Department: Library

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: No less than $100,000; salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

https://listings.jobs.gmu.edu/jobs/associate-director-of-viva-fairfax-va-virginia-united-states-other-6b64fe7c-ce6a-4341-899f-0be4ee0d3bc2

About the Department:

VIVA, the academic library consortium of 71 nonprofit academic libraries in the Commonwealth of Virginia, provides, in an equitable, cooperative and cost-effective manner, enhanced access to library and information resources for Virginia’s higher education community. A dynamic organization serving community colleges and research organizations alike, VIVA members include all 39 state-assisted (public) colleges and universities, as well as 31 independent (private, nonprofit) institutions, and the Library of Virginia. Since 1994, VIVA has worked to empower its member libraries through collaborative collection development, resource sharing, open and affordable initiatives, community development, and shared central infrastructure. With the aim of leveling the academic playing field for students and researchers, and with guidance from collaborative and engaged member organizations, VIVA’s dedicated central staff oversee the consortium’s approximately 26-million-dollar budget and programs. See https://vivalib.org/viva/homepage for more information about VIVA.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Director of VIVA, the Associate Director of VIVA (AD) contributes directly to the strategic direction and overall administration of an innovative organization dedicated to improving and expanding access to academic library resources and services for students and researchers across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The AD oversees key program areas and contributes to the development, analysis, and promotion of consortial approaches to collaborative collection development and open access initiatives, resource sharing, and open and affordable programs on behalf of Virginia’s higher education institutions. The AD coordinates with VIVA central staff, VIVA committees, and member institutions to implement project management plans for consortial initiatives that empower Virginia’s academic libraries.

Responsibilities:

Administration:

• In coordination with the VIVA Director, works with the VIVA Committees, Library Directors, and other appropriate colleagues to prioritize and implement project management plans for selected VIVA initiatives;
• Leads the implementation of procedures for the operational support and assessment of internal services; and
• Participates in the administration of the central office, including managing the office in the absence of the VIVA Director. 

Program Analysis and Resource Negotiation:

• Coordinates analysis of priority initiatives across VIVA programs to support effective decision-making;
• Tracks, analyzes, and reports on the economic and service benefits that accrue to consortium members through participation in cooperative services; and
• With the VIVA Director, negotiates on behalf of VIVA member libraries and supports the licensing of resources and services. 

Strategic Direction and Program Management:

• Provides oversight of strategic program areas, including resource sharing, licensing, and data analysis initiatives;
• Supports the work of the VIVA committees and task forces across the member libraries, including coordinating VIVA-sponsored library conferences and events; and
• Participates in the development of consortial approaches to collaborative collection development and open access initiatives within the evolving higher education and scholarly communication ecosystem. 

Supervisory:

• Sets goals for performance and deadlines in compliance with the university and VIVA’s plans and vision and communicates them to reportees; and
• Provides constructive feedback, coaching, and conducts performance evaluations. 

Scholarly Communication, Outreach, and Engagement:

• Promotes and represents VIVA effectively to members, the outside library community, legislative staff and higher education stakeholders in Virginia, other consortia, and the vendor community; and
• Monitors issues, trends, and best practices in academic librarianship and scholarly communication, and contributes to that dialogue on behalf of VIVA and its member colleges and universities. 

Other related duties as assigned 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field, ALA-accredited graduate degree (or recognized foreign equivalent) or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline;
• Demonstrated experience in an academic library or library consortium, or equivalent environment;
• Effective organizational skills, including the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage competing deadlines;
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively in a complex and culturally diverse higher education setting;
• Proven ability to analyze, organize, and present financial, library collections, or academic library data;
• Familiarity of issues, trends, and best practices in academic librarianship, higher education, and scholarly communication;
• Demonstrated ability to manage the work of others and provide guidance and/or delegate work as needed; and
• Willingness to travel with occasional overnight travel within Virginia, on behalf of VIVA.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience or understanding of the current landscape within VIVA’s primary areas of consortial focus: collection development, resource sharing, community development, and open and affordable initiatives;
• Leadership role within an academic library and/or consortium;
• Considerable experience with electronic resource license negotiation in academic libraries;
• Experience managing budgets and using data to make programmatic decisions;
• Significant analytical skills and data management experience with a proven ability to learn and use a variety of systems and software to organize, present, and analyze financial and collections data;
• Record of active professional engagement in academic libraries or higher education, including professional presentations and publications; and
• Demonstrated flexibility in adapting to change and ability to work well under pressure.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Associate Director of VIVA at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: August 26, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  September 19, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes