Digital Resources Licensing Librarian

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); Remote; USD 85,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University Libraries seeks a full-time Digital Resources Licensing Librarian to join the Licensing Department - Acquisitions. The role involves contract review and negotiation for journals, databases, e-books, and other digital resources, ensuring terms meet Stanford’s requirements and policies.

Reporting to the Senior Librarian for Digital Collections Licensing, you will guide staff on information policy, manage workflows in FOLIO/JIRA/Confluence, and collaborate with publishers,

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in library science or a relevant field.
• 3–4 years of experience in library acquisitions, licensing, or scholarly publishing.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, drafting, redlining, and interpreting license agreements.

Responsibilities

• Manage contract review and negotiation for license agreements and related documents.
• Evaluate terms, identify risks, draft counter-proposals, and negotiate with publishers and vendors.
• Advise staff and campus stakeholders on copyright, privacy, accessibility, data use, and AI-related policies.
• Maintain licensing workflows and records using systems such as FOLIO, JIRA, and Confluence.
• Collaborate with librarians, publishers, and campus partners to support acquisitions and licensing strategies.
• Contribute to licensing strategies and service areas for digital collections and scholarly communication.
• Monitor developments in digital licensing and open access affecting collections and research.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Risk assessment

License agreements

Digital resources knowledge

Communication

Project management

Independent work

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Advanced Degree in Library Science

Tools

FOLIO

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Stanford University Libraries is seeking a full-time Digital Resources Licensing Librarian to join the Licensing Department - Acquisitions.The Libraries values are rooted in a commitment of mutual respect, the idea that every member of the staff has something to contribute, and that learning is constant.We seek a team member who is ready to share their skills and perspectives.

About Stanford Libraries:

Stanford University Libraries are a dynamic network of resources, spaces and subject experts assembled with the mission to stimulate intellectual curiosity, sustain academic research and support teaching and learning. With over 12 million items, 50 subject specialists and 20 campus libraries, the opportunities for contributing to and transforming scholarship are infinite. By joining Stanford University Libraries, you will become a part of a vibrant, learning community of dedicated professionals who are committed to the important work of advancing scholarship.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Senior Librarian for Digital Collections Licensing, this position plays a central role in Stanford Libraries’ ability to provide digital resources for use by students, faculty, and staff. The position is responsible for managing the contract review and negotiation process of license agreements and related documents, including Data Use Agreements, amendments, and order forms, with publishers, vendors, resource aggregators, and other content providers for materials such as journal packages, databases, e-books, datasets, streaming media, software, and other digital resources.

Working as a member of the Licensing Unit within the Acquisitions & Collections Services Department, the incumbent evaluates vendor-proposed terms, interprets contract language, identifies and evaluates legal, financial, operational, privacy, accessibility, and reputational risks, drafts counter-proposals and alternative contract language, and independently negotiates and manages assigned agreements from intake through execution to secure terms that meet Stanford’s policies and requirements and support favorable business, financial, and licensing outcomes.

In addition to transactional licensing work, the incumbent provides guidance to library staff, researchers, and campus stakeholders on information policy matters related to licensed resources, including copyright, privacy, accessibility, data use, text and data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational research, and other emerging uses of licensed content. The incumbent also contributes to the development, assessment, and refinement of contracting workflows, business processes, and operational practices that support compliance with applicable laws, regulations, university policies, and vendor obligations.

The incumbent monitors developments in electronic resource licensing, information policy, and scholarly communication, and contributes to the development of Stanford Libraries' licensing strategies, emerging service areas, and institutional responses to evolving legal, policy, and technology issues affecting research and teaching.

The position works closely with the Digital Collections Licensing Librarian, the Continuing Resources Librarian, Electronic Resources Unit staff, subject bibliographers, and campus partners.

This is a 3-year non-career track fixed term position.

Position is eligible for remote work.

Approved budgeted annual salary not to exceed: $94,000

Core Duties*:

• Manage the contract review and negotiation process for license agreements and related documents, including Data Use Agreements, amendments, order forms, and other contractual instruments governing digital resources and services.
• Evaluate vendor-proposed terms and conditions, interpret contract language, identify legal, operational, financial, privacy, accessibility, and reputational risks, identify clauses requiring modification via redlines, draft counter-proposals and alternative contract language, and independently negotiate directly with publishers, vendors, and resource aggregators to secure terms that meet Stanford's minimum requirements and preferred licensing practices; escape unusually complex or high-risk agreements to the Digital Collections Licensing Librarian as appropriate.
• Provide guidance to library staff, researchers, and campus stakeholders regarding the use of licensed resources and information policy matters, including questions of copyright, privacy, accessibility, data use, text and data mining, artificial intelligence, and emerging research practices.
• Maintain licensing workflows, procedures, standards, and records using systems such as FOLIO, JIRA, and Confluence; contribute to the evaluation and improvement of related tools, processes, and operational practices.
• Collaborate with library staff, subject bibliographers, publishers, vendors, consortia, and campus partners to support acquisitions, renewals, and the ongoing management of licensed resources.
• Contribute to the development of library licensing strategies, information policy initiatives, and emerging service areas supporting digital collections, research support, digital scholarship, and scholarly communication.
• Monitor developments in digital resource licensing, scholarly communication, access and authentication protocols, accessibility, privacy, artificial intelligence, open access, text and data mining, and related areas that may affect library collections, research activities, and services.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience:

• Advanced Degree in Library Science or a relevant academic discipline with demonstrated understanding of academic libraries or a combination of education and relevant experience.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• At least three (3) to four (4) years of experience in library technical services, collections, acquisitions, scholarly publishing, licensing, or related professional work.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing, negotiating, drafting, redlining, interpreting, or administering license agreements, contracts, or related legal documents, including familiarity with standard contractual terms and conditions, risk assessment, and negotiation practices.
• Ability to analyze contract language, identify risks and opportunities, and communicate recommendations to a variety of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of digital resources and services, including online journals, databases, e-books, datasets, streaming media, software, APIs, and related products.
• Knowledge of licensing principles, copyright, privacy, accessibility, data use, or other legal and policy considerations affecting digital resources.
• Effective analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively to complete complex assignments and initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish productive working relationships with vendors, publishers, researchers, librarians, and other stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate, adopt, and apply new technologies, systems, and workflows relevant to digital resources management and licensing.

Other Relevant Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities May Include:

• At least two (2) years of experience reviewing, negotiating, or drafting agreements with academic publishers, content providers, software vendors, or resource aggregators, including experience drafting contract language, policies, guidelines, or workflows related to electronic resources and their use.
• Experience identifying contractual risks, preparing written summaries or recommendations for stakeholder review, or advising on the acceptability of proposed terms.
• Experience providing guidance to researchers, faculty, library staff, or campus stakeholders regarding rights, acceptable use, compliance, or information policy matters.
• Familiarity with issues relating to copyright, accessibility, privacy, research data use, text and data mining, artificial intelligence, open access, scholarly communications, digital scholarship, or research support services.
• Demonstrated initiative in identifying opportunities for service improvement, workflow development, or operational efficiencies.
• Experience leading or participating in projects that require collaboration across departments, stakeholder groups, or organizational units.
• Experience working with library resource management systems and related tools, including FOLIO, JIRA, Confluence, or comparable platforms.
• Understanding of electronic resource ecosystems, authentication methods (IP authentication, proxy services, SSO), licensing models, and access management practices.
• J.D., legal training, contract management experience, or equivalent experience reviewing and interpreting complex agreements is welcomed but not required.