HEAD OF TECHNICAL SERVICES, University Libraries

Tracking Code23500025780927Job Description

The Boston University Libraries seek an experienced, forward-thinking, and creative professional to lead the librarians and paraprofessional staff in its Technical Services unit. Technical Services encompasses acquisitions, receiving, cataloging, e-resource management, and metadata creation. This position is critical to the effective operation of the Boston University Libraries and represents an opportunity to rethink and realign workflows and department operations. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Planning & Operations, the Head of Technical Services will oversee the operational management of staff engaged in technical services activities and will provide strategic direction to the unit. This position is responsible for the overall administration and coordination of work and for establishing and implementing technical services policies, standards, and procedures.

The Head of Technical Services will:

• Provide vision and strategic direction for technical services operations across the Boston University Libraries. Align operations and workflows with strategic priorities.
• Supervise the Technical Services Manager, the Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, the Resource Management Librarian, and the Electronic Resources Librarian. With this team, provide oversight of all staff and activities relating to receiving, processing, description, and management of library resources.
• Lead the Technical Services operations and coordinate the workflows between Technical Services areas as well as between Technical Services and other library departments. Oversee the process of evaluating and improving workflow efficiency.
• Act as the chief technical resource for the catalog/bibliographic database; coordinate bibliographic practice among units/departments within the Library, and for other main campus libraries.
• Coordinate the application of descriptive metadata schemas for digitized and born-digital content and develop strategies for metadata interoperability.
• Formulate policies for the administration of technical services activities.
• Ensure high quality, productivity, and adherence to standards for acquisitions, resource management, and descriptive frameworks for all formats. Coordinate the on-going identification and implementation of opportunities to improve service to stakeholder groups and increase efficiency within all Technical Services areas.
• Serve as a member of the library’s leadership group, sharing in management responsibility for the Boston University Libraries as a whole.

Required Skills

• Master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in cataloging, resource management, or a related field in an academic library setting.
• Strong knowledge of cataloging and metadata standards (e.g., MARC21, RDA) and experience with integrated library systems (ILS).
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

For consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of professional references. This 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 and services, and their own professional development and growth. 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.

Recognizing the central role the library system plays in its robust research and learning agendas, Boston University has made the BU Libraries a focal point of its BU2030 Strategic Plan, investing in core services, innovative programs, and plans for significant renovations of its central branch.

The BU Libraries are at the heart of BU’s vibrant academic experience, serving as a community connector, provider of vital research and instructional services for faculty and students, and the access point to a wealth of timely scholarly resources.

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, the Association of Research Libraries, and the Coalition for Networked Information, and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities. Through the Libraries, BU also is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Eastern Academic Scholars’ Trust (EAST), the OCLC Research Library Partnership, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), and the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS).

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.

Job LocationBOSTON, Massachusetts, United StatesPosition TypeFull-Time/Regular