Head for Collections Strategies

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Upload Resume or Curriculum Vitae for automatic population of information to the application.
• The contact information, work experience, and education listed on your Resume/CV will be parsed and input into your Montclair application.
• Review information and double-check all fields containing information that the system parsed – the software is intelligent, but you need to verify that the data is accurate.
• In the “My Experience” section, you will find a Resume/CV upload option where you can submit your cover letter and all other supporting documents.

Note: If you have an expansive CV, we recommend that you apply manually and only include the positions you have held in the last ten (10) years. You will then be able to attach your Resume/CV, as well as all other supporting documentation in the "My Experience" section of your application.

Job Description

SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Collections and Discovery, the Head for Collections Strategies joins a dynamic team that includes Access Services, Technical Services, and Archives. The Department Head oversees the team supporting Collection Management and Acquisitions, Electronic Resources and Periodicals, and works collaboratively with subject liaison librarians. 

This is a 12-month, tenure-track position with concurrent academic rank.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees all aspects of collection development and acquisitions for the University Libraries.

• Monitors and manages the libraries’ collection development funds to ensure their timely and appropriate expenditure.

• Analyzes collections, budgets and other data to develop strategies and decision-making for collection development and management activities that ensure alignment with university priorities.

• Directs, trains and supervises classified staff in the performance of duties related to the acquisition of library materials and scholarly resources, and payment processing for those materials. Directs the work of the Electronic Resources and Periodicals Librarian. Manages departmental personnel matters including performance evaluation. 

• Advises and consults with the Associate Deans in matters related to the collections budget. 

• Prepares and presents information to help inform collection decisions.

• Participates in the libraries’ efforts to advocate for open access and other initiatives that promote equitable access to information.

• Serves as a member of the Libraries Management Team and the Budget Committee. Develops and delivers regular, timely reporting to library leadership providing assessment and analytics as needed to track budgetary impacts of acquisitions and license renewal. Conducts analyses of potential purchases.

• Creates a thorough and intentional strategy to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the collection, with well-defined metrics to assess effectiveness.

• Develops and maintains relationships with vendor contacts and library consortia, and partners with university procurement and library administration on contract negotiations and renewals. 

• Represents the libraries on committees and ad-hoc groups related to collections initiatives. Identifies and evaluates emerging trends in collection development to ensure the libraries remain responsive to user needs. Participates in professional development activities.

• Participates in library development activities. Coordinates the gifts-in-kind donation process and evaluates materials for inclusion in the libraries’ collections.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Management retains the right to add or change job duties at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited library school.

• Minimum of five years of experience in an academic/research library or equivalent in a collections capacity.

• Demonstrated experience building collections and collection development policies in an academic or research library, or equivalent.

• Demonstrated ability to manage collection budgets; and to design and manage projects, bringing them to a successful conclusion.

• Experience providing training and creating documentati