Director for Research Services

The Binghamton University Libraries provides research collections in electronic (over 2 million and growing) and print (1.7 million items) formats with an extensive array of databases and e-packages (over 400), and archival and distinctive printed materials in Special Collections, as well as services and a variety of student-centered study spaces. With three public locations (Glenn G. Bartle Library, Science Library and the University Downtown Center Library) and an off-site Collections Management Facility, our aim is to provide access to primary research materials and resources befitting an R1 research institution.

Binghamton University Libraries seeks a collaborative, visionary, and service-oriented leader for the position of Director for Research Services. This role provides leadership to a newly-restructured department that is comprised of four units:
Digital Scholarship Services, Liaison Services, Special Collections, and Teaching and Learning. The Director will combine a commitment to public service with a forward-thinking approach to evaluating and supporting emerging research methods, as well as apply evidence-based decision-making to continuously develop, implement, and assess library services in this portfolio to ensure University needs are met.

This newly-reorganized department presents a unique opportunity to shape its direction and ensure its success. The ideal candidate will have a background in academic research services, a passion for continuous improvement, and the ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners. Leadership, communication, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills are essential.

This position reports directly to the Senior Assistant Dean for Research, Learning and Access Services and serves as a member of the Dean's Library Council.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategy
  • Strategic vision:
    Work with the Senior Assistant Dean for Research, Learning and Access Services on strategic planning, as well as departmental and unit-level goal setting; define priorities for department and unit projects, activities, and innovations.
  • Service excellence:
    Prioritize excellence in instruction and research services across modalities, including application of inclusive pedagogy and universal design principles; support and lead professional development activities; assess the effectiveness and impact of research services.
  • Compliance:
    Work with the Senior Assistant Dean for Research, Learning and Access Services to ensure university policies and practices regarding accessibility and patron privacy are followed; stay informed of any evolving campus or professional guidelines or expectations to ensure department activities comply.
  • Embrace new challenges:
    Evaluate and recommend services and technologies that support established and emerging University research areas. Transform data into insight:
    Maintain accurate statistics and workflow documentation. Analyze data trends, provide reports and information to library administration, and incorporate results into decision-making processes.
  • Lead and shape research services practices:
    Through active engagement in library consortia, professional organizations, and peer networks, advocate for and implement innovative approaches that advance the field, and foster collaborative relationships that improve the user experience.
  • Be a key contributor to Dean's Library Council:
    Contribute meaningfully to the Dean's Library Council; collaborate constructively with leadership to support shared goals and strategic direction; prioritize the overall success of the Libraries while maintaining departmental collaboration.
• Supervision and Management
  • Team Leadership:
    Supervise the work of four assistant directors; collaboratively identify performance goals, provide ongoing feedback and guidance, and contribute to a supportive culture.
  • Collaborative communication:
    Foster communication among team members and with other library units; address questions and concerns as they arise and convey broader organizational context.
  • Professional growth:
    Stay at the forefront of the field by pursuing professional development opportunities, and integrating new knowledge and skills into the work of the department.
  • Foster Inclusivity:
    Participate in a work culture that promotes diversity and anti-racism and actively works to eliminate or mitigate the effects of systemic racism and bias.
  • Active Mentorship:
    Support professional development activities related to the duties in this department.
• Scholarship
  • Contributes significantly to the profession to meet the Libraries' standards of scholarship.
• Service
  • Participates in library, University and national service.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library or information science program or an ALA-approved foreign equivalent.
• Minimum of five years of experience, in an academic or public library, or comparable environment, including at least two years in a supervisory position, with responsibilities in one…