Position Information: DescriptionUniversity of North Dakota (UND) invites nominations and applications for an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as the dean of libraries and information resources. The Dean of Libraries and Information Resources at the University of North Dakota is the chief administrator for the university libraries, chief spokesperson for UND libraries at all levels, and represents UND Libraries to external partners on all local, state, regional, and national initiatives. The Dean is responsible for providing vision and leadership for UND Libraries in order to advance the mission of the university, increase and support research opportunity and productivity, provide pathways for student success, learning, retention, and achievement, and meet the strategic goals of the university, the NDUS system, and the state of North Dakota.

The Dean of Libraries serves as the chief executive of the Chester Fritz Library and its three branches (Music, Geology, and the Energy and Environmental Resource Center) with responsibility for all of the administrative activities of the libraries, including budget development, strategic planning, student and alumni relations, advancement and development, facility maintenance, personnel management, and public relations on behalf of the libraries and the university. The Dean provides programmatic and strategic leadership to the libraries and plays a critical role in the libraries’ development and advancement activities, including but not limited to new programs, acquisitions, collections (including special collections and the UND art collection), and fundraising.

Position Benefits

Benefits include single or family health care coverage (UND pays the full premium), life insurance, employee assistance program, retirement plans with generous employer contributions, annual & sick leave in addition to 10 paid holidays.

Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

UND also offers an employee tuition waiver and a variety of professional development opportunities.

Find out more about UND's great benefits and perks here!

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to ensure the integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement of all programs, resources, and services of the Library, including special collections and the UND art collection
• Provide visionary leadership to ensure the University Libraries remain on the forefront of changes in technology, communication, instruction, outreach, and the storage and delivery of information
• Offer and be prepared to implement a vision for the 21st century academic library as a knowledge community and intellectual, cultural, and social hub for the university and community
• Advance and encourage a responsive culture that welcomes change and innovation while providing quality services with optimal operational efficiency in furtherance of UND’s reputation and status in its educational, scholarly, and outreach missions
• Support intellectual inquiry by aligning library resources with advances in research, creative activity, instructional delivery, and curricula development; Assist with research grant compliance by facilitating data sharing
• Support the research and teaching needs of faculty and help to facilitate the overall success and intellectual growth of students
• Create and support an environment for active and integrative learning that helps students achieve academic success and become career professionals, responsible citizens, and life-long learners
• Foster relationships with the university community – recognizing the diverse needs of undergraduate, graduate students, professional students, faculty, and staff – by bridging and integrating the needs of students, research, and teaching faculty, as well as local residents
• Foster a collaborative ethos, promote diversity awareness, and encourage community engagement through the administration and operation of the libraries
• Ensure effective working relationships with the University’s separate Harley E. French Library of the Health Sciences, Thormodsgard Law Library, and Wilson M. Laird Core & Sample Library, as well as with other local, state, regional, and national libraries
• Work closely with the VPAA & Provost and the University’s academic deans; contribute to collaborative strategies to advance the mission and goals of the University
• Support and facilitate the successful implementation of and progress toward the goals of the University’s current and future strategic plan
• Recruit, retain, and mentor high-quality staff needed to meet the Library’s and University’s mission, goals, and strategic initiatives
• Develop and implement expectations for the effective evaluation of staff
• Empower and support staff to achieve performance goals and objectives and engage in continual improvement with regard to performance expectations
• Evaluate performance of staff and administrators within the Library in a manner consistent with University and other applicable law and policy, and in a manner that promotes excellence in instruction, scholarly and creative productivity, service, and overall operations
• Effectively utilize staff resources in alignment with the Library’s and the University’s mission, goals, and strategic initiatives
• Lead an effective management structure and team for the Library
• Promote the professional development of staff
• Provide leadership to ensure the integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement of all programs, resources, and services of the Library, including the creation of necessary budgets (such as current or future based operations and capital expenditures)
• Grow revenue and manage costs within the Library by prioritizing activities, managing workloads of staff, improving retention, identifying and eliminating redundancies, and through innovative means
• Manage the Library resources in accordance with the University’s Model for Incentive-based Resource Allocation (MIRA), including educating college staff on efficiencies and opportunities for fiscal strength
• Oversee development and effective utilization of financial resources, human resources, and physical infrastructure, including determining the present and future space, facilities, and equipment needs of the Library and securing or allocating appropriate resources to meet those needs
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with other deans and leaders within the University
• Serve as a role model and advocate for the cultural values of the University: Diversity, Community Engagement and Empowerment, Discovery and Scholarship, Professionalism, Excellence
• Represent and promote the University Libraries, formally and informally, to the University, local, state, and national library organizations and the world

