Head, Resource Acquisition

Department: Library

Classification: Professional 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; up to 2 days of telework per week

Salary: Salary is commensurate with professional experience and academic qualifications. Salary at appointment is dependent upon related qualifications and associated rank into which they are hired: Librarian I (not less than $65,000); Librarian II (not less than $70,000); Librarian III (not less than $75,000), and Librarian IV (not less than $80,000).

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Access & Resource Management (ARM) division works across the Libraries to support the University’s strategic goals and plan by acquiring, managing, and providing access to scholarly resources that enhance curricular and research needs. The division manages the lifecycle of the University Libraries’ scholarly collection from budget development to point of ordering to provision of access and all associated maintenance and assessment. The division is comprised of seven departments: Resource Acquisition (acquisitions, payments, subscription and e-resource management), Resource Licensing & Delivery (licensing and interlibrary loan/resource sharing), Collections Strategy (collections development and analysis), Metadata Services (metadata, cataloging, processing and binding), Database Integrity & Analysis (data collection and analysis, reports, and database cleanup), Preservation Services (physical preservation, stacks, shifts, disaster preparedness and response), and Access Services (Fenwick Information Desk, circulation, consortial loan service, and reserves). We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace, as well as in the systems and services we build, as an inclusive excellence imperative.

About the Position:

The Resource Acquisition Department within the Access & Resource Management division handles scholarly material requests through their lifecycle, including ordering, payment, and provision of access to library users, while ensuring state procurement guidelines are followed and that the Libraries’ research materials budget is expended efficiently and appropriately each fiscal year.

The Head, Resource Acquisition provides leadership for the acquisition, access, and ongoing maintenance of orders for scholarly resources in all formats. The position focuses the work of the department on excellent customer service and timely access to scholarly resources and provides leadership that fosters collaboration and innovation within the department and also among other departments in University Libraries. The position stays up to date on procurement policies of the Commonwealth and university and directly oversees staff responsible for the accurate and timely payment of the research materials budget. The position participates in committees and/or workgroups as required to share knowledge, develop best practices, and advance the work of the Libraries.

Responsibilities:

Administrative Operations 

• Provides supervision and direction of monograph and electronic resource ordering and user access, as well as the management of all fiscal transactions related to the research materials budget;
• Serves as an expert on state and university financial regulations and guidelines and ensures compliance;
• Oversees and maintains consistent and usable acquisitions data for a broad range of purposes;
• Designs and implements effective workflows incorporating current technologies and standards, especially relating to electronic resource management;
• Applies knowledge of professional best practices and keeps abreast of developments and trends within acquisitions, academic librarianship, and electronic resource management; and
• Actively participates in the procurement of scholarly resources through consortium partnerships. 

Collaboration and Communications 

• Interacts regularly with key staff in the university's Purchasing & Accounts Payable departments;
• Works collaboratively with Collections Strategy, subject librarians and selectors, Metadata Services, Digital Systems & Strategies, and other library departments; and
• Develops and maintains effective communication and good working relationships with publishers and vendors. 

Supervision 

• Sets goals for performance and deadlines in ways that comply with the university's plans and vision and communicate them to report(s);
• Organizes workflow and ensures that employees understand their duties and/or delegate tasks as needed; Monitors complaints and resolves problems;
• Conducts performance evaluations;
• Hires and trains new employees; and
• Ensures adherence to legal and university policies and procedures and undertakes disciplinary actions if the need arises. 

Librarianship

• Participates in the University Libraries’ governance activities; and
• Engages in university and professional service, and in research and creative work as outlined in the George Mason University Librarians’ Handbook. 

Other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Masters degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science program OR a certified foreign equivalent required;
• Experience in library acquisitions, electronic resource management, or collection development;
• Experience working with Excel spreadsheets;
• Supervisory experience; and
• Working knowledge of library services platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supervising a team;
• Experience tracking or managing budgets;
• Advanced Excel proficiency (i.e. pivot tables, formulas);
• Working knowledge of Ex Libris Alma; and
• Working knowledge of procurement issues, including RFPs, invoicing, and payments.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Head, Resource Acquisition 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 a Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: October 14, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  November 3, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes