Director, Design and Discovery

How to Apply

To ensure full consideration, applications must be a single document consisting of:

• A cover letter describing your interest in the position, your skills, and experience directly relevant to the work of the position
• A resume / CV
• A list of three professional references, including their names, contact information, and your professional relationship

Job Summary

As the Director of the Design and Discovery (D&D) department, you will provide vision, expertise, and leadership for managing and enhancing the University of Michigan (U-M) Library's various web applications. In this position, you will direct the department's work to best meet the evolving needs of the U-M Library users and staff, supervise the department personnel (11 FTE), and report to the Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Library Information Technology (LIT). The Library Information Technology division designs, develops, manages, and maintains a flexible and reliable technology environment in support of the Library's mission.

The Director of the D&D department serves as a member of the LIT Leadership team, which assists the AUL for LIT in critical decisions that affect the Library as a whole, and participates in the overall planning and development, maintenance, and operation of the Library's IT environment and the key technologies essential to the daily services and operations of the Library. Department directors in LIT work closely together to coordinate and manage projects, issues, and services that cut across many different areas, and the five departments of LIT frequently collaborate and partner with one another and also with many other departments across the Library. As one of the five departments in LIT, D&D provides expertise in software development, project and content management, digital accessibility, and UI/UX design.

Responsibilities

• Leadership/Supervision (35%)
  • Assist the AUL for LIT in LIT-wide planning, reviewing, monitoring, and directing of services, projects, and operations and lead changes to ensure their ongoing alignment with LIT's and the Library's strategic goals and objectives. 
  • Work in close partnership with other department directors in LIT to coordinate and oversee library technology projects toward their successful completion. 
  • Supervise department personnel working by setting work goals, defining expectations, performing evaluations, and supporting professional growth.
  • Monitor and manage the department's evolving staffing needs.
• Provision of expertise and coordination in software development projects and product management (50%)
  • Provide vision and expertise for the D&D department's work. 
  • Set appropriate goals and directions for software development projects and related products primarily managed by D&D such as the library's websites, an intranet, in-house and cross-platform search and discovery systems (including Library Search), library staff business workflow systems, teaching and learning applications, content management systems, UI frameworks (including U-M Library Design System).
  • Monitor and direct the ongoing enhancement of software products and effectively manage the related maintenance work. 
  • Allocate and adjust resources appropriately to best meet LIT's and the library's needs as a whole.
  • Consult with library units in the development of new services that intersect with D&D services and responsibilities.
  • Facilitate timely service and troubleshooting by developing and sustaining active communication channels between LIT/D&D and other related teams in the library.
• Other (15%)
  • Cultivate an environment for continuing innovation and excellence within the department and the division.
  • Participate in cross-departmental/divisional projects, committees, and working groups in the Library when appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Professional degree from an ALA-accredited library school or other relevant advanced degree and equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3~5 years of work experience in software application development/ customization/ implementation and related project/product management.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience in software application development, customization, and implementation work that consists of planning, creating software requirements specifications, prioritization, execution, communication, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of the current and emerging trends in web technologies and software application/system development.
• Demonstrated commitment to incorporate the values of diversity, equity and inclusion into one's own work and organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent problem-solving, collaboration, and partnership-building skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated familiarity with library technology, academic computing, or similar environments. 
• Experience in programming/scripting and familiarity with modern programming principles, frameworks, tools, and application development processes.
• Demonstrated experience in crafting a vision and directions for innovative software application/systems work for a team.
• Proven ability to analyze complex and/or unclear requests, conduct research and gather information, articulate the underlying needs, and build a solution.
• Experience with managing/maintaining open source projects and products.
• Demonstrated ability to introduce, lead, and follow through changes in a team environment to meet the evolving needs and priorities of the library and its users.
• Experience in leading a team whose members are geographically dispersed for effective and excellent performance.