Description
Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, the Associate Dean for Collection Strategy is a senior member of the Libraries’ leadership team responsible for providing strategic vision, administrative oversight, and operational direction for the full spectrum of the Libraries’ collections portfolio. This portfolio encompasses general collections (print and electronic), electronic resources and database licensing, rare books and special collections, the University Archives, and the Women and Leadership Archives.
The Associate Dean provides inspired, forward-thinking leadership that aligns collection development, stewardship, and access with Loyola’s Jesuit mission and the evolving research, teaching, and learning needs of the University community. This position plays a pivotal role in shaping the long-term direction of the Libraries and serves as a key institutional representative in consortial, donor, and professional contexts.
This is a 12-month appointment. The Associate Dean holds faculty status and is expected to engage in professional service, scholarship, and leadership activities commensurate with rank. The position will be primarily situated at Loyola’s Lakeshore campus but will be expected to regularly attend meetings and perform other functions at the Water Tower campus.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Administration
- Develop, implement, and assess a comprehensive, integrated collection strategy that supports Loyola’s academic programs, research priorities, and the University’s Jesuit mission
- Provide senior administrative leadership and oversight for the following departments: Monographic Acquisitions and Cataloging, Serials & E-Resource Management, University Archives, and the Women and Leadership Archives
- Serve as a member of the Libraries’ senior leadership team; contribute to institution-wide strategic planning, policy development, budgetary decision making, and assessment
Collection Development & Stewardship
- Lead the development and ongoing review of the Libraries’ collections policies across all formats, including monographs, serials, electronic resources, databases, and rare and unique materials
- Direct management of the Libraries’ collections budget, working collaboratively with subject liaisons and collection managers to ensure strategic, data-informed allocation of resources across disciplines and collection types
- Oversee the negotiation, licensing, and administration of electronic resource agreements, including publisher contracts, database subscriptions in compliance with university standards and evolving scholarly communication norms
- Develop strategies for alternative acquisition models including demand-driven acquisition, evidence-based acquisition, and collaborative purchasing
- Collaborate with the Dean of Libraries and the Office of Advancement to cultivate and steward relationships with donors, including the solicitation of gifts-in-kind, endowments, and funds supporting collections and archives
- Represent the Libraries in consortia partnerships, including the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) and other collaborative bodies; negotiate and manage shared collection initiatives
This salary range is for a twelve-month academic appointment ($115,00-$120,00). As Associate Dean, an administrative stipend of $25,000-$35,000 will be added for a twelve-month service basis. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on a range of factors including, but not limited to, the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree; training; field or discipline; budget availability; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Applicants should submit a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to www.careers.luc.edu. They also should provide the names and email addresses of three individuals prepared to speak to their professional qualifications for this position. References will not be contacted immediately but might be at subsequent points in the review process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago’s mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university’s focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.
Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here.
Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy.
Interested candidates may attend a candidate listening webinar on Friday May 15th at 11am-11:30am CDT. Candidates attending the session will not be able to view other attendees and their information will be kept private. That webinar is available here.
Requirements
Required
- Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, or an equivalent advanced degree in archival studies or a closely related field
- Minimum of five years of leadership experience in a library or library-adjacent setting
- Significant experience with electronic resources management, including licensing, negotiation, and the administration of complex database and publisher agreements
Preferred
- Experience in donor relations, development, or grant writing in an academic library or archival context
- Active participation in relevant professional associations at the regional or national level
