Overview:
The University of Waterloo Library is the campus's partner in learning, research, and innovation. Its two main locations and three satellite spaces act as interdisciplinary hubs, bringing together the knowledge, expertise and resources needed by our diverse campus community. The University was built for change and the library exemplifies Waterloo’s agility as we continuously transform our approaches to creating, discovering, using, sharing and preserving information. With a commitment to open and equitable access to information, we equip researchers and students with the critical research skills to improve our world as active citizens, creative problem solvers and agile leaders. All of our work is done with a strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
The Head, Information Services and Resources (ISR) is responsible for the ISR activity in the Dana Porter Library (Porter), managing a team of 11 professional staff plus co-op students. The Head works collaboratively with other library department heads, Library Executive, committees and teams to advance the Library’s strategic objectives. They provide vision and leadership, strategic planning and management for all departmental operational activities. They engage actively within the department, and with internal and external partners, to oversee instruction and research services, and to enable collection development and curation activities that support users’ learning and research needs in a continuously evolving academic environment.
To ensure consideration for this opportunity, please apply by April 29, 2022.
Responsibilities:
Leadership and strategic direction
Provides leadership and sets strategic direction for the Porter ISR department, and serves as a resource to the Library Executive, other library department heads and committees
Develops, articulates and leads departmental goals in support of the Library’s strategic plan which may include leading library-wide projects
Collaborates with Library Executive and other department heads to develop and advance strategy and policies, set future direction and resolve issues
Contributes to and leads organizational change; directs, models, and empowers staff responsiveness to change, new directions and campus opportunities
Collaborates, plans and integrates equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) principles into library services and processes
Uses evidence-based, critical thinking and takes a library-wide perspective to decision making
Collaborates to develop, articulate and lead the goals of the Learning, Research and User Services group (Circulation Services, Information Services and Resources, User Experience, Accessibility, and Learning, Teaching and Instructional Design)
Team management
Creates an environment where departmental members work individually and collaboratively to achieve goals
Hires, manages and evaluates departmental staff through guidance, direction-setting, coaching and performance improvement
Create opportunities for cross-library collaboration and with key university partners
Ensures that staff training needs are assessed, and that training plans are developed and implemented, particularly in the areas of teaching, research support, liaising and collections
Overseas departmental work through a collegial management style, fostering open communication
Coaches, trains and develops librarians, library specialists and associates for professional growth
Ensures effective communication channels and working relationships with other library locations
Development and administration of programs and services
Manages or provides input on operational and/or casual staff budgets
Engages with new and emerging academic library practices and works to analyze context and evidence to identify future paths forward for services and resources
Leads or oversees the data-gathering and evaluation of existing services and service-related pilots
Advocates and champions the development of new projects and plans for services or service restructuring
Leads, supports or coordinates the implementation of plans and projects across the ISR department(s) to support users’ learning and research needs with a focus on providing an excellent user experience
Coordinates with other departments to ensure problem solving, strong service quality and continuous improvement
Integrates accessibility compliance and inclusivity into departmental thinking, workflows, communications and outputs
Oversees and provides direction for the day-to-day work of the Porter ISR department
Collaboration and partnership
Ensures effective communication channels and working relationships across the Library and with key partners
Serves on University and external committees, fostering collaboration, information sharing, partnership and expertise across campus and the broader academic community
Works with colleagues at provincial and national organizations (such as Tri-University Group of Libraries (TUG), Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN), Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) and Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions) on collaborative ventures
Collaborates with internal and external partners to translate trends in research and higher education into programs and services
Ensures prompt, cohesive and clear external communication messaging to patrons and academic departments through multiple channels
Supports liaison librarians in engaging with the Quality Assurance Office on academic and new program reviews and developing library reports for academic programs, accreditation reviews and new program proposals
Collection strategy and stewardship
Ensures evidence-based decision-making in the selection, maintenance and curation of resources to meet the academic community’s learning, teaching and research needs
Oversees and directs collection management and assessment efforts for regular curation activities and special projects
Oversees and provides direction for collection review and maintenance policies
Collaborates on collection lifecycle management decisions and rationalization
Participates in the Library’s Collection Strategy Committee
Qualifications:
ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS degree, or equivalent credentials and experience
Demonstrated progressive responsibility and experience in leadership and management with a proven track record of achievement and success within an academic library
Experience with strategic planning and priority setting, aligning department and organization goals
Demonstrated experience working in collaborative team settings
Proven experience leading and managing dynamic teams including staff development and coaching
Project management experience
Demonstrated experience with effective change management, planning and implementation
Previous experience using metrics to evaluate projects and inform decision-making
Experience providing excellent customer service
Demonstrated commitment to promoting and sustaining EDIA
Asset: experience overseeing instruction, information, collections and research support services in an academic library
Asset: experience managing professional librarians
Asset: experience undertaking research or publishing, and supporting the research activities of librarians and staff
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to present and share ideas clearly and effectively; build consensus and use leadership intelligence to navigate complex issues
Broad knowledge of current and emerging issues, trends, workflows and best practices in liaison librarianship and research services
Proven ability to foster positive working relationships and building partnerships
Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of work with conflicting priorities and deadlines
Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to lead cross-team projects and initiatives
Demonstrated ability to foster positive working relationships and building partnerships
Proven ability to take initiative and be both creative and flexible
There may be work hours outside of normal operating hours
Vaccination Requirement Statement:
Effective May 1, 2022, the University suspended its Vaccination Requirement. Prior to May 1, pursuant to this Requirement, all University employees were required to submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (subject to the University’s obligations under the Human Rights Code to accommodate employees who were unable to receive a vaccination). The University’s Vaccination Requirement website can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus/return/vaccination-requirement.
The pandemic is ongoing and public health advice continues to evolve. Accordingly, the University reserves the absolute right to reinstate the Vaccination Requirement on short notice, and upon such reinstatement you will be required to comply. You shall also be required to comply with any new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University from time to time, including new policies/requirements related to mandatory employee vaccination. As the University may need to reinstate the Requirement on short notice, it will continue to collect and maintain up-to-date information on employee vaccination status. Please submit your Covid-19 vaccine status (QR code) to: https://checkin.uwaterloo.ca/
Failure to comply with the Vaccination Requirement if it is reinstated, including failure to comply with any future amendments to the Vaccination Requirement, or failure to comply with new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University, including those related to new mandatory employee vaccination, shall result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.
The requirement to be vaccinated, if reinstated, will be subject to the duty to accommodate pursuant to the Human Rights Code. If you are unable to be vaccinated for reasons related to a ground protected under the Human Rights Code, you may submit a written request for accommodation with an explanation of the reasons and/or any supporting documentation. If you request accommodation, the University may follow up with you for further information if necessary.
Equity Statement:
The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.