Assistant Dean of the Library

The Assistant Dean of the Library is a new position that offers exciting opportunities to help shape the role and the future of the library as a dynamic hub for learning discovery and collaboration at a time of rapid change. Working closely with the Dean of the Library this position provides strategic leadership for collections access services and library systems while fostering an inclusive and innovative environment that supports student success and advances the institutions academic mission.

As a collaborative leader and forward-thinking strategist the Assistant Dean of the Library oversees the development and management of library collections across all formats ensuring resources are discoverable accessible and aligned with curricular needs. This role leads the librarys systems infrastructure including the integrated library system discovery tools and authentication platforms and the institutional repository while guiding efforts to enhance the user experience through an accessible and user-friendly website.

The Assistant Dean of the Library supervises and mentors the Collections Services and Access Services teams promoting professional growth and cultivating a culture of respect teamwork and continuous improvement. With responsibility for the librarys materials budget vendor relations and collection assessment initiatives this position requires the making of data-informed decisions that maximize the value and impact of library resources.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced library leader who is passionate about innovation collaboration and service excellence. The ideal candidate brings strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build meaningful partnerships across campus and beyond.

The Assistant Dean of the Library is an exempt 1.0FTE position located in the Sandor Teszler Library and the normal work schedule is 8:30am to 5:00 pm Monday Friday. Minimum work expectations are 37.5 hours/week (7.5 hours per day five days per week).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Planning

Collaborates with the Dean of the Library to lead library-wide strategic planning and assessment in support of a shared vision for library resources services and spaces.

Develops and implements comprehensive strategies for collection development acquisitions discovery and access services aligned with institutional priorities and curriculum needs

Assesses emerging trends in publishing scholarly communication open access and digital collections to inform strategic decisions

Engages in outreach and collaboration with campus and consortia partners on behalf of the library

Serves as acting Dean of the Library in the Deans absence

Team Leadership and Development

Supervises mentors and evaluates staff in Collections Services and Access Services

Oversees library student employment program

Fosters professional development opportunities and continuing education for team members

Promotes a collaborative and inclusive work environment and cross-functional project teams

Leads team members toward a common vision and shared goals through effective change management creative problem-solving active listening and implementation of best practices.

Library Systems and Technology

Leads the librarys systems strategy including the integrated library system (Alma) discovery service (Primo) and authentication tools (OpenAthens). Partners with state consortia (PASCAL) regarding configuration optimization and support of the shared library system and discovery service.

Collaborates across the library to manage and evolve the library website ensuring usability and accessibility

Coordinates library efforts to ensure that resources are discoverable and accessible across all platforms and formats

Collaborates with the Dean of the Library Archivist and Special Collections Librarian to develop a comprehensive institutional repository strategy

Evaluates and recommends emerging technologies to enhance library services

Collection Development and Management

Oversees and manages the librarys materials budget

Oversees contracts and licensing agreements with vendors and publishers

Maintains active partnerships with library consortia at state regional and national levels including purchasing resource sharing and shared print collection agreements

Directs comprehensive collection development policies and procedures across all formats and disciplines

Leads collaborative assessment and evaluation of existing collections to identify strengths gaps and deselection opportunities

Works with library liaisons to ensure collections support curricular needs

Oversees the management of library collection stacks and physical space organization

Access Services

Empowers and supports Access Services staff as they provide circulation services course reserves resource sharing marketing and outreach stacks maintenance and space management in a welcoming patron-centered environment

Develops and maintains positive campus partnerships through active outreach and collaboration

Facilitates the implementation of innovative Access Services models to address evolving patron needs through active collaboration with Access Services staff

Ensures compliance with copyright and license requirements for shared resources

Required Qualifications

1. Education and Professional Experience: ALA-accredited Masters degree in Library/Information Science (or accredited international equivalent) and minimum 3 years of relevant management or leadership experience in academic libraries.

2. Systems and Technical Expertise: Working knowledge of a Library Services Platform (preferably Alma/Primo or similar integrated library systems) with strong understanding of discovery layers electronic resource management and authentication systems. Ability to evaluate and implement emerging technologies while ensuring accessibility and usability.

3. Strategic Leadership and Management: Proven ability to manage complex projects diverse teams and library budgets. Experience with library strategic planning change management and data-informed decision making. Demonstrated skill in fostering environments of collegiality respect and continuous improvement.

4. Communication and Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences. Strong interpersonal skills to build partnerships with faculty liaisons campus partners vendors and consortial networks. Demonstrated ability to unify teams behind a shared vision.

5. Professional Knowledge and Commitment: Current awareness of library trends scholarly communication models (particularly open access) and assessment methodologies. Commitment to fostering diversity equity and inclusion. Understanding of intellectual freedom principles copyright compliance and the liberal arts college environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Five years of leadership experience

Experience administering Alma/Primo or similar integrated library systems

Experience with web development workflows usability testing and accessibility standards

Experience with consortia and collaborative collection development initiatives

Knowledge of open access initiatives institutional repositories and digital scholarship

To apply please include your resume/CV a cover letter and contact information for three professional references.

In your cover letter please help us understand how your professional journey has shaped you as a leader and collaborator. We invite you to reflect on the following:

How do your experiences with strategic planning systems management collection development or team leadership prepare you to contribute to our librarys mission in a small liberal arts college environment

We encourage you to be specific and reflective in your responses. We value authenticity and are interested in learning not just what youve accomplished but how those experiences have developed your leadership philosophy and collaborative approach.

For more information about Wofford College Sandor Teslzer Library and a webinar about the position please visit:

ABOUT WOFFORD COLLEGE

Wofford College established in 1854 is a private liberal arts residential college located a few blocks north of downtown Spartanburg South Carolina. Wofford offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of nearly 1800 undergraduates and is nationally known for the strength of its academic program outstanding faculty and study abroad participation. Wofford is home to one of the nations 290 Phi Beta Kappa chapters. The college community supports 19 NCAA Division I athletics teams and numerous student organizations including honor societies professional organizations faith-based organizations Greek life and club sports.

SPARTANBURG SOUTH CAROLINA

Spartanburg is located in upstate South Carolina 30 miles east of Greenville South Carolina an hour from Charlotte North Carolina and three hours east of Atlanta Georgia. Historic Charleston and the South Carolina coast are three hours away and Wofford sits an hour south of the artistic culinary hub of Asheville North Carolina. Spartanburg is a growing diverse community that supports six college and university campuses along with numerous civic arts and cultural associations. It became the first city in South Carolina to join the Government Alliance on Race and Equity and in 2012 became one of five cities nationally to participate in the 10-year Wellville program a national nonprofit initiative dedicated to improving equitable well-being in U.S. cities. Spartanburg and Wofford partner on multiple community equity initiatives including the Northside Initiative which has brought together a diverse group of citizens to revitalize a neighborhood in ways that dont reproduce the harm of earlier urban renewal programs.

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