Director, Data Services & Sciences

Description

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND THE UW LIBRARIES

The University of Washington is one of the best universities in the world, ranked No. 18 globally by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, and No. 6 globally and No. 2 among U.S. public institutions by US News & World Report. The UW receives more federal research dollars than any other U.S. public university; in FY23, the UW received $1.87 billion total research awards (federal and non-federal sources). For more information, please visit the UW home page. 

Serving all three UW campuses, the Libraries is an integral partner in the education, research, clinical care, and service mission of the University. Beyond the strength of its extensive collections and digital resources, the Libraries is recognized for its excellent programs and services, innovative learning and research spaces, faculty partnerships, global reach, assessment efforts and diverse award-winning staff. The Libraries is committed to integrating equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism into all aspects of our work and organizational culture. Learn more about the UW Libraries online. 

RESEARCH AND LEARNING SERVICES

Research & Learning Services provides user-centered services to the UW Community through support for research, teaching, and learning. Composed of nine departments (Access Services, Assessment, Communications, Facilities, Data Services and Sciences, Learning Services & Social Sciences, Health Sciences Library, Open Scholarship & Publishing and Arts & Humanities, Tateuchi East Asia Library), the portfolio provides public-facing and infrastructural services to advance the mission of the University and the Libraries strategic goals. Units work collaboratively to build integrated services and spaces across multiple Seattle Campus Libraries.

THE POSITION

Under the general direction of the Senior Associate Dean of the Research & Learning Services Portfolio, the Director of Data Services and Sciences provides leadership, strategic vision, and oversight for Data Services and the Sciences librarians. The Director leads the Sciences liaison team, actively linking subject and functional expertise to develop robust services in support of key UW institutional initiatives (e.g., climate change research, open science). The Director serves as a representative to Libraries committees and cross-campus partnerships focused on data, researcher services, and the sciences, and is a core member of the Research & Learning Services Directorate. This position works with the Sciences Liaison Team and Data Services Team on initiatives supporting the Libraries’ strategic plan. 

This position is not tenure eligible. Please see the Librarian Personnel Code for the Librarian promotion process.

This position is eligible for hybrid work (on campus and remote), details dependent on telework agreement with supervisor.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• In partnership with the Senior Associate Dean and Directors, fosters cross-departmental efforts to develop services across the research lifecycle, from knowledge creation through dissemination and communication.
• Provides vision and leadership in working with Sciences and Data Services to plan, coordinate, assess, and refine core services in these areas. Provides guidance, alignment, and communication on departmental initiatives that advance the Libraries’ strategic plan.
• Provides visioning and oversight of the Libraries data repository efforts, and collaborates with partners on the ongoing development of Open Access publishing initiatives and Libraries institutional repository.
• Directly supervises and mentors seven direct reports and 10 team members.
• Works with Portfolio and department Leadership Teams to make decisions on budgets for departmental hourly personnel, operations, and selected endowments.
• Convenes a subject area team focusing on Sciences and connects Sciences liaisons with functional expertise in support of teaching, learning, researcher and data services.
• Collaborates with key partners, including other Libraries departments and campus units (e.g., UW Office of Research, and eScience Institute).
• Participates in and/or leads Libraries-wide and UW committees, task forces, and programs as appropriate.
• Maintains an awareness of wider trends in data management, open science, and citizen science, as well as trends in higher education and academic libraries. Represents the Libraries at local and national level in relevant professional conversations.

RANK

Position will be at the rank of Associate Librarian or Librarian, depending on qualifications and background. See the Rank, Status, Initial Appointments, Renewal of Appointments and Promotions of UW Libraries Librarians in the Librarian Personnel Code for librarian rank appointment criteria.

BENEFITS

Librarians are academic personnel and participate in the UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) or the state’s Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) Plan 3. This is a full-time, 12-month appointment.  Vacation is accrued at the rate of 26 working days per year; sick leave at the rate of 12 working days per year. No state or local income tax. A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found on our Benefits page. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.

SALARY

The base salary range for this position will be $7,900-$10,000 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. Other compensation associated with this position may include a relocation incentive payment and a moving allowance.

ANTICIPATED START DATE

While we hope to fill the position in Winter Quarter 2025, we are happy to work with the successful candidate to explore opportunities for an earlier or later start date.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applications received by 8:59 p.m. PST/11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, will receive priority review. Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling weekly basis at the discretion of the unit. 

Apply through Interfolio. 

The following documents are required as part of your application for this vacancy:

• Cover letter (addressed to Laura Lillard, Director, Libraries Human Resources)
• Curriculum vitae or resume (include a telephone number, mailing address, email address and salary requirements)
• List of three references who are knowledgeable of your qualifications for this position, one of which must be your current supervisor (include telephone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses, and specify current supervisor)
• Equity Diversity Inclusion Accessibility (EDIA) Statement*

* UW Libraries Equity Diversity Inclusion Accessibility (EDIA) Statement Guidelines

Equity is a core value of the UW Libraries and an integral component of the Libraries 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. We aspire to become a truly inclusive and equitable organization. We actively support the University in sustaining diversity, creating inclusive experiences for the UW community, and confronting institutional bias and structural racism. In your application, please include a separate statement of no more than one page detailing your experience supporting or contributing to equity, diversity and/or inclusion in areas such as, but not limited to, librarianship, professional development (e.g.,  presentations, publications) and/or service and your vision for supporting or contributing to the Libraries’ commitment to providing equitable services and resources to all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status.

For questions about this position, or questions regarding potential disability accommodations, please contact Laura Lillard at [email protected].

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS 
Required

• Graduate degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent graduate library science/information studies degree.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and a more socially just society and understanding of the contributions a diverse workforce brings to the workplace.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in library data services across the data lifecycle (including the development of data management plans).
• Familiarity with requirements and implications of federal requirements for research data (e.g., guidance from the Office of Science & Technology Policy data management memo and the National Institute of Health).
• Interest in cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary data issues (e.g., data in the Humanities).
• Interest in open/citizen science and trends in STEM education.
• Understanding of relationship of data to scholarly communication and publishing ecosystem (e.g., open access policies, digital scholarship).
• Understanding of current and emerging faculty and student research needs across the research lifecycle, from knowledge creation through dissemination and communication.
• Experience in change management, especially as it relates to helping groups navigate change and build teams.
• Proven record of skills in collaboration and relationship building, including both libraries and external partners.
• Experience in developing new programs and emerging services. 

Preferred

• Sciences interest and/or background (in the form of a degree or prior experience).
• Experience managing/supervising in a unionized environment.