Open Education Librarian

The University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for an Open Education Librarian in the Data Digital Strategy & Scholarly Communication division. This role leads open education initiatives and develops robust, affordable course materials for learners across the campus and Commonwealth.

Working with campus partners and students, the librarian will guide OER tooling, coordinate events, assess impact, and represent the Libraries at university events.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in librarianship or related field by time of hire.
• Two or more years in an academic library setting for Librarian II; five+ years for Librarian III.
• Experience providing library instruction and outreach programming.
• Commitment to user-centered service to students and faculty.
• Evidence of initiative, collaboration, and inclusion in diverse environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance across the institution for creating, adapting, and adopting open educational resources and tools.
• Lead open education initiatives and related programs.
• Collaborate with campus partners to assess and maintain platforms supporting OER and open pedagogy.
• Plan, deliver, and evaluate open education events, workshops, and trainings.
• Represent Libraries at events and committees; engage with external networks.

Skills

Library instruction

Collaboration

Communication skills

Open educational resources

User-centered service

Education

Graduate degree in librarianship

Tools

PressBooks

Open Syllabus Analytics

Janeway

Job description

Title: Open Education Librarian

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: Other Academic Units

Department: Data Digital Strategy & Comm

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Open Education Librarian provides innovative and high-quality programming and services at UMass Amherst. Housed in the division of Data, Digital Strategies, & Scholarly Communication, the Open Education Librarian leads the Libraries’ programs and services supporting the creation, adaptation, and adoption of open educational resources, tools, and practices. Working with Libraries’ colleagues, campus partners, faculty, and graduate students, they will prioritize the development of robust, high-impact, and affordable course materials for learners at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, across the Commonwealth, and beyond.

Essential Functions

• Provides expertise and guidance across the institution for creating, adapting, and adopting open educational resources (OER), tools, technologies, and practices.
• Leads Libraries’ open education initiatives, including, but not limited to, the Open Education Initiative program.
• Collaborates with library colleagues and campus partners (e.g. Center for Teaching & Learning, Instructional Design Engagement & Support, Information Technology, etc.) to assess, implement, and maintain platforms and tools that support the creation and use of OER and open pedagogy (e.g. PressBooks, Open Syllabus Analytics, Janeway, etc.)
• Oversees the planning, delivery, and evaluation of open education events, workshops, training opportunities, and other outreach internally for library colleagues, across the campus, and with local and regional organizations (e.g. the Five College Consortium, the Boston Library Consortium, etc.)
• Collaborates with campus partners (e.g. Center for Teaching & Learning; Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS), etc.) and student organizations, (e.g. Massachusetts Student Public Interest Research Group (MassPIRG), Student Governance Association (SGA), etc.) to strategically align the Libraries’ open education initiatives with campus, state, and national directions in open education.
• Collaborates with library colleagues and campus partners to collect, analyze, assess and report metrics on the Libraries and campus open education initiatives, programming, and tools.
• Aligns planning, priorities, goals, and services with the strategic initiatives of the Libraries and the University.
• Keeps apprised of key issues and trends in open education, open pedagogy, open scholarship and scholarly publishing, information literacy, instructional design, learning support services, online and distance learning, open access, and copyright/authors’ rights and regularly incorporates this knowledge into planning and sharing of information with library colleagues and campus partners as relevant.
• Represents the Libraries at specific library or university events to promote Libraries’ services, such as student-focused events, orientations, end of semester support activities for students, etc.
• Serves on internal committees as assigned and may be asked to represent the Libraries on campus committees, Five College Committees, and Boston Library Consortium Committees, and/or at other selected professional meetings and conferences.
• Participates in professional development and continuing education activities, including service in professional and scholarly associations, and presenting and publishing on work-related topics.

Other Functions

• May supervise student employees.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or required to meet the goals of the department, Libraries, and University

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate degree in librarianship (from a program accredited by the American Library Association) or related field by time of hire, or combination of an advanced degree in a relevant subject area and experience in libraries, archives, museums, or similar institutions.
• For Librarian II, minimum of 2 years of experience in an academic library, archives, museum, or similar institution.
• For Librarian III, minimum of 5 years of experience in an academic library, archives, museum, or similar institution.
• Experience providing library instruction and outreach programming in an academic library setting.
• Evidence of commitment to user-centered service to students and faculty in an academic institution contributing to student success.
• Participates in professional development, continuing education activities, professional and scholarly associations, as well as evidence of potential for active contributions to organizations at the Libraries, university, and community level.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, problem-solve, and demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, service excellence, innovation, and creativity.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain effective working relationships and work collaboratively in a diverse and fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, project, and time management skills to lead or coordinate multiple projects and work with minimal supervision.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to communicate the academic library's role in supporting open educational resource, open pedagogy, and open scholarship and the ability to use this understanding to serve patrons in a research library setting.
• Fluency with software and workflows for adapting, creating, organizing, and providing access to open educational resources.
• Experience providing library instruction and outreach programming for faculty and graduate students in an academic library setting.
• Experience working with and creating open educational materials for underserved student populations, such as international students, English language-learners, first generation students, and transfer students.
• Experience with project management tools and/or techniques.
• Experience in academic publishing or editorial experience.

Additional Details

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

The regular working schedule for this position is Monday - Friday, day hours.

The incumbent of the position is expected to work on a flexible schedule, which includes some evening, weekend, and holiday hours.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Massachusetts Society of Professors, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Massachusetts Society of Professors collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: Librarian I/Librarian II/Librarian III

It is expected that the salary range for this position is between $63,250 and $90,500. The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

Please note:

The low-end of the pay range in all faculty/librarian searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.

The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty/librarian experience.

Closing Date

This position will close on September 30, 2026.