Head of Acquisitions

Clemson University MBA Programs; Center (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Clemson Libraries seeks a Head of Acquisitions to provide leadership for acquiring, analyzing, and maintaining library subscriptions and monograph purchases. The role oversees a $9.5 million collections budget and collaborates on licensing within PASCAL and other consortia.

The position is a 12-month tenure-track faculty role reporting to the Associate Dean for Collections and Discovery, with responsibilities across acquisitions operations, fund allocations, and policy development.

Qualifications

• An ALA-accredited graduate degree in librarianship or a relevant accredited graduate degree.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in acquisitions, electronic resources, or collection development in an academic library.
• Previous management/supervisory experience.
• Experience with strategic collection development and/or budgeting.
• Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication and creative problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Leads, plans, and oversees acquisitions operations for materials in all formats.
• Manages and coordinates the Acquisitions team (approx. 8 faculty and staff).
• Directs expenditure of the $9.5 million collections budget; supervises day-to-day processes.
• Develops fund allocations for collection development areas.
• Chairs the Collections Strategies Cross-Functional Team; collaborates on workflows.
• Leads procurement, assessment, and management of electronic resources with licensing.
• Oversees subscription renewal assessment and policy development.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Leadership

Budget management

Vendor negotiation

Education

ALA-accredited library degree

Tools

Ex Libris Alma

Primo VE

Job description

Clemson University: College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences: Agricultural Research

Location

LIBRARY DEPOT (EMERGING TECHNOLOGY CENTER (ETC))(001271) BLDG001271

Open Date

Aug 18, 2026

Deadline

Sep 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description

Clemson Libraries seeks a collaborative, dynamic, and collegial Head of Acquisitions to provide leadership and expertise for a department that manages the acquisition, analysis and maintenance of library subscriptions, and the purchase of library monographs.

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 resources, 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 southeastern 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 and works under the direction of the Associate Dean for Collections and Discovery.

Responsibilities Include

• Leads, plans, and oversees acquisitions operations and processes for materials in all formats acquired for University Libraries.
• Manages and coordinates operations for the Acquisitions team, composed of approximately 8 faculty and staff.
• 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 Strategies 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.

Salary And Benefits

Salary is dependent upon several factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate’s experience, knowledge, skills, and rank at appointment in accordance with Clemson’s compensation guides.

Various medical plans, dental plans, and retirement plans are available. 18 days annual leave, 15 days sick leave, 13 paid holidays, and liberal professional development leave are provided. Library faculty receive an individual stipend for travel or other professional development activity.

Location

Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science and engineering-oriented Carnegie Research One university in a college town setting along a dynamic southeastern corridor. Clemson is an inclusive, student-centered community characterized by high academic standards, a culture of collaboration, school spirit, and a competitive drive to excel. Centrally located in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Clemson is in one of the fastest-growing areas of South Carolina, and a two-hour drive from Charlotte and Atlanta.

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.
• Ability to present budgetary and open access information to a variety of audiences, including non-library campus partners.