The UMKC Libraries are seeking a collaborative individual responsible for oversight of the development, maintenance, and evaluation of the Libraries’ physical and online collections. The Head of Collections & Acquisitions has major responsibilities for analyzing and assessing the information resources provided to the UMKC community; assessing trends in the provision and demand for information resources; developing and reviewing collection policies; monitoring the budget for information resources; participating in the negotiations for complex licenses and contracts for information resources; developing, evaluating, and promoting the collections; providing leadership and oversight for electronic resources & acquisitions and participating in library and system-wide collaborative collection development. This position is a 12-month, non-tenure track, ranked benefit-eligible faculty librarian appointment, has supervisory responsibilities, and reports to the Associate Dean of Library Services.

Position duties and responsibilities include: 

Leads collections strategy for the University Libraries (40%)

• Provides strategic leadership in changing collection development to meet information resource needs of Libraries’ constituents in the current scholarly communications and budgetary environment.
•  Develops, maintains, and exercises a high level of understanding of collections, scholarly communications, copyright, interlibrary loan, and acquisitions issues to inform collection activities including development, maintenance, outreach, education, and consultation. 
• Develops, updates, and maintains collection development policies and strategies.
• Represents the University Libraries in the University of Missouri system-wide strategic planning for collections.

Conducts collection development for the University Libraries (25%)

• Coordinates the selection of information resources in all formats.
• Evaluates, gathers, and maintains statistical data from a variety of sources to analyze and synthesize trends in collection development.
•  Engages and collaborates with university stakeholders on collection needs and other collection related information as appropriate. 
• Provides strategic guidance on negotiation of licensing terms and agreements for resources with publishers with the support of the University of Missouri E-Resources Cooperative Office (UMECO).
• Chairs the UMKC Libraries’ Collections Team.
•  Monitors current publication trends in various subjects to ensure the collections reflect publishing trends in subjects/disciplines covered by the university.
• Helps coordinate with UMECO to renew subscriptions. 
• Leads UMKC input on shared collection development decision-making with University of Missouri System Libraries.
• Coordinates work with campus academic units and Collections Team to prepare reports for accreditation, curricular review, etc.
• Maintains good donor relations by creating and evaluating donor policies and procedures for in-kind gifts.

Provides leadership for and general oversight of electronic resources & acquisitions (20%)

• Understands the user experience associated with discovery, access and use of electronic resources and works with the Collections & Acquisitions department and other library departments to provide quality experience to UMKC students, faculty, and staff.  
•  Maintains effective relationships with library acquisitions, serials, and electronic resources vendors; serves as a resource in troubleshooting problems with vendors. 
• With Acquisitions faculty and staff, builds and monitors collections budgets, setting spending targets as needed.
• Provides strategic guidance on negotiation of licensing terms and agreements for resources with publishers with the support of UMECO.
• Supports and participates in cooperative groups involved in planning for resource sharing to enhance the cooperative environment and resource access for research and academic libraries.

Engages in service and professional development (15%)

In accordance with the Faculty Workload Policy:

• Serves on UMKC Librarians’ Council and a variety of University Libraries, UMKC, and UM System committees, working groups, or teams.
• Pursues professional development and contributes to the profession via service and/or research.

Supervisory authority

Supervises, hires, evaluates, trains, and appraises direct reports to ensure smooth operations that follow established policies in the Collections and Acquisitions Department

• Directly supervises employees in collections, electronic resources, and acquisitions.
• Provides indirect supervision for members of the Collections Team.
• Coordinates activities and maintains effective relationships with other departments and colleagues within the Division, Libraries, and University.
• Acts as an advocate for employees and is committed to professional and staff development and staff participation in unit planning and decision making.
• Promotes high performance through teamwork, training and enrichment, encouragement of innovation and recognition for achievement.

Work environment and schedule

The UMKC University Libraries support Flexible Work Arrangements. This position generally works Monday-Friday, 8-hour workdays, 9-hour days if the individual opts to take a 1-hour lunch per the Libraries’ Rest Break policy. The regular schedule will encompass the hours of 9am-4pm. Anything outside of this regular schedule is considered a Flexible Work Arrangement.

Physical demands

Reasonable accommodations are provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You can visit the UMKC ADA page, or contact the ADA Coordinator, KC Atchinson, at (816) 235-1771 or atchinsonk@umkc.edu.

Expectations

• Contributes to a safe and respectful environment for all users and employees of the UMKC Libraries. 
• Exemplifies the UMKC Statement of Values and the University Libraries Values.

Minimum qualifications

• A master’s degree in library science/library information science from a program accredited by the American Library Association or from a program in a country with a formal accreditation process as identified by ALA’s Human Resource Development and Recruitment Office or equivalent;
• Supervisory experience or successful experience managing a team;
• 2+ years of experience in some aspect of collection development, acquisitions, and/or license negotiation;
• Knowledge of current research, technologies, and scholarly trends in collection development, licensing, and scholarly communications; 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate in a team-based, service-oriented environment;
• Supervisory experience or successful experience managing a team;
• Potential to meet promotion requirements in non-tenure track appointment, evidenced through service, research, leadership, innovation, and/or professional development.

Salary

Salary will be commensurate with rank and qualifications, and the anticipated hiring range for this position is $52,500-$80,000. Minimum salaries for ranks are: Librarian I $50,000, Librarian II $52,500, Librarian III $57,500, and Librarian IV $65,000. UMKC offers an excellent retirement/benefits package. (See the Promotion and Appointments Criteria for rank specifications and UM salaries are publicly available.)

UMKC offers full benefits that start day one, generous paid time off, paid winter break, and continuing education benefits. Visit our Total Rewards page to learn more. 

Also, explore the Total Rewards website to learn more about the rewards package we offer to acknowledge our employees as the university’s most important resource. 

Application materials must be submitted online. From UMKC Human Resources, click View Jobs and search for ID ‘47253‘ to apply. Though the system provides prompts for uploading application materials separately, we request that applicants combine all application materials into one PDF or Microsoft Word document:

•  
• A personal letter of interest of up to 2 pages addressing each minimum requirement and the values commitment (see below)
• Curriculum vitae (CV – as many pages as needed)
• Contact information for 3 references

Upload this combined document when prompted to provide a resume attachment. Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). 

Per the University of Missouri System’s Values Commitment, we value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate. 

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research and engagement.

Applications received by June 28, 2023, will be given priority consideration.

For questions about how applicants apply, please call (816) 235-1621.

You may address your cover letter to: Nara Newcomer, Search Committee Chair. For all inquiries about the position, please contact 816-235-1531 or libraryadmin@umkc.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations, or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the Vice Chancellor – Human Resources at 816-235-1621.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties and functions of this job. If you believe you may have difficulty performing any of the duties or functions of this job, please contact the Office of Affirmative Action at (816) 235-1323.

EEO IS THE LAW

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:

•  
•  
• EEO is the Law English Version
• EEO is the Law Spanish Version
• EEO is the Law Chinese Version