License Contract Manager

Description

About SCELC: SCELC empowers librarians working in private nonprofit academic and research libraries to collaborate on access to and the effective use of electronic and physical library resources and services. Our mission, vision, and values embody access, collaboration, innovation, integrity, partnership, responsiveness, and transparency. Examining issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility will shape all aspects of how SCELC staff approach their work with SCELC and wider community.

About the position: SCELC is looking for a talented License Contract Manager (LCM) to join our team!  Our ideal candidate balances a thorough approach with persistence and follow through: they’ll have a penchant for getting things done.  The LCM will maximize user rights and vendor responsibilities in licenses covering 1000s of electronic resources and services, supporting the negotiation of +/-35 contracts per year.  Their efforts will positively impact more than 100,000 researchers at 100s of colleges and research institutions through persistent, ongoing efforts in contract assessment, rights advocacy and clear communication.

Team: The License Contract Manager (LCM) directly supports 4 business services team staff who lead the electronic resource offer, acquisition, and renewal process with SCELC vendors and libraries.  The LCM works closely with the Director of License & Open Access Services (DLOAS); together they support individual contract approval by the Executive Director.

Workflow project: The LCM and and DLOAS will undertake a 12-18 month License Workflow Renovation Project to streamline SCELCs contract management process. After getting familiar with the current process, the LCM will lead a redesign of the license management workflow and tools they will ultimately be responsible for maintaining. After the renovation, the LCM will support additional SCELC services and initiatives that emerge from our forthcoming strategic plan.   

Responsibilities You’ll Have

• Propel SCELC’s vendor contract negotiations, ensuring that at at least 8 are completed each quarter
• Conduct initial checklist-based reviews & make change requests for all publisher licenses
• Prepare license responses under the guidance of the Director & Executive Director, managing versions, tracking successes, and coordinating negotiation meetings
• Maintain accurate contract records for internal and external audiences, including documenting completed licenses in a library-facing system
• Recommend and implement process & workflow improvements, maintaining SCELC’s license contract management documentation and toolkit
• Develop professional relationships with vendors, staff and libraries while serving as the point of contact for contract-related inquiries
• Review and maintain library agreement forms, partnership agreements, and other contracts as assigned
• Support or develop an assigned or approved side project that supports SCELC’s mission, vision, and values

Benefits & Wellness Options

SCELC’s current work environment is primarily remote, with 60-95% of employee work performed virtual, with some flexibility at the employer’s discretion. SCELC has a 40-hour work week. Employees accrue 20 days of vacation per year and 12 days of sick leave.

Minimum expected salary is $60,000 depending on experience (Manager I-II). SCELC’s current benefits package includes multiple options for individual medical plans, with generous employee-sponsored premiums for employees and their dependents. Currently dental and vision plans are also provided, along with life insurance and long-term disability insurance. SCELC contributes to the retirement plan (403b) at an additional 8% of an employee’s salary per annum.

Please apply online. We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible, with initial review of applicants to begin on September 27, 2024. 

Mission Statement

SCELC creates sustainable and tailored opportunities that serve our libraries today and in the future.

We are committed to creating and supporting an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist workforce and sustaining an environment that is welcoming to all. SCELC provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification. Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, hiring, benefits, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence, and termination. The Company takes allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation seriously, and will promptly investigate when such behavior is reported. SCELC encourages everyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. Contact Teri Gallaway at [email protected] with any questions.

Requirements

Qualifications You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in a related field
• At least 3 years experience reviewing contracts for desired & problematic clauses
• Detail-orientation with strong organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including evidence of ability to work collegially and collaboratively within and across organizations
• Excellent analytical skills and judgment, with the flexibility to apply established processes to situations requiring nuance and exceptions
• Willingness and flexibility to adjust to ongoing procedural change as we redesign the license workflow over the next two years 

Desired Experience & Skills you may have

• Experience in with library content licensing, electronic publishing and/or scholarly communication  
• Current experience with best practices in electronic resource licensing in academic environments
• Experience working with three-party vendor contracts and contractors
• Expertise in contract law and related legal terminology
• A Masters degree in Library Science, Legal Studies, or related fields