POSITION OBJECTIVE
The Boston University Libraries seek a highly collaborative and effective leader to join the libraries as the Head of Library Experience leading all facets of the library experience program including information literacy, student engagement and reference services. A member of the Academic Engagement Leadership Team and BU Libraries’ Leadership Team, this role reports to the Associate University Librarian for Academic Engagement and Special Collections and provides strategic and operational leadership of our scaffolded information literacy program, learning-object development, campus partnerships across academic and student services informing library orientation programs, student engagement, inclusion initiatives, and community‑building. The incumbent leads program assessment and data‑informed continuous improvement to ensure equitable access to library experience programming, and measurable student success, demonstrably connecting library resources to student life and curricular goals.
The Head supervises and mentors the Library Experience Manager and the Library Experience Coordinator and serves as the liaison to the College of General Studies and Kilachand Honors College.
Strong candidates will bring expertise in information literacy that spans published sources, data and archives as appropriate for course contexts, an ability to translate institutional priorities into concrete and achievable goals and outcomes. The incumbent will be a highly collaborative leader who will deepen partnerships with academic departments, faculty, student success programs, and student services (e.g., Newbury Center, Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, First‑Year Success, Wellbeing, tutoring centers) to co-create programming that integrates library resources into student success pathways. Preference will be given to candidates equipped to lead the creation, curation, and maintenance of scalable online learning objects, tutorials, course guides, videos, and modular teaching materials for integration into the Course Management System, LibGuides, and Teaching Objects repositories.
Preference will also be given to candidates demonstrating commitment to the profession through sustained and progressive scholarship, creative expression, and service at the state, regional, national, or international level.
Required Skills
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Master's degree in library and/or Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, or equivalent professional experience, plus advanced degree in subject specialty.
- 5-8 years of experience.
- Demonstrated leadership experience in academic library instruction, reference services, or student engagement.
- Must have sufficient experience and expertise in library leadership, management, and the work of a team/unit/department to serve as a supervisor, advisor and mentor.
- Strong record of program development, assessment, and cross-campus partnership building.
- Experience with in-person and online instruction.
- Competence with information technologies and demonstrated effectiveness in integrating technology with traditional services and resources, particularly instruction.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong presentation, and customer service skills.
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team within a culturally diverse user community of faculty, students, staff, administrators, and the general public.
- Capacity to thrive in a dynamic environment, respond effectively to shifting needs and priorities of library constituents, and afford a willingness to be flexible with liaison and selector assignments as appointed.
- Flexible and forward-thinking approach to challenges and opportunities.
- Demonstrable collaborative management style and commitment to exceptional user services.
- Ability to cultivate an environment of trust, empathy, collaboration, and respect.
Preferred:
- Advanced degree in a related field, or in curricular design.
- Experience supervising librarians or professional staff.
- Experience providing instructional services and outreach in an academic or research library environment. Experience with curricular mapping and aligning instruction to general education competencies.
- Familiarity with learning management systems and LibGuides.
- Background in data literacy, digital literacies or pedagogy related to emerging technologies.
- Grant-writing or budget management experience.
- Experience in a large research university environment.
For consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of professional references. The position will remain open until filled.
Working at Boston University Libraries
Boston University Libraries is a learning organization that supports BU librarians, archivists, and information and subject specialists seeking and sharing knowledge, practices, and perspectives that advance library collections services, and their own professional development. In a collaborative, supportive, and engaging work environment, BU Libraries expert staff assist multidisciplinary research and exploration, build distinctive collections and archives of enduring research value, and empower users to thrive amid an ever-changing information environment.
Located in the heart of Boston, the BU Libraries are embedded in numerous vibrant regional and national library and information specialist networks. The BU Libraries are active members within the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, and the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities.
Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University is home to more than 33,000 students from more than 130 countries, 375,000 living alumni, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 17 schools and colleges.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
