fit for purpose and aligned with Vanderbilt's Data Strategy.
- Serve as Data Steward for identified data resources within the Libraries, ensuring adequate data quality for known uses, documenting the data sources and definitions, overseeing data retention, managing data access, and ensuring data privacy standards are maintained.
- Review the data resources supporting the Libraries' management and work with Vanderbilt's Data Governance Committee (chaired by the Chief Data Officer in DSA) to ensure good data governance and management.
- Work with the Libraries and DSA to develop and implement assessment instruments for data collection, which might include surveys, focus groups, interviews, etc.
- Abide by professional codes of ethics for librarians such as the American Library Association Code of Ethics and the IFLA Code of Ethics for Librarians and other Information Workers.
- Work with local and institutional leadership to support regional accreditation processes (SACSCOC).
- Work with library leadership to support regional and disciplinary accreditation compliance requirements, particularly around data requirements specific to the library.
- Draw on knowledge of national datasets and benchmarking efforts (e.g., LibQUAL+, IPEDS, NCES, Ithaka S+R, etc.), influential library assessment methods (e.g., EBLIP, SAILS, RAILS, Conspectus), and relevant library standards (e.g., ACRL Standards for Libraries in Higher Education) to advise the Libraries about engaging in initiatives and how to use the data that comes out of institutional and national datasets.
- Identify projects (e.g., assessment, surveys, analysis, reporting) which may require input from the broader DSA team and broker and facilitate those conversations.
- Provide feedback to the DSA team about the effectiveness and impact of various office outputs, and about local priorities in the Libraries.
- Remain abreast of developments elsewhere in the DSA team to identify what may be of use to the Libraries.
- Contribute to or lead Library or DSA projects and support the development of institutional data capability (e.g., a more self-service data retrieval approach).
- A master's degree is necessary, and an ALA-accredited MLS degree is preferred.
- At least five years' experience working in a professional setting is necessary, including experience working with senior leaders, understanding of how they best receive and consume data and analysis.
- Experience working in higher education is necessary, with a demonstrated understanding of how a higher educational institution works. This includes awareness of strategic challenges, knowledge of the formal structures, and an appreciation of the internal and external political context and how that influences appropriate behavior.
- Experience of working in an academic library setting is strongly preferred.
- Experience of working with quantitative information and data is necessary; this may be demonstrated by academic or professional experience.
- Ability to understand and translate quantitative data for a wide variety of audiences is necessary.
- Excellent people skills are necessary because the Partnering Consultant needs to be able develop a rapport with a wide range of individuals, including senior leaders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary, including the ability to shape the opinions of others based on an understanding of their reservations and motivations.
- Ability to manipulate and present data in Excel is necessary.
- Experience with Tableau or a similar data visualization tool is strongly preferred.
- Ability to do descriptive statistical analysis (e.g., compute means, variances, change over time) is necessary.
- Ability to present to and train targeted audiences is necessary.
- Ability to learn quickly and independently and to identify one's own learning needs is necessary.
- Strong time-management skills are necessary to effectively prioritize and complete campus area and institutional projects.
- Excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills are necessary, with the intellectual agility to move from theoretical to practical and back again and drawing together a variety of different inputs to draw a conclusion.
- Training in and experience of more advanced statistical techniques is preferred.
- Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their applications additional skills that might contribute to team goals. These may include: bibliometrics and analysis of scholarly outputs; qualitative analysis; survey implementation and analysis; data governance; coding for data manipulation and analysis, especially SQL, R, Python, or similar; data science; etc.
- Working and growing together as a community of communities... we are One Vanderbilt.
- Providing a work environment where every staff and faculty member can be their authentic and best self, while providing the resources and opportunities to learn and grow.
- Encouraging development, collaboration, and partnership both internally and externally while fostering the value that every member of the Vanderbilt community can lead and grow regardless of title or position.
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Vanderbilt University has made the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University requires all employees to (1) participate in any required on-campus COVID-19 testing protocol as may then be in effect, or (2) show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.