Head, Collections and Acquisitions Clemson University

ELUNA Content Working Group; Clemson (SC); On-site; USD 85,500 - 104,500; Full time

Job summary

A University Library is seeking a Head of Acquisitions to lead a team in managing a $9.5 million collections budget and overseeing all acquisitions processes. The ideal candidate will have an ALA-accredited degree and at least 3 years of professional experience in acquisitions or collection development. This position will involve supervising staff, collaborating with consortia, and developing strategic collection policies. A commitment to collegiality and effective communication is essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in acquisitions or collection development in an academic library.
• Previous management/supervisory experience required.
• Experience with licensing agreements for electronic resources is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads and oversees acquisitions operations for University Libraries.
• Manages approximately 11 employees in the Acquisitions Department.
• Directs timely expenditure of the $9.5 million collections budget.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Creative problem-solving

Budgeting

Strategic collection development

Education

ALA-accredited graduate degree in librarianship

Relevant accredited graduate degree

Job description

Description

Clemson Libraries seeks a collaborative, dynamic, and collegial Head of Acquisitions to provide leadership and expertise for a department that oversees acquisitions, electronic resources, continuing resources, and collection development and analysis.

This position provides oversight for a collections budget of $9.5 million and leads efforts related to the procurement, assessment, and management of print and electronic resources, including individual and package subscriptions, e-books, demand driven acquisitions, open access resources, streaming services, and continuing resources.

Clemson Libraries migrated to Alma/Primo VE in June 2020 and is part of a statewide Network Zone that includes 54 other institutions in the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries (PASCAL) consortium. The Head of Acquisitions will be actively involved in shared collection development decisions and licensing negotiations facilitated by PASCAL, as well as other consortia such as the Carolina Consortium and the Association of Southeast Research Libraries (ASERL).

Clemson Libraries faculty are members of the academic community, with responsibilities in the areas of librarianship, research, and service. This is a 12-month tenure-track faculty position, minimum salary starts at $95,000, and works under the direction of the Associate Dean for Collections and Discovery.

Responsibilities

• Leads, plans, and oversees acquisitions operations and processes for materials in all formats acquired for University Libraries.
• Manages and coordinates operations for the Acquisitions Department composed of approximately 11 employees. This position directly supervises 2 faculty and 2 staff members.
• Directs the efficient, appropriate, and timely expenditure of the Libraries’ $9.5 million collections budget, which includes both targeted and untargeted gifts and endowments.
• Supervises day-to-day acquisitions processes.
• Develops fund allocations for collection development areas.
• Chairs the Collections Strategy Cross-Functional Team.
• Collaborates with colleagues in Metadata Services, User Services and Teaching and Learning to establish and refine interdepartmental workflows.
• In collaboration with the eCollections Access and Licensing Librarian, leads efforts related to the procurement, assessment, and management of electronic resources, including contract negotiations, renewals, and e-resource workflows.
• Provides oversight and strategic direction for individual subscription renewal assessment.
• Develops policies and procedures related to collection development and acquisitions.

Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities

Develops a focused program of high-quality research and creative accomplishments, consistent with professional responsibilities and the Libraries’ mission and goals.

Service

Actively participates and demonstrates leadership in professional responsibilities that serve the Libraries, university, profession, and community.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• An ALA-accredited graduate degree in librarianship or a relevant accredited graduate degree in another scholarly field as deemed appropriate by the Libraries.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in acquisitions, electronic resources, or collection development in an academic library or a large, multi-branch public library.
• Previous management/supervisory experience.
• Experience with strategic collection development and/or budgeting.
• Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication and creative problem-solving.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to foster an environment of collegiality, respect, trust, and teamwork.
• Experience with reviewing and negotiating license agreements pertaining to electronic resources.
• Experience with assessment of print and electronic resources (usage reports, overlap reports, cost per use, etc.).
• Experience working with publishers and/or vendors of electronic resources.
• Experience in coordination or management of library services platform functions in a consortial environment, including experience with Ex Libris’ Alma and Primo VE.
• Knowledge of current, evolving, and innovative models of collection development, including open access and scholarly communications.