Associate University Librarian

Code4lib; Ann Arbor, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Michigan Library is seeking an executive leader to shape and guide the information technology and technical services portfolio, aligning investments and emerging technologies with university priorities.

The role leads production-oriented teams, drives organizational change, and partners with campus IT to sustain reliable services while advancing discovery, access, and long-term stewardship. Strong leadership and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in CS/IS/tech or library science.
• Experience leading production-oriented technical teams.
• Ability to envision and communicate IT strategy aligned with University goals.
• Experience leading organizational change.
• Proven collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Understanding of academic library technologies and user needs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement forward-looking IT and technical services strategies.
• Guide technology infrastructure and workflows across lifecycle.
• Set strategic direction and manage divisional operations and budgets.
• Partner with library administration and campus IT to sustain reliable services.
• Lead organizational change, improve workflows, encourage innovation and risk-taking.
• Oversee six department directors and mentor staff.
• Foster cross-library collaboration and coordination across locations.
• Use data analysis to inform decisions and improve services.
• Represent the library with university and external stakeholders to advance shared goals.
• Plan and monitor a large divisional budget with cost control.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

Collaboration

Communication skills

Prioritization

mentoring

Library tech know

Education

Graduate degree in CS/IS/Tech or library science

Job description

Develop and implement forward-looking strategies for the library's
information technology and technical services portfolio, aligning
programs, investments, and emerging technologies with the library's and
the university's priorities.

Guide the development and management of technology infrastructure
and production-oriented technical workflows across the lifecycle of library
resources, strengthening discovery, access, accessibility, and long-term
stewardship.

Set strategic direction, allocate resources, and provide administrative
guidance for divisional operations, services, policies, procedures, and
major initiatives.

Partner with library administration, campus information technology
leaders, and external organizations to develop and sustain reliable
services, coordinate infrastructure, resolve issues, and advance shared
goals.

Lead organizational change and continuous improvement by evaluating
and reimagining workflows, improving efficiencies, and encouraginginnovation, experimentation, and meaningful risk-taking.

Oversee, mentor, and develop six department directors; guide workforce
planning, recruitment, performance management, professional
development, and employee growth across the division.

Foster collaborative, user- and partner-centered service delivery across
organizational boundaries, including sponsoring cross-library teams and
strengthening coordination among library locations and departments.

Use assessment, evaluation, and data analysis to inform decisions and
continuously improve services, workflows, programs, and resource
allocation.

Represent the library with university stakeholders, consortial partners,
and national organizations, advancing the University of Michigan Library's
role in collaborative and interdependent networks.

Plan, manage, and monitor a large divisional operating budget with
accountability and transparency, identifying opportunities to control costs
and increase organizational impact.

Required Qualifications

A graduate degree in computer science, information systems/technology,
educational technology, library science, archival or museum studies, or
any related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated ability to lead production-oriented technical teams,
workflows, and/or projects, including the ability to envision and
communicate high-level strategy for IT and technical services in
alignment with Library and University goals.

Demonstrated experience leading through organizational change.
Collaborative leadership skills with proven success in developing and
sustaining deep partnerships with colleagues both internally and
externally.

Understanding of academic library technologies, services, and user
needs.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for diverse audiences
and a commitment to transparency, with the ability to actively gather,
synthesize, and act on input from a wide variety of stakeholders.

Skilled prioritization for a complex work environment, including a track
record of effective organization, time management, and follow-through.

Commitment to and record of modeling, mentoring, and developing
individuals and teams.

Desired Qualifications

Experience navigating, negotiating, and building key relationships in a higher education, academic, non-profit and/or business setting.

Experience developing and implementing sustainable annual and long-term budgetary resource management plans.

Experience developing, documenting, evaluating, and communicating about technical processes, policies, and procedures.

Experience leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of library-specific technologies.

Description

What You'll Do

• Develop and implement forward-looking strategies for the library's
  information technology and technical services portfolio, aligning
  programs, investments, and emerging technologies with the library's and
  the university's priorities.

• Guide the development and management of technology infrastructure
  and production-oriented technical workflows across the lifecycle of library
  resources, strengthening discovery, access, accessibility, and long-term
  stewardship.

• Set strategic direction, allocate resources, and provide administrative
  guidance for divisional operations, services, policies, procedures, and
  major initiatives.

• Partner with library administration, campus information technology
  leaders, and external organizations to develop and sustain reliable
  services, coordinate infrastructure, resolve issues, and advance shared
  goals.

• Lead organizational change and continuous improvement by evaluating
  and reimagining workflows, improving efficiencies, and encouraginginnovation, experimentation, and meaningful risk-taking.

• Oversee, mentor, and develop six department directors; guide workforce
  planning, recruitment, performance management, professional
  development, and employee growth across the division.

• Foster collaborative, user- and partner-centered service delivery across
  organizational boundaries, including sponsoring cross-library teams and
  strengthening coordination among library locations and departments.

• Use assessment, evaluation, and data analysis to inform decisions and
  continuously improve services, workflows, programs, and resource
  allocation.

• Represent the library with university stakeholders, consortial partners,
  and national organizations, advancing the University of Michigan Library's
  role in collaborative and interdependent networks.

• Plan, manage, and monitor a large divisional operating budget with
  accountability and transparency, identifying opportunities to control costs
  and increase organizational impact.

Required Qualifications

• A graduate degree in computer science, information systems/technology,
  educational technology, library science, archival or museum studies, or
  any related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated ability to lead production-oriented technical teams,
  workflows, and/or projects, including the ability to envision and
  communicate high-level strategy for IT and technical services in
  alignment with Library and University goals.

• Demonstrated experience leading through organizational change.
  Collaborative leadership skills with proven success in developing and
  sustaining deep partnerships with colleagues both internally and
  externally.

• Understanding of academic library technologies, services, and user
  needs.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for diverse audiences
  and a commitment to transparency, with the ability to actively gather,
  synthesize, and act on input from a wide variety of stakeholders.

• Skilled prioritization for a complex work environment, including a track
  record of effective organization, time management, and follow-through.

• Commitment to and record of modeling, mentoring, and developing
  individuals and teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience navigating, negotiating, and building key relationships in a higher education, academic, non-profit and/or business setting.
• Experience developing and implementing sustainable annual and long-term budgetary resource management plans.
• Experience developing, documenting, evaluating, and communicating about technical processes, policies, and procedures.
• Experience leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of library-specific technologies.