Head of Electronic Resources and Scholarly Communications

The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a highly skilled and experienced librarian to serve as the Head of Electronic Resources and Scholarly Communications. This is a tenure-track faculty position that will play a critical role in shaping the Libraries' strategic direction and initiatives related to electronic resources and scholarly communications.

• Manage the lifecycle of electronic resources, including trials, subscriptions, and purchases, ensuring accurate records and timely renewals.
• Oversee the receipt, inventory, processing, and access of government documents, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Review and manage product licenses for e-content packages and subscriptions, collaborating with the Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services and University Libraries leadership.
• Assist the Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services with the management of all activities related to the purchase of library materials in all formats.
• Actively participate in invoice processing and auditing of Special Collections purchases, working closely with the Senior Associate Dean and the Head of Special Collections.
• Manage weekly reconciliations between Voyager and Banner, collaborating with the University Libraries business office.
• Work extensively with campus, regional, and national partners on purchasing and licensing resources, including Contract Management, Accounts Payable, and the Office of Procurement Services.
• Design and prepare expenditure reports and predictive modeling, maintaining accurate acquisitions records and overseeing ordering and invoice payments for library materials and electronic resources.
• Advise and collaborate with ILL and Access Services on issues related to access and use of digital resources.
• Work effectively with the current ILS (Voyager), discovery layer (EDS), usage consolidation system (EBSCO Usage Consolidation), and other resources in the EBSCO suite of tools, as well as the SpringShare A-Z Databases list.
• Support and lead the electronic resources and scholarly communications staff and faculty in the migration to the FOLIO Library Service Platform.
• Assist with the development of policies and procedures related to monographic and serials acquisitions, budgeting, fund management, and vendor assessment.
• Oversee the activation and management of new and existing e-resources within the knowledgebase of the library's holdings and links management system.
• Oversee all aspects of troubleshooting e-resource access problems and develop proactive methods to prevent e-resource access problems.
• Oversee the daily operations of the institutional repository.
• Monitor trends in e-resource management, analyze tools and workflows, and explore new models and recommend changes to existing tools and workflows as appropriate.
• Provide information, training, and support to inform colleagues and the campus of new features and interface changes related to e-resource discovery and access.
• Promote and improve resource access by updating, customizing, and integrating interfaces for e-resource discovery, including vendor platforms for databases, e-journals, e-books, and other library resources.
• Assist with and support efforts to promote scholarly communications initiatives.
• Oversee project management of current and emerging scholarly communications technologies, such as DSpace and Open Journal Systems.
• Monitor usage of all electronic resources, developing and submitting reports on usage trends, providing analysis, and performing predictive modeling for budget projections.
• Commitment to continuous quality improvement and data-driven decision-making.
• Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to increase effectiveness and efficiencies of workflows.
• Supervision of student workers, staff, and faculty.

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program.
• At least 5 years of experience in electronic resources in a research library.
• Supervisory experience, including direct involvement with establishing goals, evaluating employees, developing job descriptions, and analyzing and adjusting workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to do detail-oriented work, including strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Knowledge and experience with financial modules in Voyager or another ILS.
• Knowledge and experience of university procurement processes.
• Knowledge of DSpace and OJS.
• Knowledge and experience with EBSCO Discovery Service or similar discovery service.
• Experience with the EBSCO suite of tools (EBSCOAdmin, EBSCOnet, EBSCO API, EBSCO Collection Manager, EBSCO Usage Consolidation, GOBI, Full Text Finder, etc.).
• Knowledge and experience with FOLIO or other open source library products.
• Knowledge and experience with the COUNTER usage data standard.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, review, manage, and process licenses for e-content.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, initiate, and implement effective programs, projects, and services to improve efficiency of workflow.
• Demonstrated knowledge of scholarly communications, intellectual property, rights management, and open access.
• Experience with or ability to manage and oversee receipt of government documents materials.
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills evidenced by the ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, faculty, students, and staff.
• Friendly, approachable demeanor with strong commitment to customer service excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex and changing environment; proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively and complete tasks according to an established timeframe, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong record of research, publications, and service related to the aspects of the position.

• Experience managing electronic resources and/or acquisitions in a large research library.
• Experience working with consortia and consortial agreements and subscriptions.
• Experience negotiating large-scale, multi-year licenses with vendors.
• Supervisory experience with faculty or staff.
• Experience with fund management, vendor relations; knowledge of current issues and trends in collection development, or acquisitions; knowledge of web technologies and metadata standards related to effective e-resource access and discovery.
• Experience supporting ILL initiatives with just-in-time delivery of resources.
• Experience submitting grant proposals.

Applications are accepted online only at https://facultyjobs.ua.edu/. Please include your application, Curriculum Vitae, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references, including one current supervisor. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by October 18, 2024, are assured of receiving full consideration. For questions regarding the search, contact Michael Arthur, Senior Associate Dean, at https://www.ua.edu/.

Salary/Benefits: 12-month tenure-track or tenured faculty appointment at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank. Salary is $100,000.00, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees. Strong benefits, including professional development support, tuition fee waiver, and matching retirement contributions.