Job Abstract

The University of Houston Libraries seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking librarian for the role of Assistant Head of Acquisitions and Resource Sharing (ARS). Reporting to the Head of ARS, the person in this position will coordinate resource acquisition for libraries on the University of Houston main campus and, in collaboration with the ARS department head, provide vision and leadership for the strategic direction of the department.

The successful candidate will collaborate with the department head to establish departmental priorities and, in their absence, manage the daily operations of the department. They will implement strategies for providing resource access in partnership with colleagues from across the Libraries and evaluate and update acquisitions workflows to align with those of other departments to optimize usage of acquisitions applications. Additional responsibilities include preparing financial reports and identifying spending patterns to inform strategic and responsible stewardship of library collection funds and building and maintaining effective relationships and communications with vendors, consortia partners, and UH System campus libraries. The person in this position also creates and maintains effective documentation, assists with succession planning, and supervises acquisitions ordering and receiving staff, including providing coaching and support for effective goal setting and professional development.

The University of Houston is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution in the heart of a diverse city and state. The university prepares students to thrive in a globally interconnected world while contributing impactful research and innovation to the region and beyond. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences who are prepared to engage in this environment.

The Assistant Head of Acquisitions and Resource Sharing is a librarian position. Librarians hold academic rank pursuant to the University of Houston Libraries’ Bylaws Document. They are expected to develop a record of service, scholarship, and professional involvement. The UH Libraries support the ongoing professional development of librarians, and our goal is to recruit librarians committed to continuous learning.

Salary: $75,000-$78,000 expected hiring range, depending on qualifications. Comprehensive benefits package; choice of retirement programs including TIAA; tax-deferred annuity program available; release time to take a class up to 3 hours/week; no state or local income tax.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Visit the UH Libraries Employment page for more information: http://libraries.uh.edu/about/employment/. Potential applicants seeking further information should contact Santi Thompson, Interim Associate Dean for Organizational Development, Learning, and Talent at 713-743-9685 or sathompson3@uh.edu.

Library Information: UH Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance, HathiTrust, the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Digital Library Federation, the Texas Digital Library, Associate of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, and the South Central Academic Medical Libraries Consortium. The campus libraries provide access to over 3.1 million volumes. The University Libraries’ total staff is 160 FTE, including 62 professionals. Additional information about UH Libraries is available at http://libraries.uh.edu.

The UH Libraries has recently launched a new strategic plan (https://libraries.uh.edu/strategic-plan) in alignment with the University’s ambitious strategic plan (https://uh.edu/strategic-plan/).

General Information: The University of Houston, a dynamic research institution founded in 1927, stands as a vibrant hub of academic excellence and cultural diversity in Texas. With over 46,000 students, it offers a comprehensive range of programs across 15 colleges, fostering innovation in fields such as energy, health, hospitality, business, education, law, STEM, and the humanities. Boasting top-tier faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, student success initiatives, and a strong commitment to community engagement, UH prepares students to thrive in a globally interconnected world.

The University's prime location in America's fourth-largest city supports extensive industry partnerships and experiential learning opportunities. Renowned for its energy industry and NASA's Space Center, Houston is home to a vibrant cultural scene with world-class museums, theaters, and restaurants. The University of Houston is an institutional member of the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. Houston thrives as a hub for innovation, education, and arts, fostering a unique blend of community charm and modern progress.

Appointment to this position is contingent on the results of a completed criminal history records investigation.

The University of Houston is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution and recognizes protected classes of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (40 and above), national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, and gender expression as required by federal law. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Required:

• Master's degree from an ALA-accredited program
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively in a complex, changing environment
• Experience working in library acquisitions or collections management
• Demonstrated potential to provide vision and leadership for a library acquisitions unit
• Professional experience with budget management and reporting

Preferred:

• Experience in a supervisory or professional leadership role
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective vendor relationships
• Experience working with the acquisitions module of an integrated library system such as Alma or Voyager