Position Overview:

Director of Research and User Engagement (DRUE) is responsible for developing and evaluating integrated Information services, advancing research within and across disciplines, and fostering student learning and academic success, while empowering a culture of assessment and efficiency.  DRUE provides inspirational and strategic leadership, innovative visioning, expert policy alignment, and program development as the library continues to reimagine services for seamless delivery.

Information services is defined broadly and embraces scholarly endeavors, student academic success, information literacy in information analysis and management, scholarly communication, and activities that help users examine research problems and identify, interpret, and manage relevant information resources.

DRUE leads and motivates the Research and Learning librarians and other staff while directing their efforts with student learning, eLearning initiatives, research support services, user services, including the information desk, Interlibrary loan services, and collection development and maintenance.

DRUE is a member of library’s senior leadership team and reports to the Executive Director (ED). DRUE, represents the library in areas of strategic importance, plays a critical role in articulating and executing innovative and forward-looking vision of the library in support of UCO’s mission to help students succeed.

As a senior leader, the DRUE builds and sustains successful collaborations, employs creative approaches, mentors and empowers employees, fosters cross-departmental functions and relationships, and resolves organizational barriers, while promoting user-centered service.

The general schedule for this position is 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please note: The starting salary for this position is $65,000. Upon completion of a 4-6 month probationary period, the salary will be raised to $69,000. 

Department Specific Essential Job Functions:

• Collaborates to develop library’s overall strategic goals;
• Advances students’ academic success by designing ample opportunity for development of evaluative information seeking skills;
• Oversees work to set priorities for the library’s research and learning initiatives and establishes criteria for evaluating success in all aspects of user engagement;
• Inspires development, promotion, application, and evaluation of services and programs for the library's integration with formal and informal curricula initiatives;
• Guides the library’s application of best pedagogical theories and practices to promote undergraduate, graduate, and professional student education, working with internal/external partners;
• Leads the development, promotion, execution, and assessment of a variety of progressive and innovative activities directly supporting students, faculty, and researchers, including in-person, virtual, and other modalities to deliver expert library research consultation;
• Works with external entities to develop coalitions and strategic partnerships that ensure effective support of research and enduring contributions to student academic success;
• Promotes use of data-driven analyses for effective decision making;
• Oversees collection development initiatives and maintenance for the library;
• Actively serves on and contributes to university, state, national, and global committees and professional organizations;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications Required:

• MLIS from an ALA accredited program.
• Minimum of five years of working experience in an academic library environment.
• Evidence of progressively holding leadership roles for a minimum of 2-3 years, in an academic library or similarly relevant setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues and trends in library support of research and scholarship and student learning and academic success.
• Demonstrated understanding of library’s role supporting academic success, and in developing, providing, and evaluating research services and programs for students, faculty, and researchers concerning identification, use, interpretation, and management of information and data.
• Demonstrated ability to develop new models supporting student learning.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, flexibility, and collaboration in a rapidly changing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain deep partnerships to serve shared goals.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated record of effective priority setting and policy coordination.
• Comfortable with ambiguity.

Qualifications Preferred:

• Additional graduate or doctorate degree.
• Familiarity with standard library assessment methods and methodologies.
• Experience with instruction in a library or other classroom setting.

Will this employee supervise others?

Yes

Physical Demands:

Repetitive movement of hands and fingers- typing and/or writing. Frequent standing, and/or sitting. Occasional walking, stooping, kneeling, or crouching. Reach with hands and arms. Visually identify, observe and assess. Ability to communicate with supervisor/students/colleagues. Regular physical attendance required. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

***Application Priority Deadline: May 9, 2022***