Required Competencies

• Demonstrated effectiveness in working in a diverse, multicultural environment and a commitment to and experience with increasing diversity and inclusion of faculty, staff, and students
• Ability to collaborate effectively with administrators, faculty, staff, and students
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to lead the UND Chester Fritz Library and effectively engage with others in the University, the community, and beyond.
• A commitment to fundraising, relationship cultivation, and stewardship
• Skill in advancing digital initiatives and coordinating with information technology leadership, staff and strategy
• An understanding of the central role of the library in student and faculty research and the university’s academic programs
• Understanding of technology and the role it plays in the advancement of library services and access
• Ability to articulate the future of libraries across the university and in the community
• Ability to develop consensus with vision, patience and flexibility particularly around strategic planning, new initiatives, and difficult and challenging decisions
• A philosophy of academic library leadership that embraces a forward-thinking vision, backed by knowledge of developing trends and best practices in the field
• Ability to communicate regularly, clearly, and effectively with all university audiences regarding the library’s programs, resources and needs
• Ability and desire to build collaborative partnerships with consortia and libraries in the NDUS system and across the region to develop access to shared resources

Minimum Requirements

• Earned Masters in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited program or terminal degree in a related discipline
• At least five (5) years of progressive leadership and administrative experience in a research or academic library
• Successful completion of criminal history records check.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience overseeing recruitment, retention, supervision and mentorship of high-quality staff
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, fiduciary accountability, and transparency
• Demonstrated leadership in fostering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Career track of progressive, documentable accomplishments in increasingly complex leadership roles, particularly within an academic setting
• Experience with open scholarship initiatives, including scholarly publication, open educational resources, and the scholarly repository
• Experience with fundraising and identification of creative and atypical revenue streams

To ApplyGreenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. is assisting the University of North Dakota in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Greenwood/Asher and Associates. For a full application package please provide a cover letter, CV, and list of five references. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. Please send materials to shelleyfeather@greenwoodsearch.com.

The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.

Please direct inquiries, nominations, and application materials to:

Jim Johnsen, Vice President for Executive Search

Shelley Sullivan Feather, Practice Leader, Library and Information Science and Senior Executive Search Consultant

E-mail: jimjohnsen@greenwoodsearch.com

E-mail: shelleyfeather@greenwoodsearch.com

Additional Information

To find out why living and working in Greater Grand Forks is way cooler, check out Grand Forks is Cooler.

All information listed in this position announcement will be used by Human Resources, the Hiring Department, and EO/Title IX for screening, interviewing and selection purposes.

Confidentiality of Application Materials

Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are confidential, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified the top three or more finalists who will be invited to campus.

EEO Statement

The University of North Dakota is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or other protected characteristic. Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants are invited to provide information regarding their gender, race and/or ethnicity, veteran’s status and disability status as part of the application process. This information will remain confidential and separate from your application.

Veteran’s Preference

Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 showing character of service or NGB 22 and if claiming disabled status, a current letter of disability from the VA dated within the last 12 months.

Clery Statement

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the University of North Dakota publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes the university’s policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, as well as three years of crime statistics for our campus. As a prospective employee, you are entitled to a copy of this report. The report and statistical data can be found online at UND.edu. You may also request a paper copy of the report from the UND Police Department located at 3851 Campus Road, Grand Forks, ND, 58202.