Analysis and Planning Consultant, University Libraries

POSITION SPECIFICS

Join the Pennsylvania State University Library Assessment Department as an Analysis and Planning Consultant to help shape library strategy, services, and organizational priorities through data‑informed insight.

Serving as a trusted advisor to library leadership and operational teams, the Analysis and Planning Consultant will advance evidence‑based decision‑making through sophisticated analytics, assessment, and user research.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

This position is funded for 12 months; continuation past 12 months will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

• Develop, maintain, and steward Libraries‑wide data analytics and performance measurement capabilities that promote transparency and evidence‑based decision‑making.

• Advance an integrated analytics framework that defines, tracks, and reports key performance indicators and operational metrics across library services.

• Conduct benchmarking and comparative analyses, including with Big Ten Academic Alliance peer institutions, to contextualize performance and inform strategic and operational decisions.

• Design, administer, and analyze user engagement and impact research aligned with the Libraries’ mission and values.

• Lead and collaborate on studies assessing user experience, outcomes, and perceptions of library value.

• Identify and pursue research opportunities that generate actionable, user‑informed insights for service and experience enhancement.

• Synthesize and disseminate findings to internal and external audiences to advance user‑centered assessment practice.

• Advise library leadership, departments, and Strategic Action Teams on assessment strategy, project scoping, and evidence‑informed decision‑making.

• Design and guide evaluations of services, initiatives, workflows, and organizational processes to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and strategic alignment.

• Interpret evidence, diagnose performance challenges, and recommend actionable improvements.

• Lead or support assessment activities in response to emerging priorities and leadership needs.

• Evaluate, refine, and steward Libraries‑wide assessment processes, standards, and tools for data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Strengthen the sustainability, consistency, and reliability of assessment infrastructure.

• Coordinate assessment practices to reduce duplication, minimize friction, and support high‑quality evidence production.

• Provide consultation on qualitative and quantitative research design, methods, analytics, and ethical research practices, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidance as applicable to library faculty and researchers.

• Educate and mentor colleagues on research integrity, methodological rigor, and evidence quality.

• Serve on Libraries‑and University‑wide committees and participate in professional assessment communities to advance institutional goals and assessment practice.

• Demonstrated professional experience conducting or supporting applied research and assessment in an academic or research‑intensive context, including research design, instrument development, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and the production of professional and evaluative reports.

• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods, including statistical analysis, and experience using relevant data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, NVivo, R, or comparable tools).

• Demonstrated ability to clean, integrate, and analyze complex datasets drawn from multiple sources in order to support evaluation, benchmarking, or decision‑making activities.

• Experience developing data visualizations and dashboards using contemporary business intelligence or analytics platforms and presenting analytic findings to non‑technical audiences.

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