Enter a job title or keyword

Director of Collections Strategy and Discovery

UNC-Chapel Hill


Job Location:

Chapel Hill, NC - USA

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer
Posted: 29 September 2026 (4 days ago)
Application Deadline: 27 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Position Summary
This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Collections Strategies and Services the Director of Collections Strategy and Discovery provides vision direction and leadership for the Librarys general collections from selection to discovery and the infrastructure that supports it. The Director leads two established departments Resource Acquisitions and Management ( RAM ) and Resource Description and Management ( RDM ) with 26 FTE and will be charged with creating a third department focused on collection analysis and strategy. The Director is part of a deeply engaged team of library professionals committed to the responsible management of resources through thoughtful decision-making licensing description and access and in support of a world-class research library. Collection development and management The Director uses data-informed assessment to shape the Librarys collection development and management strategies help manage the multi-million-dollar materials budget support complex vendor agreement negotiations and respond to emerging trends in scholarly publishing open access and accessibility. Access and discovery Working collaboratively with Library and Information Technology (Infrastructure Management Services User Experiences and Repository Services) the Director ensures that the technical workflows of acquisition licensing and metadata creation are optimized to provide seamless user-centered discovery and accessibility of library resources. Additionally the Director works closely with User Experience to license and describe content that is fully accessible. Collection analysis The Director will form and lead a new unit focused on collections analysis assessment and planning. This unit will support evidence-based decision-making by developing and applying metrics dashboards and reporting tools to evaluate collections use cost effectiveness overlap gaps and alignment with institutional priorities. The unit will also monitor trends in scholarly communication licensing models and user needs to inform strategic planning and guide future collections investments. Responsibilities include: Lead the holistic development implementation and continuous evaluation of the Librarys collection strategies across formats. Manage implementation of innovative and creative approaches to discovery and content management in keeping with emerging trends in collection development purchasing licensing open access and metadata standards. Overall management of functions and employees in units responsible for purchasing and licensing collections analysis and metadata including oversight of hiring mentoring and professional growth of librarian and professional staff. Seek out and foster relationships with library vendors and partners. Coordinate the creation of standards for the collection and analysis of usage data across formats Serve on relevant library committees such as the Collections Steering Committee and the Cataloging and Metadata Policy Working Group. Collaborate with colleagues on the Collections Strategies and Services Leadership Team to lead the Collections Strategies and Services division. Build strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the Library. Build strong collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders on the Chapel Hill campus the UNC System and the Triangle Research Libraries Network. Represent the University Library and actively participate in emerging conversations and projects related to acquisitions and resource descriptions in regional national and international consortia and professional associations.

Required Qualifications Competencies And Experience
ALA -accredited masters degree in library or information science and/or an advanced degree in a related discipline. Minimum of 5 years progressively responsible leadership experience in an academic or research library with responsibilities in collection strategies purchasing licensing or description. Broad knowledge of acquisitions and cataloging procedures and principles including an understanding of the e-resource lifecycle current issues in licensing and discovery purchasing models emerging metadata standards and bibliographic utilities. Strong understanding of current developments in scholarly publishing open access models and the lifecycle of electronic resources Excellent interpersonal oral and written communication skills including the ability to foster productive communication among team members and lead motivate and manage staff through organizational change. Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and development.

Preferred Qualifications Competencies And Experience
Minimum of 3 years demonstrated experience supervising or managing a large or complex team Ability to holistically approach workflows analyze connections and iterate processes Familiarity with integrated library systems. Experience using data visualization or advanced assessment tools (e.g. Tableau PowerBI advanced Excel). Demonstrated experience in regional national or global standards development and adoption. Experience creating welcoming and inclusive work environments.


Required Experience:

Staff IC


About Company

Company Logo

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first public university, is a global higher education leader known for innovative teaching, research and public service. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, Carolina regularly ranks as the best ... View more

View Profile View Profile