Chief Librarian

City University of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 218,000; Full time

Job summary

The CUNY School of Medicine seeks a Chief Librarian to lead library efforts, develop strategic plans, and ensure alignment with faculty needs. This role is pivotal in supporting the educational mission of the medical school, especially in a diverse community context. The position offers competitive salary and benefits, encouraging applications from candidates reflecting New York City's diversity.

Benefits

Health and wellness support

Tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study

Generous paid time off

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree and 8 years' related experience required.
• Advanced experience in library science preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic plans for Library services and performance.
• Coordinate library instruction for faculty and students.
• Manage library budgets and oversee purchasing.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Information Technology

Library Science

Interpersonal Skills

Education

MLS or MLIS degree

Doctorate in an appropriate discipline

Tools

Library Management Systems

Job description

Chief Librarian

POSITION DETAILS

The CUNY School of Medicine (SoM), located in the heart of Harlem, New York, is the only medical school in the City University of New York system and the only public medical school in Manhattan. Building upon 50 years of success as the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, the institution transitioned to the CUNY School of Medicine in 2016. The CUNY SoM offers an accelerated BS/MD degree (7-year program) and a Physician Assistant Master’s Degree (27-month program). True to its legacy of access, opportunity, and community transformation, the medical school’s mission remains to recruit highly talented students who reflect New York City itself. CUNY SoM places a special emphasis on recruiting those who are underrepresented in the field of medicine and on training high-quality, culturally competent health professionals and scientists equipped to address the healthcare needs of New York’s medically underserved communities. As a significant priority, CUNY SoM also seeks to enhance the recruitment and retention of senior leadership, faculty, and staff who reflect our student body.

The Dean's Office is currently seeking a Chief Librarian of the School of Medicine’s Library. Reporting to the Dean or their designee, this position serves as leader of the library faculty and an active partner with them, collaborates with senior administrators and serves as liaison for the College’s library with CUNY’s central administration, and interacts with other internal and external partners. They are responsible for the implementation of technology and its infrastructure. This person will work with a team of Clinicians and Faculty to develop and deliver library resources and collections in support of faculty teaching and research activities, and the education of our learners. They will lead both short-term and long-term strategic planning activities to create a vision for the future of the Medical School’s library that fully integrates best practices related to AI, data services, and digital scholarship with existing collections and archives and community engagement. The Chief Librarian duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Develops long- and short-range strategic plans for future Library services and performance, based on the historic and/or anticipated needs of the Library's users. Designs and implements needs assessment and service evaluation tools and processes to measure the Library's performance against user needs and expectations; evaluates Library services, collections and practices relative to those of comparable institutions and to national standards or benchmarks. Provides technical advice for the planning and implementation of medical education and research libraries.

• Coordinates with Library staff to develop and deliver in-person and online instruction to increase users’ self-sufficiency and confidence in their information-seeking. Develops and provides SoM faculty and students with specialized instruction on library resources and the literature of the health sciences/biomedical fields through classes, training sessions, and library instruction aids, including web-based guides. Provides research, reference, and library technology assistance and creates new training opportunities for users.

• Oversees medical education library services including: textbooks, databases, catalogs, journals, and multiple research and study formats including online learning technology.

• Communicates regularly with primary stakeholders through email, newsletters, and other channels; conducts orientation sessions for students, faculty, and staff. Collaborates with faculty to contribute content for the library website that supports access and increases awareness of library resources and services.

• Partners with faculty to identify, develop, and access information resources, digital tools, and services to support faculty research and teaching. Facilitates on-demand use of information in clinical and classroom activities; supports existing service model and provides input for new services or improvements.

• Ensures timely identification, selection and management of vendors; monitors and evaluates impact of products and overall management of databases and publications. Supervises archiving and digitization projects to monitor, share and disseminate SoM informational products, and recommends or takes actions as appropriate to preserve institutional memory.

• Collaborates with the medical school’s chief financial officer on development of Library budget; monitors the Library's expenses; oversees all Library purchases and approves all related payments in accordance with CUNY procedures.

• Coordinates with Information Technology staff to evaluate, acquire, implement and operate appropriate technologies to meet the School’s knowledge-based information needs.

• Supervises, trains, schedules, and evaluates the performance of, SoM staff librarians and volunteers. Documents Library policies and procedures, and ensures that routine Library operations and practices adhere to compliance standards.

• Participates in relevant meetings and forums representing the SoM at CUNY, local and national meetings as assigned by the Dean.

• Performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position is in CUNY's Executive Compensation Plan. All executive positions require a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced experience and expertise in library science including an ALA-accredited MLS or MLIS degree required; a doctorate in an appropriate discipline is preferred, with academic experience at a senior level within academic medicine or higher education.

• Strong understanding of the culture of academic medicine and the ability to address faculty needs and concerns.

• Excellent knowledge of modern health information products, library sciences, documentation services, information production and dissemination, and information sciences and technology. Strong Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) background, including web-based systems and portals, and knowledge of proprietary and opensource library databases and repository systems.

• Expert knowledge of both traditional library functions, information systems, and emerging technologies, as well as trends in higher education and their impact on library services including the application of artificial intelligence to library services.

• Proven track record of effective resource management (i.e. collections, budget, personnel, etc.), development, and experience with library planning.

• Superior interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral); sound judgement, tact, and ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at different levels and in different methods.

• Demonstrated ability to inclusively and effectively mentor library faculty; experience managing, coaching, building and leading cohesive teams highly desirable.

• Proven record of professional achievement.

• Experience working with underrepresented students in health-related or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Medicine) fields or other health professional programs highly desirable.

CUNY TITLE

Professional School Associate Dean

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary range: $85,149 - $217,232

Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.

Candidates should provide a resume and cover letter.

CLOSING DATE

Open until June 27, 2025.

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Executive

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID

30402

Location

CUNY School of Medicine