Director Library Services

The Director of Library Services provides strategic leadership for all functions of the library, collaborating with faculty and staff across the University to support Park’s mission and student learning outcomes. The Director is responsible for oversight of the Norrington Center, the physical location of the Library on the Parkville flagship campus, as well as the digital resources that serve Park students studying on campuses in six states and online.

Position Accountabilities

• Responsible for defining and articulating the vision, strategic directions, and priorities for the future of the Library and for developing a dynamic environment that values creativity, teamwork, and innovation
• Oversees the development, delivery, and assessment of library services, resources, and programming in support of student learning. The position requires a commitment to student success and to the provision of excellent service, as well as strengths in outreach, collaboration, supervision, and assessment.
• Embraces emerging technologies; provides a combination of vision and practical management in response to the emergence of face-to-face, online, and hybrid educational experiences.
• Advocates on behalf of the Library both inside and outside the university and represents the library at local, state, regional, and national consortia and associations
• Works closely with administration and faculty to ensure that library resources, services, and programming meet the needs of the entire university community; measures service quality and makes improvements as needed.
• Serves as the facility supervisor for the Norrington Center, Campanella Gallery manager, and other campus units to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for students
• Oversees the Fishburn Archives and processes for records retention and collections management, in collaboration with appropriate administrative offices
• Serves as project manager for library technology projects, and serves as the main point of contact with vendors

Position Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution. Education or experience in archives management and/or a second master’s or a doctoral degree is preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with trends and best practices in higher education and academic libraries
• A track record of progressively more responsible administrative, management, or leadership experience, preferably in an academic library with an emphasis on strategic planning, budget management, staff development, and emerging technologies
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the core tenets of academic librarianship as articulated by the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights, Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Librarians, and Code of Ethics, as well as the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Framework for Information Literacy
• Strong interpersonal, communication, leadership, and collaboration skills, especially as they apply to the work of building and maintaining a respectful, collegial, and inclusive work environment
• Proven track record of successfully working with faculty, other department heads, and administrators to develop and deliver services that support teaching, learning, and scholarship
• Demonstrated leadership and communication techniques that exemplify transparency and accountability, that build trust between and among individuals and groups, and that elicit creativity, commitment, and high performance from employees
• Proven successes in the development, delivery, and assessment of library collections and services

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with program evaluation, assessment, and accreditation practices
• Demonstrated knowledge of information technology as it relates to libraries, and the ability to effectively communicate with technologists, administration, and library personnel about technology
• Experience with the development and delivery of library services to distance and online students
• Ability to perform administrative functions for a range of online information tools and databases
• Experience developing and implementing user-centered digital projects

Founded in 1875, Park University is a private, liberal arts university. Park’s flagship campus is located in the Kansas City suburb of Parkville, Missouri, on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. We offer an excellent benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance, retirement plan, and tuition-paid undergraduate classes for employees and dependents. Park University is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and minorities.

Qualified applicants must upload a resume and cover letter that includes salary requirements.